Milk, imitation, non-soy
Whole food · Dairy and Egg Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a plant-based milk alternative made from sources like oats, rice, or nuts, designed to mimic dairy's creamy texture and mild sweetness. It offers a smooth, slightly sweet flavor profile with a light, pourable consistency, making it a popular low-calorie, lactose-free substitute. Nutritionally, it's a light source of carbohydrates and fats, often fortified with vitamins and minerals.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 46% carbs · 39% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love its gentle, sweet taste and creamy texture that blends seamlessly into coffee, smoothies, and cereal without overpowering other flavors. Its cultural appeal lies in being a modern, inclusive staple that bridges dietary restrictions and culinary creativity.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
It can cause blood-sugar spikes due to its sugar content and lack of fiber, and may not provide the protein of dairy milk. To counteract this, pair it with protein-rich foods like nuts or seeds, use it in savory dishes, or choose unsweetened varieties.
Key benefits
- Lactose-free and dairy-free option
- Lower in calories and fat than whole milk
- Often fortified with calcium and vitamin D
- Suitable for vegan and plant-based diets
- Provides a mild, versatile base for recipes
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Many imitation milks are fortified with vitamin B12, a nutrient naturally found only in animal products, making them a key source for vegans.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 90.0 g |
| Energy | 46.0 kcal |
| Energy | 191 kj |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.0 g |
| Ash | 1.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 82.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.10 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 1.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 100 mg |
| Potassium, K | 150 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 55.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.10 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.10 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 61.0 ug |
| Retinol | 61.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 203 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 42.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.1 ug |
| Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) | 1.1 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.25 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.22 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.48 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.48 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.2 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added nonfat milk solids and vitamin A and vitamin D — USDA does not publish this profile for Milk.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.16 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.21 g |
| Leucine | 0.34 g |
| Lysine | 0.28 g |
| Methionine | 0.09 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.17 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.17 g |
| Valine | 0.23 g |
| Arginine | 0.13 g |
| Histidine | 0.09 g |
| Alanine | 0.12 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.26 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.73 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.34 g |
| Serine | 0.19 g |
FAQ
Is imitation milk the same as soy milk?
No, imitation milk is a category that includes non-soy options like oat, rice, almond, or coconut milk, each with distinct flavors and nutritional profiles.
Can I use it in baking?
Yes, it works well in most baking recipes as a 1:1 substitute for dairy milk, though it may affect texture slightly due to lower protein content.
Why is it lower in protein than dairy milk?
Plant-based sources like oats or rice naturally contain less protein than cow's milk, so imitation milks often have around 1-2g per serving unless fortified.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.46 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 5.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.37 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.