Other than cow's milk...

Or soya (another no-no)

What alternatives are there that a) aren't bank-blowingly expensive or b) taste disgusting.

I tried the Woolworths bought oat milk and rice milk and they were watery and tasted like recycled cardboard.  It also worried me that it was filled with emulsifiers and other strange additives. 

Surely giving up organic cow's milk and replacing it with this stuff can't be healthier?

So I tried to make rice milk and almond milk myself.

Rice milk was a no-no - still watery and also gelatinous.  It works for cooking / baking but not if you're wanting to use it in drinks or cereal.

Almond milk is the winner!  It's easy to make, tastes good and is very healthy.

Banana oat muffins from honestfare.com

These have become a staple in our house because they're so adaptable and fool-proof.  I'm not the world's best baker (just ask Pete) but somehow these aren't floppable.

http://honestfare.com/yogurt-banana-oat-muffins/

1 and a quarter cup rolled oats
1 and a half cups oat flour (or other gluten-free flour mix)
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar (I replace this with molasses)
1/3 cup oil
2 large, very ripe bananas
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1/2 tsp nutmeg (I never have it in the house and it doesnt seem to miss it)
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 nuts (ground almonds are lovely)

I've also added in varying amounts separately or together: ground coconut, grated carrots, sunflower seeds and cranberries.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180c°
2. Mix rolled oats, yogurt and milk together in a bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes.
3. It will require about 2 cups of rolled oats to make the 1 1/2 cups or oat flour you need. Just pulse the 2 cups rolled oats in the food processor until they turn to a powdery consistency (like dry grits).
4. Now, combine oat flour, salt, sugar, spices, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl.
5. Add mashed banana, egg and oil to the rolled oat mixture and mix well.
6. Now add dry oat flour mixture to rolled oat mixture and mix together well. Add in nuts and/or other bits and pieces
7. Fill greased or lined muffin cups 2/3 of the way. Bake for approximately 16-20 minutes.

YUM!

Eating without

It's been a month that we've been eating without
sugar
dairy
wheat
and we've given up alcohol and caffeine

Some days have been better than others and Fridays are notoriously difficult.  Something about the end of the week, feeling tired and needing comfort that only something wheaty and sugary can supply.

I've found ceylon tea with milk the hardest thing to give up.  The association with comfort, soothing, stress-relief.  But it has also been a good exercise to just see what happens when its not there.