Vegan Yogurt Substitute

If you are newly transitioning into the vegan lifestyle, finding replacements for common diary products can seem challenging. Fortunately, many dairy-free yogurt products are readily available in supermarkets and natural food stores.

Types

• Vegan yogurt substitutes include cultured products made with soy, coconut, almond or rice milk as a base. Arrowroot yogurt is made from ground arrowroot plants, making it a good choice if you have allergies to soy or nut products.

Benefits

• Like traditional yogurt, most vegan substitutes have live active cultures, also known as probiotics. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, probiotics are useful for treating a variety of digestive ailments including irritable bowel syndrome.

Considerations

• You can also make your own vegan cultured yogurt. Add a 1/4 cup of vegan yogurt starter to 2 cups of heated soy or nut milk -- either store bought or homemade. Add sweetener if desired, cover and let sit in a warm place for 10 to 12 hours. Refrigerate for 12 more hours and your vegan yogurt is ready to serve.