food

There are quiet a few options out there for a milk substitute; coconut milk, rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, soy milk, oat milk, goats milk  … but the one I am leaning towards the most as an alternative is Almond Milk.  If you want to learn more about the many benefits of oats, check out this article named, The Health Benefits of Eating Porridge Oats for Breakfast.

Almond milk is a great substitute however there is not that much protein in it (1 gram per serving compared to the 8 grams in whole milk). But it is low in calories, at only 40 calories per eight ounce serving, and low in fat. It contains only three grams of fat per eight ounce serving. Almond milk is lactose, gluten, casein and cholesterol free; it’s also free of saturated fats. Henry eats tons of vegetables and meats, so protein isn’t really a problem in his diet. Same with vitamin D and calcium … there are plenty of leafy greens, fish and meats, etc. You may be thinking “shouldn’t young children avoid nuts?” Yes, this is true, but it’s mostly peanuts that are worrisome. Also, Henry has never had an allergic reaction to any food I have given him, even foods high on the allergy list. At this age kids really need the fat that is in milk in order for their brains and nervous systems to develop properly, but there are fats in many of the other foods Henry eats (avocados, coconut oil mixed in his purees, salmon, eggs).

Here is a great link with more information.