People making dairy-free post-exercise smoothies
Almond drink can provide the liquid base. If protein is part of your meal plan, choose a separate protein-containing ingredient rather than judging the smoothie by its dairy-free label alone.
Who is this choice for?
People regularly replacing milk
Check the particular drink for added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. The NHS advises people following a vegan diet to consider these nutrients across their diet, while the UK government’s 2025 assessment notes that plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient content.
People who prefer short ingredient lists
A simple formulation may matter more to you than added nutrients. Plenish describes its organic Almond M*lk as containing water, organic almonds and salt; consider what the rest of your diet supplies if you choose an organic drink in place of a fortified one.
What should you check?
Start with the role the drink will play in your meal, then compare the exact variant’s nutrition and ingredients rather than relying on the brand name.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein in the meal | Read protein per 100ml and per serving on the carton. Tesco lists 0.5g per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; Marks & Spencer lists 0.5g per 100g for its own unsweetened drink, a different measurement basis. | I want almond drink as a dairy-free liquid, with a separate protein-containing food or drink if protein is a goal for this meal. |
| Fortification | Look for calcium and, where relevant to your diet, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the exact pack. The UK government’s 2025 plant-based-drinks assessment says nutrient content varies considerably. | If I use this regularly instead of milk, I want to know which nutrients the drink contributes and which I get elsewhere. |
| Sugars and variant | Compare the sugars line per serving and read the ingredients. Tesco lists 7.0g sugars per 250ml for its Sweetened Almond Drink, which includes sugar as an ingredient; do not apply that figure to its unsweetened variant. | For a smoothie I make routinely, I would rather choose the level of sweetness myself than assume every almond drink has the same formulation. |
| Allergens | Read the almond declaration and any peanut or other-nut precautionary statement on the exact pack. Marks & Spencer states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy. | Dairy-free wording does not answer my nut-allergy question; I need to check the product’s own allergen information. |
| Ingredients | Compare the ingredient list with any fortification you want. Plenish describes its organic Almond M*lk as water, organic almonds and salt; the UK government’s 2025 assessment says plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be nutrient-fortified. | A short ingredient list appeals to me, but I do not want to mistake it for the nutrient profile of a fortified drink. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming almond drink supplies the protein for the whole meal
Tesco lists 0.5g protein per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. Marks & Spencer lists 0.5g per 100g for its unsweetened product, so neither label should be read as a description of the protein in a complete smoothie or meal.
Check the serving you intend to use and choose a separate protein-containing ingredient if your meal plan calls for one.
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Treating organic and fortified drinks as nutritional equivalents
The UK government’s 2025 plant-based-drinks assessment states that drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be nutrient-fortified. A short ingredient list therefore does not tell you that a drink supplies the added nutrients listed on a fortified carton.
If you choose an organic almond drink, consider calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 across the rest of your diet.
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Picking a sweetened variant by mistake
Variants from the same retailer can differ: Tesco lists 7.0g sugars per 250ml for its Sweetened Almond Drink and includes sugar in its ingredients.
Read both the variant name and the sugars declaration on the carton you are buying.
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Reading dairy-free as nut-allergy advice
Almond drink contains a nut ingredient, and individual products can carry further warnings. Marks & Spencer states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.
Do not choose almond drink for someone with an almond or nut allergy. Check the exact pack and seek appropriate allergy advice for peanut or cross-contact concerns.
Brand and retailer references
These examples illustrate different formulations; a brand’s wider range should not be assumed to share one nutrition profile.
Alpro
Alpro describes its Almond Original as dairy-free and a source of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- Almond Original has stated nutrient additions worth comparing with your regular milk replacement.
- Check the exact Original, No Sugars or other variant: Alpro’s Almond Original description does not establish another variant’s protein or fortification.
Rude Health
Rude Health is an almond-drink option for shoppers considering an organic or short-ingredient-list formulation.
- Compare its Pure Almond variant’s ingredient list with other drinks if formulation is your priority.
- Check the exact carton’s nutrition rather than assuming an organic drink supplies added nutrients or the protein for a post-exercise meal.
Plenish
Plenish describes its organic Almond M*lk as made with water, organic almonds and salt.
- Its stated three-ingredient formulation gives short-ingredient-list shoppers a specific option to compare.
- The UK government’s 2025 assessment says UK plant-based drinks labelled organic cannot be nutrient-fortified; assess other nutrient sources if this replaces milk regularly.
Tesco
Tesco’s Unsweetened Almond Drink lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins, alongside 0.5g protein per 100ml.
- Its product information lets you check named added nutrients and protein on the same variant.
- The protein figure describes the drink, not a complete post-exercise meal; recheck the current carton if its formulation matters to your choice.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.
- The product label states 0.5g protein per 100g, allowing a comparison on its stated measurement basis.
- Marks & Spencer says this product is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.
Almond drinks on Joybuy
These Alpro almond drinks are options to consider as the dairy-free liquid in a post-exercise smoothie or meal. Check the particular variant’s label for the protein, sugars and fortification relevant to your choice.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L
Consider this No Sugars variant as the liquid in a dairy-free smoothie. Check its current protein declaration and include a protein-containing ingredient if your post-exercise meal calls for one.
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Alpro Almond Drink, 6 x 1L
If choosing this almond drink for a smoothie or meal, compare its current sugars and protein declarations with your intended serving. Choose the protein-containing part of the meal separately if needed.
Questions about almond drink after exercise
Is almond drink enough for a post-exercise meal on its own?
Do not assume it supplies the protein you want from the whole meal. Tesco lists 0.5g protein per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, while Marks & Spencer lists 0.5g per 100g for its unsweetened product. Use almond drink as a liquid base and choose a protein-containing food or drink separately if that is part of your plan.
What matters if almond drink regularly replaces milk?
Check the exact drink for added calcium and, where relevant to your diet, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. The UK government’s 2025 assessment says plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient content, so a fortified label on one variant tells you nothing definite about another.
Are organic almond drinks fortified in the UK?
The UK government’s 2025 SACN and COT assessment states that plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients. If you choose an organic almond drink for its ingredients, consider the nutrients you obtain from other foods and drinks.
Does dairy-free almond drink suit someone with a nut or peanut allergy?
Dairy-free wording does not make almond drink suitable for someone with an almond or nut allergy. Check the exact pack’s ingredients and precautionary statements: Marks & Spencer says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy. Seek appropriate allergy advice if peanut exposure or cross-contact is a concern.