Rice milk vs. grass fed non-homogenized Milk

[Klynne]

We've been using Rice Dream milk for all our cooking/baking and drinking needs (think cocoa, coffee, etc...) for the last 3 years. I thought this was much "healthier" for our family. I recently had a conversation with a friend about rice milk, she mentioned being careful with the vitamin A palmitate, the synthetic vitamin A the milk is enriched with. I tried researching the harmful effects of vitamin A palmitate, there wasn't a whole lot. The warnings I found usually referred to overdosing on a supplement, nothing referred to enriched nut/rice milks.

Looking into this has xaused me to question why I am feeding our family synthetic vitamins when we can get the real deal through milk. Our family doesn't have any obvious dairy problems. We never drink milk by itself. Wouldn't it be more logical, on a nutrition level, to drink organic non-homogenized grass fed milk (I can also obtain raw milk from a local farmer)? OR to make my own rice milk from whole brown rice?

Please give me your thoughts!

[JessicaS]

I use that coconut milk from So Delicious and/or almond milk since I am allergic but I buy local milk for my kids.

[gardenmommy]

I would stick with the grass-fed, non-homogenized milk. I think it's def. healthier than rice milk, but I know there are others who will disagree.

[Mirzam]

If you can get raw milk from grass-fed cows, then I would without get that. IMO raw milk is a much more healthful food.

[organicmidwestmama]

my son had severe early childhood dental cavities, which i partly blame on my ignorance of rice milk not being terribly nutritionally complete and offering it as the basic drink, besides breastmilk. rice milk is basically akin to juice in its carb content. the vitamins are added, as you now know. you might as well drink water and take a multivitamin. for cooking whole coconut milk is delicious. for drinking id go w/water, then whole, grassfed cow or goat milk as a treat.

[Arduinna]

I used to drink rice and soy milks when I was vegan, they are ok but unless there is an allergy I prefer cows milk.

[WorldsBestMom]

Cows milk normally does it for me when baking. My Dd loves cow milk too. I have never tired rice milk though.

[mama1803]

I remember reading here on MDC that there was a problem with rice milk containing arsenic. Anybody recall that?

[artemis33]

Originally Posted by Klynne

Wouldn't it be more logical, on a nutrition level, to drink organic non-homogenized grass fed milk (I can also obtain raw milk from a local farmer)?

I'd get the raw

[tinuviel_k]

If you don't have a problem with milk I would definitely start using the grass-fed nonhomogenized milk, or the raw milk. Grass fed milk is full of protein, good fats, and vitamins.

I think of rice milk as being glorified sugar water: Rice Dream has hardly any fat, and the fat it does have comes from canola or safflower oil. It only has a single gram of protein per cup. And any vitamins it contains are added. I really don't think it is good for the body at all.

[mamadelbosque]

If you can get grass fed non-homogenized milk, I'd take that over rice milk in a heart beat. Rice milk is *WAY* more proccessed, IMO than that. Though, I'd also seriously think about finding a source of raw milk. Its *SO* good!!

[fresh_veggie]

Originally Posted by mama1803

I remember reading here on MDC that there was a problem with rice milk containing arsenic. Anybody recall that?

It was just a couple of brands, I'd have to google it. But I do remember that! I don't ever get rice milk. I think the amount were still negligible, though.

If you have no dairy problems, get really good local organic cow or goat milk for a treat, and just drink plain ol' water most of the time. Milk substitutes aren't really necessary, as yes, they are sugar-carb water with vitamins. I have almond milk on cereal and in pancakes, but really those are the only times I use it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the vitamin a palmitate, personally. It's not a huge deal and is only a problem in super high levels - like almost ANY nutrient. You won't get that much from normal consumption of rice milk.

[Klynne]

I should clarify that we don't drink the rice milk just to drink it. We're a water family when it comes to what we drink daily. Rice milk, and house made cocoa are a treat (to save $$ I don't buy juice, we juice apples or whatever fruit we have around on the occasion we feel like having juice). I remember reading here a few years back that Rice Milk is really just juice. Before then I was giving it to dd to drink. (Thank you MDC!!)

So, dd and ds get rice milk in their oatmeal, I love it in cocoa (cause it's just sweet enough that we don't need any honey or agave. Ahh, rice milk, cocoa powder, and a little cinnamon !). And we use it for baking. I was doing my own almond milk for awhile but dd reacts to nuts.

I didn't grow up drinking cows milk and can't stand the taste on it's own. My mom belonged to the "cow milk is for cows" mindset, growing up with that it's hard to make the switch in my head, iykwim. It's also hard for me to feel ok offering it to my kids. Any one know what I mean?

I tried the coconut milk. It was OK. The skinny: Dd didn't like it in her oatmeal and it's terrible in coffee! I liked baking with it.

So, if I've got it right...: The thing that's bad about cow's milk isn't per say the milk but the processing. The pasteurization and the homogenization. Right? At any rate, I think we're done with regular consumption of rice milk. For now I'm going to do the non-homogenized milk and coconut creamers for my coffee ... I might do raw milk, not sure yet

I appreciate all the feedback!

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by Klynne

I didn't grow up drinking cows milk and can't stand the taste on it's own. My mom belonged to the "cow milk is for cows" mindset, growing up with that it's hard to make the switch in my head, iykwim. It's also hard for me to feel ok offering it to my kids. Any one know what I mean?

This is my belief too! Each mammal produces its own milk which is perfect only for its own kind and it is only needed until the weaning years. I have been breastfeeding my DS until 28 months when he self-weaned. I do not give him any kind of animal milk (I think he never tasted any!), only the occasional goat's or sheep's milk yogurt and cheese (which I try to avoid as much as I can). If want to make him a smoothie I'd use a little bit of almond or oat milk to make it creamy. Oatmeal gets very creamy if you add a bit of coconut oil while cooking.

[Delicateflower]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

I think of rice milk as being glorified sugar water: Rice Dream has hardly any fat, and the fat it does have comes from canola or safflower oil. It only has a single gram of protein per cup. And any vitamins it contains are added. I really don't think it is good for the body at all.

ITA

Even when I was dairy free I didn't use much rice milk. Nut "milks" are better for you and closer to real food.

Klynne, my husband makes his oatmeal with water and a banana.

[mamabeca]

There IS an issue w/milk, though it is philosophical. Milking cows are impregnated (or naturally get pregnant, though only on a few farms) and their calves are taken from them. Instead of nursing their calves, they are milked. On small farms, sometimes the calves are given a little bit of time w/the mama cow a couple times a day, but farmers know that hearing their calves lowing for them will produce let down fast, and so they keep the calves separate from the cows and milk the mamas.

We use both nut and rice milks, very little soy. My kids have had rice milk both to drink and as a supplement, because one child, and I, have dairy issues (so no yogurts, cheeses, whey, milk/creams, etc); we also get calcium added juice and take non-aluminum 'tums' calcium. My son, 5, has no cavaties, and my daughter had none till she was 9. I believe that dental issues such as carries are both environmental AND genetic. Don't blame yourself!!

I think if we could drink milk, we would.

hth!

[mamabeca]

oh yeah, we make oatmeal (Irish Oats, McCanns, I think) with just water and then use about 1/4 tsp of agave or maple syrup.

[Klynne]

Originally Posted by mamabeca

There IS an issue w/milk, though it is philosophical. Milking cows are impregnated (or naturally get pregnant, though only on a few farms) and their calves are taken from them. Instead of nursing their calves, they are milked. On small farms, sometimes the calves are given a little bit of time w/the mama cow a couple times a day, but farmers know that hearing their calves lowing for them will produce let down fast, and so they keep the calves separate from the cows and milk the mamas.

Great point. I wouldn't mind doing nut milk only dd gets this strange rash in her inside elbow when she eats any nut... almonds included (before moving to the US I make almond milk on a regular basis ...)

We make oatmeal with soaked whole oats and rolled oats. I add hot water to that mixture and then, after the rolled oats have softened, I added a little rice milk (now non-homo whole milk), and some good quality granola. We don't boil the oats in milk or rice milk.

Gingercat- I agree about adding coconut oil! What could taste better!?

We don't have any cavity issues yet. Dd is 3.5 and ds is 18mo. I only weaned dd 4 months ago, I'm thinking ds will nurse at least as long as dd, if not longer! ( The boy knows what's good!! )
The kids get an animal parade vitamin about once a day. I'd just like to try for them to get their nutrition from whole sources, and limit synthetics whenever possible) We use og whole milk yogurt as well as kefir - daily. Maybe there isn't a need for milk beyond that...

We have chickens, maybe we should just add a cow, or a goat. Our neighbors would LOVE us then, lol.

[nicolelynn]

I would do the raw milk if I could, but I can't tolerate dairy. So I usually use almond or coconut milk. Very occasionally soy but never really got into rice milk.