Vicki, you know I have a similar question about sugar-free vs. fat-free. Am never quite sure which way to go but being a diabetic, I usually go with the sugar-free but that is just my gut and not based on anything.
sugar free is more important, in fact fat free often means added starches and sugar, a problem on SBD. When they say light do they mean sugar free or lower fat or both?
also, the type of sugar is pretty important. the regular milk (likely) doesn't have any added sugars, and the vanilla soy milk (unless it is unsweetened) likely does.
we drink coconut and almond milk in our house and the sweetened varieties are big craving causers for me, so we go with the unsweetened kinds. they offer unsweetened soy milk as well - i think even flavored.
Like many things the trick is to look for foods with no added sugars. I've found almond, hemp and soy milk all without added sugar. Unsweeteened Vanilla Almond Milk is my favorite but hemp is super rich and I like it for things that need a richer taste. I'm not a cow's milk fan and I'm always looking for added omega 3s.
I got sick of reading packages at the grocery store and started making my own almond milk. It's easy, and it means you are in total control of what goes in it. All you need is almonds, water, a blender, and some cheesecloth.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
Calories: 2,000 2,500
Total Fat less than 65g 80g
Saturated Fat less than 20g 25g
Cholesterol less than 300mg 300mg
Sodium less than 2,400mg 2,400mg
Potassium less than 3,500mg 3,500mg
Total Carbohydrates 300g 375g
Dietary Fiber 25g 30g
Calories per gram:
Fat 9 Carbohydrate 4 Protein 4
INGREDIENTS: All Natural Soymilk (Filtered Water, Soy Flour), All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Carrageenan, Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Reb A (Natural Stevia Leaf Sweetener), Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12.-
Oops, sugar is the second ingredient. In this case go for the skim milk or look for an unsweetened almond or hemp (is there unsweetened soy? I don't drink it so don't know?).