Choose almond milk as a dairy-free base for cereal, coffee or smoothies, rather than relying on it for the protein in a meal. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust advises getting protein from other foods when using lower-protein dairy-free drinks; if protein is the main priority, consider a higher-protein drink or an appropriate protein-rich ingredient alongside the almond milk. Check the exact carton for sugars, fortification and allergens, as recipes differ.
If you use an almond drink in breakfast or a shake, consider where the meal’s protein comes from. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust advises obtaining protein from other foods or choosing higher-protein ingredients when dairy-free drinks provide less protein.
If you want an almond drink for coffee, cereal or smoothies, compare the exact variants rather than relying on the flavour name. Alpro lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Almond Roasted No Sugars and 2.4g per 100ml for Almond Original.
If an almond drink regularly replaces dairy, look for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on its label. Check the allergen statement too: dairy-free does not mean suitable for someone with a nut allergy.
Start with protein per 100ml if the drink is going into a protein-focused meal, then compare the exact recipes for nutrients, sugars and allergens.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Read protein per 100ml on the exact carton. Decide which other ingredient will provide protein if the drink is only the liquid base. | I use almond milk in a protein-focused breakfast or shake and need the rest of the meal to supply protein. |
| Fortification | Check the label for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. The UK government’s SACN/COT assessment says plant-based drinks vary in nutrient content and UK drinks labelled organic cannot be fortified with nutrients. | If I regularly replace dairy with an almond drink, I want to know which nutrients that particular drink contains. |
| Sugars | Compare sugars per 100ml across the exact variants. Alpro lists 0g for Almond Roasted No Sugars and 2.4g for Almond Original. | For everyday coffee or cereal, I want to choose a recipe whose sugar content fits what I am looking for. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and precautionary allergen statement on the current pack. Sainsbury’s warns about other-nut allergy for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; M&S says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy. | Someone drinking it has a nut or peanut allergy, so I need to assess the exact product’s warning rather than rely on its dairy-free description. |
| Ingredients | Compare the ingredient lists if recipe simplicity matters. Rude Health Pure Almond lists water and 5% organic Italian almonds; its Almond Drink also lists rice and sunflower oil. | I prefer a particular type of recipe and want to know what is in the carton, not just that it is almond-based. |
Almond milk can provide the liquid without providing much of the meal’s protein. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust advises getting protein from other foods when using lower-protein dairy-free drinks.
Check protein per 100ml, then consider a suitable protein-rich ingredient or a higher-protein drink if protein is the purpose of the shake.
Protein, sugars and fortification differ between the named products and variants. The UK government’s SACN/COT assessment also notes that nutrient composition varies across plant-based drinks.
Compare the current ingredient and nutrition panels for the exact cartons you are considering, particularly if you use the drink regularly in place of dairy.
An almond drink contains almonds, and products can carry additional warnings about other nuts or peanuts.
For anyone with a relevant allergy, check the complete allergen statement on the exact pack and seek appropriate clinical advice where needed.
The UK government’s SACN/COT assessment states that plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients.
If calcium, iodine or particular vitamins matter when replacing dairy, read the nutrition panel and consider how those nutrients are supplied elsewhere in your diet.
These examples show why the exact variant matters: ingredient lists and nutrition panels are not interchangeable across a brand’s range.
Alpro offers distinct Almond Original and Almond Roasted No Sugars drinks.
Rude Health offers almond drinks with different ingredient lists.
Plenish’s regular Almond M*lk lists water, organic almonds and salt; its Barista Almond M*lk is a separate product.
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is a fortified own-label option.
Sainsbury’s Unsweetened Almond Drink is a fortified chilled option.
M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink is presented for uses including smoothies and cereal.
This almond drink option is for using a dairy-free liquid base in meals or drinks; assess the protein in the whole meal separately.
No image available
This dairy-free almond drink can serve as the liquid base for a protein-focused meal, with protein supplied by another suitable ingredient if needed. The listed bundle contains eight 1L cartons; check the current pack’s nutrition, fortification and allergen information for this exact variant.
Do not rely on a standard almond drink as the main source of protein in a meal. For example, Alpro lists 0.5g protein per 100ml for Almond Roasted No Sugars, while Tesco lists 0.7g per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. Check the exact carton and account for the other ingredients in the meal.
Use the almond drink as the liquid, then choose a suitable protein-rich ingredient if the smoothie needs to provide protein. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust advises obtaining protein from other foods or choosing higher-protein ingredients when using lower-protein dairy-free drinks; check that any added ingredient fits your dietary needs and allergies.
If an almond drink regularly replaces dairy for you, check its label for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 rather than assuming they are present. The UK government’s SACN/COT assessment says plant-based drinks vary in nutrient content and that UK plant-based drinks labelled organic cannot be fortified with nutrients.
An almond drink is not suitable for someone with an almond allergy, and other allergy warnings depend on the exact product. Read its full label: M&S says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy, while Sainsbury’s warns about other-nut allergy for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.