Plant-based drinks from Pedroncka and Lidl
Plant-based drinks from Pedroncka and Lidl
The dominant alternative to cow’s milk has been soy-based beverages for centuries. Today, a larger range of raw materials is used from which vegetable drinks are produced. These include coconuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, edible chestnuts, hemp seeds, and many grain crops such as oats, rice, and quinoa. These drinks are commonly used by people who follow a vegan diet, avoid cow’s milk, due to allergies or intolerances, and those who simply don’t like milk.
Currently, the choice of plant-based drinks is very wide, and producers are constantly launching new products on the market. We can choose from many types of drinks: natural, flavored, sweetened, rich in vitamins or organic.
Remember, however, that although plant-based drinks are used as milk substitutes, they differ significantly from them in terms of macronutrient content (depending on the raw material). For example, a coconut drink is high in fat, a soy drink is high in protein, and a rice or oat drink is high in carbohydrates.
So what is worth paying attention to when buying plant-based drinks?
- Short list of ingredients
To produce a plant-based drink, you only need water and a solid raw material (base), such as rice, oats or almonds. Accordingly, the shorter and simpler the composition of the drink, the better. But this does not mean that drinks enriched with vitamins and minerals, as well as drinks with added substances in the form of stabilizers or emulsifiers, for example, are bad. If you feel better after eating it, you can include it in your diet.
- high solids content (base)
The amount of the base, that is, a solid component, such as soybeans, rice or oats, mainly affects the taste of the plant drink. Therefore, the higher the base content, the more unique the taste of the drink.
- add calcium
Calcium is the main building material for bones and teeth. It is also necessary for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Dairy products are the primary source of calcium in a traditional diet. Therefore, people who exclude these products from their diets for various reasons (for example, vegetarians or people who are intolerant to cow’s milk proteins) may have problems getting the right amount of calcium. In such a situation, plant-based drinks can be a good source of easily digestible calcium. These people should choose calcium-fortified vegetable drinks.
- Added Sugars vs. Naturally Occurring
Many plant-based drinks like rice, quinoa, or oats naturally contain more carbohydrates and simple sugars. However, these will be naturally occurring sugars in the product. Like lactose in milk.
Therefore, when choosing a vegetable drink, the most important thing is to be guided by the ingredients. If sugar, maltodextrin or sugar syrup are included in the ingredients list – these products will not be recommended.
People with carbohydrate disorders should limit the intake of rice drink – due to the natural high content of simple sugars and a high glycemic index. For healthy people, rice drink without added sugar will be suitable.
The most common additional ingredients in vegetable drinks:
- vitamins and minerals
The vitamins and minerals often added to plant-based drinks are vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, E, and D2, folic acid, biotin, and calcium.
A balanced diet, which contains optimal amounts of vegetables and fruits, provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is not necessary to supplement them in the diet in addition to vegetable drinks. Said calcium is an exception, and its addition may be the main source of this nutrient in people’s diet with the exception of dairy products from the diet.
- Stabilizers, Emulsifiers & Thickeners
Stabilizers are substances that enable to preserve the physical and chemical properties of foodstuffs, that is, a guarantee above all the durability of products. Stabilizers prevent or delay product degradation.
Thickening agents and emulsifiers are substances that affect the correct consistency of the product. They increase the viscosity and density of the products, and provide a pleasant, velvety creamy texture for growing drinks. It also prevents the buildup of natural sediment at the bottom.
- Locust Bean Gum – Made from the seeds of the ceratonia silica fruit .
- Gellan gum – comes from the fermentation of the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea.
- Guar gum – from the Cyamopsis tetragonolobus tree .
- Xanthan gum – from sugar, glucose or starch produced during fermentation by Xanthomonas campestris .
- Lecithin – from soybeans or sunflower seeds.
The above additives of natural origin and in limited quantities do not have a negative effect on health. However, adding them to plant-based drinks is unnecessary
- Acidity regulators
- Potassium phosphate – used as an acidity regulator and affects the taste of drinks. These compounds are added in small quantities, however, it must be remembered that an excess of phosphates in the diet can be harmful and negatively affect calcium metabolism.
- Flavors and Extracts
In botanical drinks, we can also find aromas and extracts that add flavour. It can be natural or artificial. In natural drinks, this additive is not necessary. Natural flavor is best for flavored drinks. However, it is usual to add sweeteners such as sugar or sweeteners to it to improve the taste.
- The entry “flavor” – may indicate that the additive is artificial
- Entrance “Natural Flavor” – proves that the additive is of natural vegetable origin
- The word “extract” – a perfume extracted from a raw material using water or alcohol.
The plant-based beverages available at Pedronka and Lidl were divided into three groups according to their composition:
- The Healthiest Option – These are the best options available in stores. They have a short formula and good nutritional value. This is why it is so beneficial to have access to these products.
- A good choice – these are vegetable drinks that, despite their good composition, contain unnecessary additives such as aromatics and thickeners. You can access them from time to time. They would also be a good choice, although you shouldn’t have chosen them in the first place.
- It is advisable not to use products – the drinks included in this group contain unnecessary added sugar and other additives. It’s still safe in optimal amounts, but it certainly shouldn’t feature regularly in a healthy diet.
ladybird
The healthiest choice
Vegetarian Drinks We Recommend
This group includes drinks with a short and simple composition that do not contain unnecessary ingredients in the form of added sugar, emulsifiers or stabilizers.
GoVege oat drink
The drink has a short composition. It contains the products necessary for its manufacture, without unnecessary additives. The oat base accounts for more than 10%. The only downside is the lack of fortifications, so a balanced calcium diet is essential. The product will not only be suitable for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Ingredients: Water, 12% whole grain sheep, sunflower oil, sea salt
Nutritional values: 42 calories, fat: 0.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.1g, carbohydrates: 7.8g, including sugars: 4.5g, protein: 0.7g, salt: 008g
GoVege Rice Drink
This drink also has a short composition and a high base – up to 17% rice. This product has a high content of carbohydrates (the peculiarity of the raw material is rice). If you like sweet dishes, this naturally sweet treat is perfect for porridge, millet or pudding. Dishes will not require additional sweetening. The drink is fortified with minerals and vitamins.
Ingredients: Water, Rice 17%, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2
Nutritional values: 65 calories, fat: 1g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.1g, carbohydrates: 13.4g, including sugars: 7.6g, protein: 0.3g, salt: 0.1g
Good Choice
Products that you can choose, but it is not necessary to recommend
This group includes vegetable drinks, which, despite their good composition, contain unnecessary additives in the form of stabilizers, emulsifiers or artificial flavors.
Alpro Unsweetened Soy Drink “No Sugar”
This drink is characterized by a greater amount of protein and a lower calorie value. Small base less than 9%. The advantage is fortification with calcium. Unfortunately, the drink contains unnecessary substances that stabilize, emulsify and enrich the taste.
Ingredients: Soybean Base (Water, Hulled Soybeans (8.7%)), Acidity Regulators (Potassium Phosphate), Calcium, Flavors, Sea Salt, Stabilizer (Gellan Gum), Vitamins (B2, B12, D2)
Nutritional values: 33 calories, fat: 1.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.3g, carbohydrates: 0g, including sugars: 0g, protein: 3.3g, salt: 0.09g
Alpro Coconut Drink
The drink is low in calories. The norm is less than 9%. The advantage is fortification with calcium. Unfortunately, it contains additives that stabilize, emulsify and affect the taste.
Ingredients: Water, Coconut Water Cream (5.3%), Rice (3.3%), Calcium, Stabilizers (Guar Gum, Gellan Gum, Xanthan Gum), Sea Salt, Flavors, Vitamins (B12, D2).
Nutritional values: 20 calories, fat: 0.9g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.9g, carbohydrates: 2.7g, including sugars: 1.9g, protein: 0.1g, salt: 0, 13g
Products are recommended against
Products we do not recommend
This group includes drinks that contain added sugar, as well as other unnecessary substances in the form of stabilizers, emulsifiers or artificial flavors.
GoVege Vegan Soy Drink
Despite its short composition, the drink has added sugar and aromas that enrich the taste.
Ingredients: Water, 8% Soybean, Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2, Flavors
Nutritional values: 44 calories, fat: 1.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.3g, carbohydrates: 3.2g, including sugars: 2.4g, protein: 3.3g, salt: 0, 13g
GoVege Vanilla Soy Drink
This drink has a relatively low content of soybeans and contains a large amount of added sugar.
Ingredients: Water, 8% Soybean, Sugar, Calcium, Vanilla Extract, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Sea Salt, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2
Nutritional values: 52 calories, fat: 1.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.3g, carbohydrates: 5.3g, including sugars: 4.5g, protein: 3.3g, salt: 0, 13g
GoVege Coconut Rice & Vegetable Drink
Despite the relatively high content of coconut and rice (more than 20%), this drink contains thickeners and a sweetener – maltodextrin.
Ingredients: water, rice 11.5%, coconut extract 10% (coconut pulp, water), maltodextrin, calcium carbonate, emulsifier: lecithin; Thickener: gellan gum. Salt, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2
Nutritional values: 63 calories, fat: 1.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 1.6g, carbohydrates: 11.3g, including sugars: 5.9g, protein: 0.3g, salt: 0, 09g
GoVege Almond Drink
The significant drawback of this drink is the very low content of the almond base and the addition of sugar and maltodextrin.
Ingredients: water, sugar, 2.3% almond, maltodextrin, calcium, sea salt, emulsifier: lecithin; Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2
Nutritional values: 30 calories, fat: 1.4g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.1g, carbohydrates: 3.7g, including sugars: 2.7g, protein: 0.6g, salt: 0, 13g
Albro plant drink “Creamy Almond”
Caramelized almonds as the base of the product is a very small proportion. Carbs come only from added sugar. In addition, the composition includes substances that strengthen texture and taste.
Ingredients: Water, Caramelized Ground Almonds (2%), Sugar, Calcium, Sea Salt, Stabilizers (Locust Gum, Gellan Gum), Acidity Regulator (Potassium Phosphate), Aroma, Vitamins (B2, B12, E, D2)
Nutritional values: 19 calories, fat: 0.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.1g, carbohydrates: 2.5g, including sugars: 2.5g, protein: 0.3g, salt: 0, 13g
LIDL
The healthiest choice
Vegetarian Drinks We Recommend
This group includes drinks with a short and simple composition that do not contain unnecessary ingredients in the form of added sugar, emulsifiers or stabilizers.
Nutri Vege Oats A classic vegan drink without sugar
This drink has a short and simple composition – it contains only the ingredients necessary for its preparation, and it is also rich in calcium and vitamins. The content of the base (oats) is high.
Ingredients: Water, Oats (10%), Sunflower Oil, Salt, Fertilizers – Niacin, Vitamin B6, B12, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium Carbonate.
Nutritional values per 100ml: 41 calories, 1.5g fat, including 0.2g saturated fatty acids, 6.7g carbohydrates, including sugars 3.7g, protein 0.3g, salt 0.1g.
Belos Unsweetened Soy Drink
The drink has a short and simple composition – it contains only the necessary ingredients for its preparation and is enriched with seaweed, which is a source of calcium. The main content (soybean) is relatively high. The drink contains a lot of protein – its content is similar to the amount of protein contained in cow’s milk. This is a feature of soy drinks.
Ingredients: Water, hulled soybeans (9.7%), lithothaminium calcareous seaweed (0.4%), sea salt.
Nutritional values per 100ml: 39 calories, fat 2.2g, including saturated fatty acids 0.4g, carbohydrates 0.7g, including sugars 0.7g, protein 3.6g, salt 0.08g.
Bilous rice drink
The drink has a short and simple composition – it contains only the ingredients necessary for its preparation. It does not contain calcium, which can be harmful for people who exclude dairy products from the diet. Due to the high content of the base (rice), the drink contains large amounts of natural sugars, so it is not recommended to drink it in large quantities, and we advise not to take it by people with carbohydrate disorders.
Ingredients: water, rice (17%), sunflower oil, salt.
Nutritional values per 100ml: 59 calories, 0.9g fat, including saturated fatty acids 0.1g, 12.2g carbohydrates, including sugars 8.0g, protein 0.2g, salt 0.1g.
Good Choice
Products that you can choose, but it is not necessary to recommend
This group includes vegetable drinks, which, despite their good composition, contain unnecessary additives in the form of stabilizers, emulsifiers or artificial flavors.
Vimundo rice and coconut drink in a can
Apart from the ingredients for its preparation, the drink contains additional components in the form of stabilizers. The calorific value of the drink is low – the lowest among all the plant-based drinks offered by Lidl.
Ingredients: Water, Coconut Kernel Extract (5%), Rice (3%), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Stabilizers (Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum).
Nutritional values per 100ml: 21 calories, fat 1.3g, including saturated fatty acids 1.2g, carbohydrates 2.3g, including sugars 1.6g, fiber 0.1g, protein 0.1g, salt 0.13g.
Alpro Barista Oat Drink
In addition to the components necessary for its preparation, the drink contains such additional components as an acidity regulator.
Ingredients: Oat Base (Water, Oats (10%)), Sunflower Oil, Dandelion Root Fiber, Pea Protein, Acidity Regulator (Potassium Phosphate), Sea Salt, Vitamins (B2, B12, D2).
Nutritional values per 100ml: 59 calories, fat 3.0g, including saturated fatty acids 0.3g, carbohydrates 6.7g, including sugars 3.3g, fiber 1.0g, protein 0.8g, salt 0.13g.
Products are recommended against
Products we do not recommend
This group includes drinks that contain added sugar, as well as other unnecessary substances in the form of stabilizers, emulsifiers or artificial flavors.
Vimundo rice and coconut drink in a bottle
Apart from the ingredients needed for its preparation, the drink contains added sugar in the form of rice syrup.
Ingredients: Water, rice syrup (11%), coconut pulp extract (9%), citrus fibre, sea salt.
Nutritional values per 100ml: 57 calories, fat 2.2g, including saturated fatty acids 2.1g, carbohydrates 8.9g including sugars 1.9g, protein 0.3g, salt 0.08g.
Alpro cashew drink
Apart from the ingredients needed for its preparation, the drink contains added sugar and other extra substances, such as stabilizers and emulsifiers. The content of the base (cashew) is very low.
Ingredients: Water, cashew nuts (3.1%), sugar, calcium, sea salt, stabilizers (locust gum, gellan gum), emulsifier (lecithin (sunflower)), vitamins (B2, B12, E, D2).
Nutritional values per 100ml: 23 calories, 1.1g fat, including 0.2g saturated fatty acids, 2.6g carbohydrates, including sugars 2.0g, fiber 0.2g, protein 0.5g, salt 0.13g.
Pelos Almond Drink
Apart from the ingredients needed for its preparation, the drink contains added sugar and stabilizers. Sugar occupies the second place in the composition and there is more of it than the base (almond), which accounts for just over 2% of the drink.
Ingredients: water, cane sugar (3%), almonds (2.3%), sunflower oil, salt, stabilizers: gellan gum, locust gum.
Nutritional information per 100ml: 26 calories, fat 1.3g, including saturated fatty acids 0.1g, carbohydrates 3.1g, including sugars 3.1g, protein 0.5g, salt 0.13g.
