June is National Dairy Month, so we're celebrating the vegan way and promoting the dairy-free life! It's easier than ever to eliminate dairy from your diet, and here are ways we like to enjoy being dairy-free.
1. Eat vegan ice cream
We carry NadaMoo! at the shop, and you can find our products locally at Crepe and Spoon which offers several flavors of vegan ice cream. Vegan ice cream is readily available at grocery stores, and if you have a local ice cream shop that has vegan options, make sure to go and support them.
2. Switch to plant-based milk
Businesses are making milk from a seemingly endless array of plants right now: coconut, rice, hemp, almond, cashew, soy, and oats (to name a few).
3. Make grilled cheeseOur vegan cheeses melt really well, and you can find many other brands in grocery stores. We ship our cheeses to all 50 states and Puerto Rico through our Online Shop.
4. Host a vegan cheese and wine partyWe love assembling fancy vegan charcuterie trays, and they're easier than you might think! Pick up some of your favorite vegan meats and cheeses, along with accoutrements like crackers, grapes, almond, and olives, and you're all set. If you're not familiar with vegan wine options, you can find a list on Barnivore.
5. Have a pizza party
If wine isn't your thing, host a pizza party where guests can build their own pizza and try different vegan meats and cheeses (plus load up on veggies, of course).
6. Support a farm sanctuary
Dairy cows are continually bred throughout their lives so they can produce milk. Their babies are taken from them so humans can consume the milk instead, and then they typically end up at a slaughterhouse. More sanctuaries are opening around the country to take in animals that have suffered as a result of animal agriculture, and you can donate or volunteer your time to these non-profits.
7. Try dairy-free baking
Many people are surprised at how easy vegan baking is. A quick Google search will provide you with a plethora of options for swapping out dairy and eggs, and soon you'll have a cruelty-free treat that tastes no different from the non-vegan version.
8. Check ingredient labels at the store
This one may not sound quite as fun as the others on the list, but you can learn a lot when you start looking at labels! Grocery products should have milk listed as an allergen under the ingredient list, so try to avoid purchasing anything new that contains dairy. Also look for 'whey' which is included in random foods like potato chips, and if you want to consider fully vegan products, cut out eggs and honey as well.
9. Buy a vegan cookbook
10. Your choice!
What are other ways we can celebrate being dairy-free? Please leave a comment with your best tip for making the switch!
