Trade-Up Tuesday: Almond, Rice and Soy Milks
Hello Blog Friends! Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day here at A Better Bag of Groceries, because I blog about a trade-up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free. It’s a big hit and we’ve been doing it every Tuesday for well over a year now! A couple of weeks ago, I asked all of you to send me your Trade Up Tuesday requests. Last week’s Nut Butter Giveaway broke records. Wow, you all LOVE nut butters! The second most requested item on the list? Almond, Rice and Soy Milks. I will admit, I don’t usually purchase these – unless I am making a Green Monster Smoothie - but my sister, Pilates Julie , is lactose intolerant, so she does.
So, I checked in with Julie to see what she had to say about almond milk, soy milk, and rice milk. Here’s what she had to say:
When I was first diagnosed with lactose intolerance, my Go To milk was pretty much Lactaid. However, when I read your post about the Green Monster Smoothie, I was introduced to Almond Milk. Yum! I’m now hooked! I love it because it’s only 60 calories and it has a lot of Vitamin E. I put in in cereal, smoothies and I also just drink it plain. It’s perfect in coffee because it’s just a little bit sweet. I recommend it to all of my students and they love it too.
I did some research on some of the highest scoring, shelf-stable almond, rice and soy milks and here’s what I found:
- Pacific Natural Foods Organic Almond Lowfat: NuVal score of 56
- Blue Diamond Almond Breeze: NuVal score of 81
- Soy Dream Enriched Soy Milk: NuVal score of 88
- EdenBlend Organic Rice and Soy Beverage: NuVal score of 82
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win all four of these milks – and they are shelf-stable, so I can ship them through the mail! All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me which of these milks you would prefer and how you would like to enjoy it. I will choose one lucky commenter at random at 8 am Eastern time on Wednesday. So don’t delay! Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa 68 comments
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on Oct 26th, 2010 at 7:38 am
I prefer almond milk and enjoy it in coffee & green monster smoothies.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 7:46 am
i gotta say soymilk, simply for the protein factor- it is the most logical cow’s milk replacement in my diet. i do LOVE the flavored almond milks, though
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Like your sister I’m lactose intolerant. I was a soy milk drinker for a long time, nut recently I switched to almond milk and haven’t looked back. I love it
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:05 am
I don’t do a tone of soy buy I adore unsweetened almond milk for protein shakes and baking, too!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:22 am
i love almond milk with my cereal in the morning!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:22 am
I love Almond Breeze. I love it with my morning cereal and unsweetened cocoa for chocolate milk/hot chocolate. Great in smoothies. Yumm. Hope I win.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Unsweetend almond milk… I use it for everything! Oatmeal, cereal, baking, creamy sauces, creamy salad dressings, smoothies, hot chocolate… and of course it tastes great plain!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:27 am
I think I’d like the soy milk in my breakfast cereal.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:34 am
i’m also lactose intolerant and love the vanilla unsweetened almond breeze – i’ve never tried the other three that you have listed, but rice milk sounds interesting!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:35 am
oh! and i’d use it in the same way i use my almond milk – in cereal, green monster smoothies, hot cocoa, etc.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I prefer Almond Breeze milk with Kashi cereal and a banana in the morning!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I’d prefer the Soy Dream Enriched and would use it to make iced coffee.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I’d like to use the Almond Breeze for smoothies and oatmeal.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Love almond milk with cereal!! I’m not so much a fan of soy, but, I’m intrigued by rice milk. I’ve never had it.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:02 am
I think the almond milk has the best flavor. I like to heat it up and make it into a hot chocolate
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I love almond breeze! I use it in smoothies.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:34 am
love soy milk…great in everything
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I have been wanting to try almond milk! I would like to enjoy it with Shredded Wheat and in my coffee!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I prefer Almond milk but I am also interested in trying others!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I’d like to try the almond milks! I like my “alternative” milks in baked goods and overnight oats!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:09 am
I LOVE almond milk and I put it in everything- cereal, oats, a glass. I wish I could make instant pudding with it. I have been thinking of switching over to soy because of its higher protein content.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I love soy milk and hemp milk too. I have tried the almond milk also and it is mighty tasty. I use soy milk when baking, in smoothies, and in my overnight oats
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I really enjoy almond breeze in smoothies and over cereal. It has such great flavor!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:40 am
I love the Almond Breeze in cereal, oatmeal and coffee. I think I will try it in smoothies next.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Definitely almond milk. I use it in everything! The chocolate is DELICIOUS, although I’m betting it doesn’t score quite as high. Soy milk is also great- I usually switch off buying almond and soy for a little variety.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:00 am
i’ve only had the blue diamond almond milk but it is delicious in any cereal!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I would love to try the almond breeze in my cereal. I usually drink soy milk and for some reason have been really hesitant to try almond milk so this would be a fun way to do so!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:21 am
I mostly use soy milk in cooking, baking, and eating in general. I have recently started to use Almond Milk. I love it in coffe, tea, hot chocolate, especialy in chia tea. Almond Breeze Chocolate is a wonderful drink hot or cold I intend to added to my cake baking.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Almond Breeze – nuval 81
Soy Dream Enriched Soy Milk – nuval 88
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Almond milk for sure. I use it my coffee and tea as wellas when baking. Your sister and I have 2 things in common, lactose intolerant and we are both pilates teachers.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Love to try almond breeze with my coffee!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Blue Diamond Almond Milk is awesome in my green monsters
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I’ve been wanting to try Almond or Rice Milk, because I suspect a lactose intolerance, so this would be awesome!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I actually just purchased Blue Diamond Almond Breeze for the first time last week! I tried a sample of it at Expo East and loved the taste. I’m not lactose intolerant, but recognize the health benefits of non-dairy and think I prefer almond over soy. I’m curious about the big discrepancy between the score of the Blue Diamond Almond Milk and the Pacific Natural Foods brand Almond Milk?
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I would like to try Blue Diamond Almond Milk for my sons staple cup of chocolate milk. I would be curious about baking with it as well.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I still haven’t tried rice milk and would love to blend it in a Green Monster smoothie!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I use unsweetened Almond Milk the mostly! I use it for baking, making smoothies and using it in my morning Shakeology drinks! My 4 year old loves it, too!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
I would have to go with the Almond Breeze. I’ve never had Almond Milk before so it would definitely be something I want to try!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
I have been wanting to try the lowfat vanilla almond milk as a baking substitute.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I love soy milk, but have never tried almond milk. I want to try the lowfat organic almond milk especially in my Oatmeal and protein shakes!!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I’m intrigued! I would love to try almond milk in my smoothies.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Oh I love Almond Breeze, but I have never had that type before! I would use it in protein shakes!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I really like Blue Diamond’s just because it’s easy to find in any store!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
I’m loving almond milk lately… I usually use it in my oatmeal, in smoothies and just as a glass all alone!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I love Blue Diamond’s Almond Breeze almond milk, and mainly use it in place of water in my morning oatmeal.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I like Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. Great in smoothies and also on cereal. I wonder why the organic almond milk in the list above has a significantly lower score than the others?
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I’ve never tried any of them, but I have been dying to! Would love to give the Almond milk a chance and discover if it is as good as everyone says!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Almond Breeze is my favorite! I usually buy the unsweetened vanilla. I love to blend it with a frozen banana, 1 scoop of Vanilla Chai Amazing Meal, and a handful of spinach for breakfast! <3 Delicious
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I love Almond milk and use it in smoothies and baking.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I have had soy milk in the past, but I didnt really like it. I would LOVE to try Almond Milk, it sounds really yummy!!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I love soymilk, but I’d like to try the almond milks because they always sound delicious.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
i would love to try the rice and soy milk because i’ve never tasted anything like that, and I like that it’s organic since soy is such a modified crop! I would mostly use it in cereal or in my oats of course
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I’d prefer the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze because it has the higher score of the two almond milks. I’d use it on cereal.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I’m an Almond Breeze girl, but that’s also the only one of those 4 I’ve tried. Would love to try the others for comparison! I typically use my Almond Breeze for smoothies and oatmeal.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I would love to try almond milk with my cereal!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Almond breeze is great in smoothies
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Soy milk work great in recipes in place of regular milk
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Just love the vanilla almond breeze, tasty and still tastes rich but low in calories!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Definitely love soymilk with cereal and cut up banana
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
I prefer the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. I use it as a creamer in my coffee and to sweeten up my oatmeal!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I have to admit I’ve never tried any of these but they sound great. As a lactose intolerant person, and an expectant Mom of twins, I’m looking for lots of new ways to get some daily calcium into the diet for the babies and for me!
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I’ve never tried almond milk, so I am most intrigued by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
I use Blue Diamond Almond Breeze every morning in my smoothie.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
I’d like to try the rice/soy because I’ve already tried soy (liked it) and already tried almond (hated it) but have yet to try rice. I would probably use it in cereal, oatmeal, or chia pudding.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Great post, but I wish you would have put the NuVal value for non-fat (skim) milk as a comparison. I did a little side-by-side nutrition label comparison after I bought a box of almond milk, and if I remember correct, it looked like regular milk had more protein and, obviously, more calcium. While I liked the almond milk, it just didn’t taste as good to me as plain ol’ white milk. But that’s just me.
on Oct 26th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Non-fat (skim) milk has a NuVal score of 91. I agree with you Teresa that taste-wise (and nutrition-wise) skim white milk is #1 on my list. But as an alternative for individuals who cannot tolerate cow’s milk or don’t like it, these soy and almond milks are great alternatives. I enjoy the flavor of almond milk over soy milk and eat it on cereal/oatmeal, in smoothies, and in coffee.
on Oct 27th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I use skim milk in my cereal, but often add some almond milk just for the added flavor. Good to know it has a decent NuVal Score as well!
on Oct 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
[...] Trade-Up Tuesday: Almond, Rice and Soy Milks – A Better Bag of … Pacific Natural Foods Organic Almond Lowfat: NuVal score of 56; Blue Diamond Almond Breeze: NuVal score of 81; Soy Dream Enriched Soy Milk: NuVal score of 88; EdenBlend Organic Rice and Soy Beverage: NuVal score of 82. Today's Giveaway . [...]