Nowadays when we pop into a cafe we are greeted with the ever-growing plethora of different versions of our favourite caffeinated (or non-caffeinated) drinks. From espresso to batch brew and pour over, the coffee options are endless! And to make things even more confusing, you’ll usually find at least three or four variations of milk to choose from, too.
The incredible growth of the plant-milk industry in recent years can be attributed to a number of things, from dairy intolerances to the rise of veganism and plant-based diets, as well as a growing concern around the ethics and sustainability of the dairy industry.
Here in Australia, research from Dairy News Australia shows that sales in dairy alternatives have grown by 48% in the past four years alone.
It’s hard to imagine now, but as recently as 2008, having an alternative to cow’s milk largely meant soy milk, unless you were willing to spend a whole lotta time and cash scouring health food shops. Thankfully now, in 2019, there is no shortage of alternatives to dairy. Just walk into your local cafe or supermarket and the choices are seemingly endless. From different tastes and textures to different benefits and environmental impacts, it can be tough to choose which plant-based milk is right for you.
To celebrate World Plant Milk Day this month, we’ve compiled a bit of a roundup of our favourite dairy alternatives, with some insights that might make your choice just a little easier:
Soy Milk:
Let’s start with the original ‘alt-milk’. Soy milk is still the most widely available option. It’s made by either ground soybeans or soy protein powder, reconstituted with water and often adjusted with oil (and often sugar) to create the consistency and taste of cows milk. Soy milk is a good source of protein providing 7-12 grams in a 250ml glass and is often fortified with calcium and Vitamin D. Soy milk contains very little saturated fat but watch those added sugar levels…best to read the back of the carton!
Almond Milk:
Almond milk is made from ground almonds and filtered water. It’s lower in calories than other types of milk with just half the amount found in a glass of skim dairy milk, as long as it is unsweetened. It’s also free of saturated fat, and it’s naturally lactose-free. Almond milk is a good source of vitamin A and can be fortified to be a good source of calcium and vitamin D.
Coconut Milk:
Coconut water is the liquid inside a coconut, while coconut milk comes from the fruit’s white flesh. Coconuts contain a lipid called lauric acid, and many researchers believe that lauric acid can support the immune system and has antiviral and antifungal effects on the body. Coconut milk does contain high levels of saturated fat, but it also boasts a long list of vitamins and minerals. The nutritional contents of coconuts can vary due to a range of environmental factors so again, it pays to check the back of the carton!
Oat Milk:
Oat milk is a great choice for people with allergies or intolerances. It’s naturally free of lactose, nuts, soy, and gluten if made from certified gluten-free oats. It is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre to help keep you full. Commercial oat milk is also a good source of vitamin B12, which has been linked to healthy bones and a lower risk of osteoporosis.
Pea Milk:
The newest non-dairy alternative on the block. It’s nut-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. It’s better for the environment than other kinds of milk with much smaller water and carbon footprints. Pea milk is sugar-free and has 8 grams of protein per serving and 50% more calcium than other alternative milks. And don’t worry, Pea Milk doesn’t taste like peas!
If this drab winter has got you dreaming of warm beaches and tropical getaways, we hear you loud and clear! Grey days, chilly mornings, drizzly skies… it’s no wonder our energy levels, health and moods tend to take a nose-dive this time of year. A winter getaway to somewhere sunny, even if it’s just for a week, can make a huge difference by giving you a much-needed break from the groundhog day routine plus a chance to top-up that vitamin D.
But, before you reach for those passports and book your Bali break, have you ever stopped to think about the beautiful, warm spots right here in Australia?
It’s no surprise that we’re huge fans of The Kimberley region; our founder John Foss hails from Western Australia, and Kununurra is the home of our famous Australian grown chia farms. But, you needn’t take our word for it — there are so many great reasons why a winter getaway to The Kimberley should be on your bucket list. And, with August being the dry season, there’s never been a better time to go than right now!
Need a little extra inspiration? Here are just a few of the incredible things you could be doing in The Kimberley this winter:
Discover blow-your-mind scenery
Bookended by the towns Broome and Kununurra, The Kimberley is a huge expanse of wild landscape boasting rugged coastline, palm-fringed gorges, magnificent waterfalls, shimmering deserts and desolate mountains. Whether you’re looking for lazy beach days and luxury villas or off-road adventures to tropical waterfalls, The Kimberley has something for everyone.
See the amazing Bungle Bungles
Often likened to beehives thanks to their orange and black stripes, this cluster of enormous rock domes is one of the most striking geological landmarks in Western Australia. The Bungle Bungle Range is located in the World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, which is in the East Kimberley. Take a scenic helicopter flight to soak up the incredible view, or explore the park by foot and meander your way along the numerous walking tracks including the Echidna Chasm Walk and Piccaninny Creek Lookout. The park also offers several spots for overnight camping.
Road trip along ‘the Gibb’ road
Hire a 4WD in Broome or Kununurra and hit the road for one of Australia’s most epic journeys! The Gibb River Road is a 660km 4WD-only track that stretches through the middle of the Kimberley. A detour on one of the many off-shooting smaller roads will lead you to breathtaking gorges, swimming holes, camping grounds, and friendly outback stations. Along the Gib you’ll also find Aboriginal communities and conservation sanctuaries with accommodation like the Mornington Wilderness Camp.
One-third of all food produced for human consumption around the world goes to waste.
In Australia, we throw away around 3.1 million tonnes of food every year, which not only leads to a staggering waste of the energy, fuel and water used to grow the food but also contributes to dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. Many of us never think about the negative effects of decomposing food, but organic matter in landfills is actually responsible for 20% of all methane emissions.
Wasted food also costs the lives of millions of farm animals and hours of human labour, not to mention deforestation and the mountains of fertiliser and pesticides applied to crops that never get eaten. As a society, we have been challenging the food industry in recent years to make food production more environmentally friendly. But, we often fail to realise the role that we play as consumers, and that the amount of uneaten food we throw out at home is directly contributing to this global problem.
By thinking about the sustainable use of food and minimising our waste at home, we can all play our part in reducing environmental damage and contributing to a sustainable future for agriculture.
Connect with your supply
Becoming more connected to your food will help you avoid waste. Whether you grow your own food, shop at a locally-sourced farmers market, or simply take the time to learn about brands and suppliers at your local grocery store, the more you know and understand the process of your food supply the easier it is to take a conscious approach to your shopping, cooking and eating.
Know what you’ve got
Keep your fridge and pantry tidy and be mindful of the food you already have. We can all be guilty of forgetting the foods hidden at the back of the fridge, and accidentally doubling up! Make it a family ritual to have a weekly clear out of the pantry and fridge, and use the opportunity to think about meals you can make using your existing ingredients.
Store (and eat) your leftovers
Invest in quality storage containers in a range of shapes and sizes, making sure they are safe for both freezing and microwaving. We love this 10pc Glasslock oven-safe storage set. Learn how long certain foods will last (eg. a cooked lasagne will typically last 3-5 days in the fridge) and try to plan how and when you will eat these leftovers as your putting them into the fridge or freezer — that way, there’s less chance they’ll get forgotten! Label your leftovers with the date they were made, and try designating a certain shelf in your fridge so you always know where they are.
Get creative
There are plenty of ways to make use of the foods you would otherwise discard. Skip the store-bought stock and make your own bone broth from leftover bones. Similarly, you can use the often chopped-and-chucked parts of vegetables (like peels and ends) in vegetable soups and stocks. There are also a host of great recipes that make use of fruits that are a little past their best — bananas, in particular, are even better for baking when a little overripe! Take a look at our delicious Banana Raspberry Muffins, or try these super easy Overnight Banana Chia Oats.
Can you believe that we’re halfway through 2019 already? Time seems to move faster every year — one minute we’re toasting the New Year, the next we’re planning our Christmas holidays again.
This time of year can be a bit tough for many of us. Not only are we dealing with darker days and winter’s gloomy chill, but work pressures also tend to be building and we don’t have a long weekend in sight. Add to that the sudden panic as we realise we’ve not achieved nearly as much as we had hoped so far this year, and it’s a perfect storm for self-criticism.
But, rather than seeing this time of year as a reason to feel lousy, we believe it’s a fantastic time to pause for a minute and have a mid-year wellness check-in. How well are we looking after ourselves? What practices are we using to honour ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally? Many of us would have set healthy intentions for ourselves in the New Year; are we on track?
Speaking of New Year’s resolutions, research has shown that about half of all adults make these promises to themselves. But, fewer than 10% actually follow through for more than a few months.
With another six months to go, there is still time to make an impact on this year. So, what are some things we can do to get ourselves back on track to ensure we can end 2019 feeling proud of our well-est year yet?
Here are some of our go-to tips for a mid-year wellness checkup:
- Take a look at your goals for the year. Are they realistic? We can easily set ourselves up for failure if we expect too much of ourselves.
- On that note, let’s limit the self-judgement. We need to be kind to ourselves before we do anything else, so it pays to remember that we set ourselves these goals to benefit us, not to beat ourselves up over.
- Recommit to the wellness practises we might have let slide, such as daily exercise, healthy food choices etc.
- Practice some mindfulness. Research has shown that meditation and mindfulness can reduce stress. With less stress, we become more motivated and driven to achieve our goals.
- Take some time out. Usually at this time of year, our work, family and life pressures are ramping up. It’s a great time to take a little break, get out of town for a weekend away — with space comes perspective.
- Declutter your workspace or home. Having a clear, tidy space will leave you less stressed and overwhelmed, and create more headspace to keep things on track.
- Share your goals with someone else, or even team up with a friend who shares your intentions so you can both encourage one another. It’s amazing how motivating a little friendly accountability can be!
On Sunday 28 July we’ll be celebrating National Tree Day — Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event.
Co-founded in 1996 by Olivia Newton-John and Planet Ark, National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to put their hands in the earth and give back to their community. Each year, about 300,000 people volunteer their time to help green their community and make a difference to their local environment, in an effort to see one million new trees planted across the country.
The importance of planting trees isn’t just because it makes our streets and parks look nicer; trees are an essential part of our planet’s health.
For our Climate
Trees help to cool our planet down, absorbing many harmful greenhouse gases and releasing clean oxygen back into the atmosphere. This can make a significant impact on the temperature of our cities, where pollution and overheating are becoming a bigger issue each year.
For our Water
Trees capture rainwater and, with their intricate root systems acting like filters, can remove pollutants and slow down the water’s absorption into the ground. This process prevents harmful waterside erosion and reduces the risk of over-saturation and flooding.
For our Air
Trees are our planet’s natural air filtration system! In urban environments, trees absorb nasty gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and sweep up particles like dust and smoke. They also absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and reducing the effects of climate change.
So, what are you waiting for? National Tree Day is a great excuse to venture outdoors, get to know your community, have fun and — most importantly — make a seriously positive impact on the world around you! Find out how you can get involved in events near you.
We all know that eating superfoods can offer plenty of benefits for our inner health. But, you might be surprised to learn that many of your favourite superfoods can also offer powerful properties when applied topically as a beauty treatment. Talk about bang-for-buck!
Consumers are growing more educated every day, demanding to know exactly what ingredients are going into the products we buy and use. And with good reason — many of the most common chemicals used in skin care products can have dangerous outcomes not only for our health but often the environment, too. The more we learn, the more we are challenging beauty companies to replace those icky chemicals with natural ingredients. And we think that’s tremendous.
Here are just some of the super-beauty foods we’re loving right now:
Reishi-Mushrooms
Known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties, Reishi are said to slow down the aging process by improving blood circulation, which improves the elasticity and tone of your skin. Youth to the People use the Reishi-Mushroom in their beautiful Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream, also using adaptogenic herbs, known for their calming effects on the skin.
Moringa Oil
This essential oil is culled from the Moringa Oleifera tree, which is also known as the Miracle Tree. Moringa Oil is said to help with dry skin, psoriasis, and dandruff and has antibacterial properties that can aid wounds, cuts and scrapes. There are so many products containing this magic oil out there, but if we had to choose a favourite, it would be the Kiehls Damage Repair & Rehydration Shampoo for gentle cleansing and emergency strand care.
Spirulina
A longtime smoothie favourite, spirulina is rich in nutrients, which when applied topically, can firm the look of sagging skin, protect the skin, and also offer anti-aging properties. Spirulina also encourages regeneration of new skin cells, helping us maintain a healthy glow. Affordable yet effective, the Sukin brand offers a beautiful Detoxifying Facial Scrub packed with lots of goodies including spirulina.
Chia seeds
Ah, how could we miss our own favourite nutritional powerhouse: chia! Not only does the humble chia seed offer a long list of dietary benefits, but it also offers plenty of beauty benefits, too. In particular, chia seed oil has been clinically proven to help your skin fight irritation, dehydration and even banish blemishes. It is also noted as being “the richest botanical source of 18:3 n-3 fatty acid” which means it can offer powerful anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically. Add a little chia oil to your moisturiser for a super boost of hydration, or try this DIY hair mask or face mask at home!
Ginger
Good old ginger. Best known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, studies show that ginger can also have a soothing effect on the skin. We love this Origins Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub —it starts as a gentle scrub, buffing away dry skin, then becomes a creamy, soothing lather, leaving the skin soft and invigorated.