Product Feature: Oatly Oat Milk
By: Alexandra Kisielewski
If dairy is not a part of your diet, or if you’re just looking to try something new and delicious, oat milk should definitely be on your shopping list. For a long time, the most common dairy alternatives were nut, soy or rice-based milk, but oat milk is quickly finding a place on grocery store shelves.
The Bushwick Food Co-op sources and sells the vegan, gluten-free oat milk brand Oatly, a Swedish company that prides itself on non-GMO, kosher oats that are grown to perfection in the Nordic climate. Oat milk is made by milling together oats and water, adding natural enzymes to produce malt sugar (which is what gives oat milk its subtle sweetness), and then separating the bran left behind.
Oatly adds vitamins, minerals, and a small amount of canola oil to their oat milk to improve the texture and add nutritional fat content. The final product is a healthy mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Not only is oat milk a great option for lactose-intolerant individuals (or really anyone with a food allergy; Oatly’s products are 100% nut, peanut, dairy, egg, gluten and soy free), it is also a more eco- and animal-friendly choice than some dairy milks (fewer cows=less methane=less greenhouse gases!).
The nutritional breakdown of oat milk is a bit different from other milks. On the spectrum of milks, it has a higher carbohydrate content (about 130 calories in a serving of 1 cup) and a bit less protein than others, but it has the highest fiber content of them all with 2 grams per cup (cow’s milk has none, while nut and soy milk have about 1 gram per cup).
The Co-op sells both the original and barista versions of Oatly oat milk - the difference being that the barista version has a 1 percent higher fat content, making it creamier and therefore a better option for blended drinks (perfect for frothing up cappuccinos!) or baking. It’s also delicious just enjoyed straight as a beverage on its own.
Have you tried Oatly? Let us know what you think in the comments below!