Day 18 - Milk Alternatives during Great Lent

In the recent past, dairy products have received a failing grade for a variety of reasons. In the U.S., for example, the use of Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) in dairy cows has sparked great debate about the merits of enhancing milk production at the expense of potential health risks for those consuming such milk. Consumer backlash has been enormous; this has even caused some of the biggest retailers to respond by curtailing or eliminating the sale of milk and milk products that contain BGH. Walmart, for example, has heard the message from its customers loud and clear and has responded in kind. Even in Canada, Health Canada (federal Ministry of Health) has created a Q&A web page to respond to consumer concerns (see here).

On the other hand, much evidence from various sources, including the influential research group, Blue Zones, has concluded that goat's milk is an important component of the incredible longevity and good health of the population of the Greek island of Ikaria (click here). 

So, what's a person to do? It is not the role of our humble blog to malign milk, a source of good nutrition for hundreds of millions of people. We are, however, genuinely curious to explore the value of  milk alternatives, both as a source of nutrition and as another resource that the Orthodox Christian can use to sustain their health during the period of Great Lent. So, towards that end, we sought to educate ourselves in the field of milk alternatives.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of milk alternative brands throughout the world. In Europe, Asia and North America the biggest brands are large multinationals such as Coca Cola, Unilever and Danone. 

In North America, there are three large classes of milk alternatives: soy-derived milk alternative beverages, almond-based milk alternatives and rice-based milk alternatives. An excellent recent article (January 12, 2011) in the Wall Street Journal discussed the concern that some researchers have with women drinking too much soy-derived beverages; in addition, it details the nutritional merits and advantages of milk alternatives in general.

Wanting to see how products from all three categories (soy, almond, rice) can be used during Great Lent, we went out and purchased a variety of prominent brands. Over the next few weeks we will examine each of the products shown below in a variety of contexts: flavour, suitability for use in food and beverages, nutritional value. We are really excited about some uses that we have in mind which we will keep secret, for now. So, until our next blog entry about milk alternatives, please read the package information and nutritional breakdown of all of the following products we purchased.

Front view (left to right): Blue Diamond brand Almond Breeze (Original) almond-based beverage, SoGood brand Original soy-based beverage, Silk brand fortified Original soy-beverage, Ryza brand whole grain brown rice beverage.

Left side-panel view (left to right): Blue Diamond brand Almond Breeze (Original) almond-based beverage, SoGood brand Original soy-based beverage, Silk brand fortified Original soy-beverage, Ryza brand whole grain brown rice beverage.

Right side-panel view (left to right): Blue Diamond brand Almond Breeze (Original) almond-based beverage, SoGood brand Original soy-based beverage, Silk brand fortified Original soy-beverage, Ryza brand whole grain brown rice beverage.

Above (left to right): Front panel of two flavours (Original and Chocolate flavours, respectively) of soy-based beverages from Silk, a WhiteWave Foods brand from Dean Foods.

Above (left to right): Left side-panel of the marketing descritpions of two flavours (Original and Chocolate flavours, respectively) of soy-based beverages from Silk, a WhiteWave Foods brand from Dean Foods.

Above (left to right): Right side-panel with the ingredients list and nutritional facts of two flavours (Original and Chocolate flavours, respectively) of soy-based beverages from Silk, a WhiteWave Foods brand from Dean Foods.


“Bless those that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those that persecute you. For what credit is it to you if you love those that love you? Do not even the heathen do the same?” But, for your part, “love those that hate you,” and you will have no enemy." 


From the Didache, Fasting and Praying for Enemies. Did. 1.3