Hi Guys,

I just checked the new book out from the library, so I've just read the 1st couple of pages.

Can any of you tell me if almond milk is allowed on this plan instead of low-fat milk?

I have terrible chronic sinus issues and would love to have a bowl of cereal for breakfast, but after a couple of days of it (milk) I get horribly congested.

TIA

Deb.

Hi Deb,

I don't think the book mentions substitutes for dairy milk. Vegetarians are allowed to use meat substitutes, though, so I don't see why you can't substitute something else for the dairy milk. If you can find something with 2% fat or less, that would be ideal.

Thanks Pilgrim!

I wouldnt subtitute milk for almond milk if I was you.

The basic of this plan is that it calculate your proteins, your carbs etc If you subtitute something for something else, you must ensure its equivalent.

Almond milk has half the calories of milk because it doesnt really have protein.

What you are doing by switching to almond milk is removing most of your protein at the most important meal of the day.

I understand dairy is not for everyone and that is why on the sonoma website it suggest to switch to SOY and not almond or rice milk

Hope it helps!

Thanks for the info Zofia, but soy milk literally makes me gag. I've tried several brands and none are to my liking. I might have to find another plan to try.

Don't give up on Sonoma just yet! Even if you try another plan, if you're still using the almond milk and not changing anything else, you'll still be short of protein. If Sonoma looks good to you in other respects, I'd try adapting it to your needs first before giving up and trying a different plan. Since almond milk has less calories *and* less protein than milk, maybe you could use the calories you save by having almond milk to replace the protein in another way - e.g. by adding a small amount of nuts or seeds to your breakfast, or maybe some non-dairy cheese, if there's a brand you like. You can easily look up online how many calories and how much protein a given food has - just google e.g. "nuts nutrition info". Treat the plan as a starting-point, keep the aspects of it you like, and tweak the rest until they work for you :-)

I agree, I don't think that almond milk should stop you from being able to follow the Sonoma diet. Maybe look for a high fiber, high protein cereal to go with your almond milk. I mean after all, Kashi advertises their cereals as having as much protein as an egg.

WOW! Am I the only one who hates milk so much that they eat cereal without it? Milk is for calves (baby cows)!

Just drink a low-calorie protein drink to go along with your cereal. Go to a small health store and ask the person who works there what the tastiest low calorie protein drink is, and you'll be fine. Those people usually know EVERYTHING! LET THE EXPERTS HELP, and don't give up.

OTHER OPTIONS:
-no milk, and have egg beaters (30 calories and 6 grams of protein)
-no milk, and a slice of lean turkey
-TONS of other options, just google it

P.S. I don't think it would be TERRIBLE if you used Almond milk, and then ate more protein for lunch. Putting unnecessary restrictions on your eating is the surest way to stop short of your goals.

STAY STRONG!