I literally hoarded yogurt before I stopped eating dairy. I would always have a substantial box of Greek yogurt in my refrigerator, which I would get from Costco. I set out to locate the best non-dairy yogurt after learning that the majority of them fall short of expectations. It wasn’t easy, and let’s just say that I ate a lot of yogurt while conducting my exhaustive inquiry, but someone had to do it.
A variety of options are available that are made without the use of cow’s milk and instead use oat, almond, cashew, soy, and other components. Also cool: Even after all the probiotics have been added, you still get the same gut-friendly bacterial strains as in the real thing, but without the irritation that dairy products frequently cause.
Like traditional yogurt, the non-dairy options are great for a quick, no-prep breakfast or snack because the nuts used to make them can be excellent sources of protein.
Similar to other food groups, not all non-dairy yogurts are created equal. I sought guidance from a licenced dietician on how to choose the foods that are the most nutrient-dense.
Tips for choosing the best non-dairy yogurt
If you’re giving up dairy, you don’t have to give up yogurt, according to Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. She counsels that you should read the labels. (Did you expect that to occur?)
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Choose a non dairy yogurt that contains low sugar.
Gorin suggests first checking the label to see how much sugar is in the item. In general, I suggest selecting goods with as little added sugar as possible; as a result, use unsweetened yogurt wherever possible. You can add herbs to sweeten it yourself once you get home. As with any yogurt, you may adjust the sweetness by including fruit and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Watch out for fillers.
In addition to sugar, there are other fillers to watch out for that are chemical-based. Gums are sometimes found in non-dairy yogurts, which some people with sensitive stomachs may find upsetting.
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Check the protein content.
If yogurt is to serve as a filling breakfast or snack, it should contain at least a small quantity of protein made from the nuts used to make the non-dairy milk. Simply add some granola or nut butter before eating if it seems a little dull. If not, you’ll probably experience hunger soon after having your yogurt.
I graded the most popular flavours of non-dairy yogurt on their taste and texture. The precise winners are listed here.
Some of the most well-liked non-dairy yogurts are listed here.
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Daiya’s Coconut Cream Yogurt Alternative
Daiya’s dairy-free cheeses have increased in taste and meltability, if that’s a word, making them even more similar to dairy. Unfortunately, despite loving and frequently using the brand’s other products, I don’t particularly like this yogurt.
flavour of black cherries
The nutritional numbers for 5.3 ounces are 160 calories, 1 gramme of fibre, 9 grammes of sugar (including 8 grammes of added sugar), and 6 grammes of protein.
Taste: Considering Daiya dominates the dairy-free market, I was disappointed in the black cherry flavour. It had a weird aftertaste and tasted more like medicine than a tasty treat. You can use coconut-based Greek yogurt for the dairy-based variety.
Texture: If you want your yogurt extra-thick, this is it. It is thick, clumpy, and scoopable, and includes elements of both yogurt and Jell-O.
Additional flavours include plain, peach, strawberry, blueberry, vanilla bean, and plain.
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A dairy-free product called Silk Yogurt Alternative
Given that soy milk has always looked to me to be the most comparable to milk, it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed the texture of this yogurt. However, despite the fact that I love other Silk products (they are already in my refrigerator! ), I don’t particularly like this yogurt. Almond and oat milk options from the brand might be preferred.
A RD’s perspective on soy milk: “Soy is a complete protein source because it has all nine essential amino acids. One of the substitute milks with a higher protein content is this one. One cup of soy milk contains up to 9 grammes of protein. One cup of soy milk delivers about 30% of the daily necessary dose of vitamin D and other essential nutrients because many soy milks are fortified with these nutrients “alcium.” Gorin, A.
flavoured with strawberries
5.3 ounces of food provide 130 calories, 3.5 grammes of fat, 2 grammes of fibre, 13 grammes of sugar, and 6 grammes of protein.
Taste: Despite the fact that this yogurt contains real strawberries among its ingredients, I was disappointed by how strongly fake it tasted. I had great hopes for this yogurt’s strawberry flavour. Additionally, it had an odd aftertaste.
There was a wonderful texture. It wasn’t very runny or thick, but I had the sensation I was eating the actual thing. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the Go-GURTs I used to eat when I was younger.
Peach mango, pineapple from the tropics, berry, simple, and vanilla are other flavours.
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Coyo Organic Yogurt, a dairy-free selection, costs
Our yogurt is made with coconut cream, which means that it has three times as many calories as other of the non-dairy yogurt options on this list.
Berry flavour: a variety
390 calories, 35 grammes of fat, 1 gramme of fibre, 12 grammes of sugar, and 3 grammes of protein are contained in 5.3 ounces.
Taste: The flavour of this yogurt is really distinctive. Given the vivid colour, I was expecting a taste explosion, but all I get is a very, very weak whisper of berry.
This yogurt’s texture is thick and clumpy. It requires quite a bit of mixing before you can take a bite, and even then, it’s not as smooth as other options. It appears to have a texture that is more akin to thick, fluffy whipped cream than yogurt, making it a good option for a dessert.
Mango, vanilla bean, natural, and chocolate are other flavours.
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Nancy’s Yogurt with Probiotics
If you like oat milk, you will undoubtedly love this yogurt. It uses healthy foods, has an extremely creamy texture that could fool just about anyone into thinking they are eating dairy. It also includes faba beans, a surprising ingredient that increases the protein level.
The RD’s assessment of oat milk: “Oat milk frequently contains a few more calories than some of the other nondairy milk alternatives. Typically, a cup of milk provides 20% of the daily required calcium consumption. Additionally, potassium is given to you, which reduces blood pressure. Oat milk has a creamy texture that remarkably resembles that of real milk. Some of the added nutrients found in some oat milks include vitamins A, B12, and D.” Gorin, A.
Flavor of strawberry hibiscus
110 calories, 1.5 g of fat, 2 g of fibre, 9 g of sugar (including 7 g of added sugar), and 6 g of protein are found in 6 oz.
Taste: This yogurt had an unusual aftertaste and, for some reason, I didn’t appreciate the flavour. After tasting a blueberry, I concluded that the slight tanginess must be the cause.
Texture: The texture of this yogurt is excellent. Oat milk gives it the same degree of smoothness and creaminess as dairy yogurts.
Additional flavours include basic, blueberry, and vanilla.
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Pure Living Coconut Yogurt from GT’s CocoYO
The lid of this yogurt yells, “I’m alive!” and encourages you to open it carefully. I have to admit that when I removed the raw coconut-based product, it unmistakably appeared to be living. Although I didn’t care for the tangy flavour, it earns an A for its concise ingredient list and nutritional facts.
Fruitful raspberry
The nutritional composition of 8 ounces is as follows: 160 calories, 12 g of fat, 4 g of fibre, 4 g of sugar, and 2 g of protein.
Try this yogurt if you like ridiculously tart yogurt. Unfortunately, I had to puke out my mouthful because I was so shocked. For me, it’s like trying to take an apple cider vinegar shot—you know it’s good for you, but you don’t want to do it. Those who can eat it deserve kudos. My expectations have never been met by GT Dave, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Its texture is extremely light, creamy, and delicious. When you insert your spoon, it feels as though you are scooping into a sponge-like texture.
Pure cacao, ginger, turmeric, and vanilla are also on the menu.
