One of the things that people find most challenging when transitioning to a plant based diet is giving up dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, milkshakes, butter, etc). Well thank God for dairy alternatives that can serve as a bridge to a healthier mucus free lifestyle. When I first started transitioning to a plant based diet and decided to eliminate dairy products one of the things that I noticed immediately was that my allergies and sinus problems were pretty much eliminated and I also had fewer colds. I also shed an excess of 10 pounds without even trying. Now let me say this was not an easy task as I loved cheese and ate ice cream everyday growing up. However, the benefits of making a decision and trying something new has been totally LIFE CHANGING for me. Another proud moment on this journey has been encouraging my 80 year old grandfather who was lactose intolerant to switch from using low fat milk to a plant based alternative for his morning cereal. He also saw immediate results as he always suffered pain and discomfort after eating his morning cereal but like many of us do he chalked it up to being normal as it was always something that he experienced when eating cereal.

All this to say there are dairy alternatives that you can began to incorporate that will help you to address and eliminate some of the symptoms and challenges of consuming dairy products. I encourage you to start to experiment with some of these dairy alternatives below. Try using these alternatives in place of your favorite dairy products and began to take note of how you feel. Also experiment with the holiday recipe below and be sure to share it with your family and friends. Don’t forget to leave me a comment on my facebook page and let me know how you like it!!!

The following dairy alternatives from a variety of brands can be found at your local health food store:

Almond Milk
Hempseed Milk
Non-dairy Ice Cream
Dairy Free Cheeses

Also be sure to check out my recipe that you can make during the holiday season to replace your traditional egg nog.

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Today’s Recipe

CREAMY MACADAMIA NUT NOG

1 cups soaked macadamia nuts

4 cups of coconut water or fresh water

1 frozen banana

4 pitted medjool dates

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

pinch of sea salt

Blend soaked macadamia nuts and coconut water together in a high speed blender for about 45 seconds then strain using a nut mylk bag (fine mesh bag). Add liquid back into the blender with remaining ingredients. Blend and enjoy!!!