Do Vegetarians Drink Milk? Here’s What You Need to Know!

So, you have decided to try a vegetarian diet. You know the basics: no red meat, fish, or chicken. But does this mean you also have to forgo milk and your other favorite dairy products?

Whether you’re simply trying to eat more plant-based foods or have decided to live a vegetarian diet, it’s critical to include the proper nutrients in your meatless meals, especially protein and calcium.

As you learn more about what is and isn’t allowed in a vegetarian diet, it is only natural for questions to arise. Most of these questions relate to foods you can and cannot eat.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about vegetarianism and if and how milk has a place in this diet.

Table of Contents [Hide]

1. Can Vegetarians Drink Milk?
2. Why is it Good to Drink Milk on a Vegetarian Diet?
3. What Other Dairy Products Can Vegetarians Eat?
4. Are There Any Reasons Why Vegetarians Should Not Drink Milk?
5. Can Vegetarians Drink Milk Alternatives?
6. Best Vegetarian Dishes with Dairy
7. Final Thoughts on Can Vegetarians Drink Milk

Can Vegetarians Drink Milk?

Yes, milk is vegetarian, according to the most basic definition, and you may still call yourself a vegetarian if you drink it on a vegetarian diet.

At its most basic level, a vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and fish. There are, however, a variety of vegetarian diets with additional permissions or limits.

You may have heard about a pescatarian, lacto- or ovo-vegetarian, or vegan diet – technically vegetarian.

Aside from a vegan diet, nearly all derivatives of a vegetarian diet allow milk. So, you likely do not have to worry about including dairy if you are trying to apply a vegetarian diet to your lifestyle.

However, if you don’t like dairy products or milk, feel free to leave them out of your diet, as it is not required to include them in a vegetarian diet.

Milk originates from animals, most commonly cows; however, it is not animal flesh. Hence, it is not meat. Besides cow’s milk, many people in the United States and other Western nations consume goat and sheep’s milk.

You might consider a vegan diet if you’re still concerned or confused. Vegans do not eat animal products like milk, eggs, or dairy products like cheese and butter.

Why is it Good to Drink Milk on a Vegetarian Diet?

For vegetarians, milk is a comprehensive source of protein. If you’re thinking about going meatless, remember that many plant-based protein sources are incomplete, meaning you might miss out on some essential building blocks our bodies require.

Because natural dairy milk is a high-quality and pure protein source, it supplies vegetarians with the entire spectrum of necessary amino acids. Protein is required for the body’s health and strength, from muscles to hair, bones to teeth.

Americans, per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, do not consume enough calcium. Even though vegetarians consume 30% more milk than non-vegetarians and consume an additional 150mg of calcium, most vegetarians cannot consume the suggested three daily servings of milk and dairy products.

Calcium is another crucial component that may be obtained through milk, whether or not you follow a strict vegetarian diet. Sure, vegetarians can source their calcium from plant-based foods. However, the required portions to meet the daily recommended amount of calcium may be unrealistic for most.

Milk also contains other essential nutrients vegetarians may find challenging to incorporate into their diet.

Furthermore, replacing milk with non-dairy calcium sources such as fortified soy milk and leafy greens might result in dietary deficiencies in other essential elements such as vitamin D, protein, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, vitamin B12, and vitamin A.

Milk is a quick, tasty, and cost-effective meal option. Drinking milk can help you extend your food budget, which is excellent when high production costs eat away at your food budget.

Milk has more nutritional content than almost any other drink for roughly 25 cents a glass. B vitamins for energy, protein for muscle mass, vitamin A for a robust immune system, and bone-building minerals like calcium and vitamin D are all found in an 8-ounce glass of milk.

What Other Dairy Products Can Vegetarians Eat?

The recommended amount of dairy for anyone over the age of nine is three servings each day. Although a glass of milk (one serving of dairy) provides many necessary nutrients, especially for those adhering to a plant-based diet, there are many ways to ensure you eat the suggested dairy daily.

A vegetarian diet’s variety of dairy products allows you to use milk and dairy throughout multiple meals. These other dairy products also contribute different flavors and textures to food. As we all know, a diet with many options allows for more access and consistency.

If you don’t like milk or just aren’t keen on drinking three glasses daily, you can incorporate many other dairy foods into your diet that provide similar nutrients and are still vegetarian-friendly. The most common sources of dairy include:

All of these foods can be ingested while following a vegetarian diet and provide the opportunity to create unique dishes. With so many options, you’ll easily reach your daily recommended servings of dairy without getting bored with the same glass of milk.

Are There Any Reasons Why Vegetarians Should Not Drink Milk?

Of course, vegetarians do not have to drink milk. You can still include eggs in your diet for protein without eliminating animal-source foods completely – because vegetarians restrict animal flesh, eggs are still safe.

Even so, there are still many reasons why a vegetarian may wish to remove milk from their diet. Some may just be lactose intolerant, and their bodies physically can’t handle milk or its products. However, there are still several other reasons why vegetarians exclude milk and dairy products from their diets.

Some vegetarians withhold from consuming dairy because of ethical reasons. For example, vegans argue that dairy cows are mistreated, including steroid use and forceful impregnation, even though they are milked alive.

Others keep milk out of their daily consumption because of health issues. It’s possible that, for some, dairy has a detrimental impact on digestion and cholesterol and contains hormones or a protein that doesn’t agree with their digestive system.

Can Vegetarians Drink Milk Alternatives?

As you may already know, there are many dairy-free milk alternatives. These are often added to vegan diets instead of milk sourced from animals. These milk alternatives include:

Some of these milk alternatives are fortified and include nutrients that you may not otherwise be able to get from plants.

However, if you are following a vegetarian diet, it is recommended to include dairy. Not only do dairy products add more protein to your diet, which is challenging to source solely from plants, but they also provide necessary vitamins and nutrients that you won’t get from a meatless diet.

Best Vegetarian Dishes with Dairy

You still can’t eat a cheeseburger on a vegetarian diet, but you can still add cream, cheese, milk, butter, and many others to add the same flavor and richness to your favorite meatless recipes.

For breakfast, you can enjoy creamy smoothies packed with your preferred fruits and vegetables – this is an easy and effective way to get many diverse nutrients and vitamins in a single meal.

Other delicious vegetarian breakfasts with dairy include pancakes, cottage cheese toast, and even a cheesy egg sandwich!

For lunch or dinner, you can try vegetable tacos with cheese, creamy soups, grain bowls, pasta with cheese, sour cream, and even a bit of yogurt for a particularly surprising and delicious sauce.

Luckily, almost all desserts are vegetarian-friendly, so you can typically enjoy all of your favorites without worrying about sticking to the guidelines of a vegetarian diet.

Final Thoughts on Can Vegetarians Drink Milk

Regardless of the diet you are trying to follow, ensure that the food you consume makes you feel good and healthy.

Luckily, vegetarianism is a plant-based diet that still allows for milk and other dairy products. This means you can choose a friendlier diet without letting go of as many food groups.

Sure, you can be a vegetarian who does not drink milk, but if you enjoy the occasional glass of cool milk or mozzarella on your salad, you won’t have to say no or find a plant-based alternative. Milk is completely permissible on a vegetarian diet!

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