Anybody that knows me knows how much I love everything that is cozy. Hot beverages, especially fabulous cappuccinos are my go-tos when needing a bit of extra care. Heading further and further into the cold seasons, I started to reflect on the frontrunners of the post milk generation, starting with oat milk.
Why? Research suggests that animal-based products use ~83% of the world’s farmland and contribute 56-58% of food’s different emissions, despite providing only 37% of our protein and 18% of our calories*. Keeping our food system within planetary boundaries requires a substantial shifts toward mostly plant-based dietary patterns.**
The good news! A diet rich in plant-based foods and with fewer animal source foods is not only beneficial for the environment, but is also better for our health. Today, I invite you to examine what you fill your cup with. Start by picking up a carton of plant-based milk instead of dairy (click for my favourite alternative) or follow the recipe and make your own homemade version. It’s time to raise our cups!
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 4 cups of water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 date, pitted (optional)
Method
- Add all the ingredients to your blender and blend for 30-40 seconds.^
- Use a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to strain the mix. Repeat to reduce sliminess.^^
- Transfer the oat milk into a reusable milk bottle and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Shake well before using!
Enjoy! 
Notes
^ Some say that over-blending can cause sliminess so beware of this as a possibility. Blend only for as long as needed, when the mix seems homogenous. A little over half a minute should do!
^^ I used a cheesecloth over a strainer which worked like a charm. I strained the milk twice in order to reduce the sliminess of the mix. Are you wondering what to do with the leftover oat pulp? Toss it into a cookie or pancake batter and let’s go!
Research
* Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers, J. Poore & T. Nemecek (2018)
