HEALTH

Fact: It is estimated that approximately 68% of humans worldwide have lactose intolerance, per the National Institute of Health. Also fact: Ice cream is delicious. 

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, lactose intolerance refers to the inability for your body to break down the lactase sugar enzyme present in milk products. As a result, you may have stomach pain, bloat or other annoying, race-to-the-bathroom-type feelings. Lactose intolerance isn't totally treatable, but you can take lactase pills to mitigate the effects.

Whether you're aware of your body's relationship with dairy or not, it's always a good idea to try new foods and see what works best with your bod. That's why we've rounded up the absolute yummiest non-dairy ice creams for you to try ASAP. And DW, it's not a little ice-based cop-out like ~raspberry sorbet~. We're talking *actual* ice cream, people. 

Ben & Jerry's Non-Dairy Ice Cream

Half Baked. Cherry Garcia. Phish Food. The Tonight Dough. Iconic flavors made dairy-free. 

Our fave Vermont-based brothers Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have done their best to ensure that us non-dairy girlies are still getting the eclectic ice cream combos we know and love. Ben & Jerry's Non-Dairy ice creams use either sunflower butter or almond milk instead of typical cow's milk.

Flavor Recs: P.B. & Cookies, The Tonight Dough, "Milk" & Cookies

@benandjerrys

So Delicious Dairy Free Ice Cream

The name doesn't lie!

So Delicious Dairy Free Ice Cream is, for lack of a better word, delicious. With over six alt milks to choose from, you'll have a dessert selection rivaling the best local ice cream parlor. Can't decide? Try out the desserts made with Wondermilk, a creamy blend of oat, coconut and soymilks. 

Flavor Recs: Cookies & Crème (Wondermilk), Vanilla Bean Sandwiches (coconutmilk), Snickerdoodle (cashewmilk) 

@so_delicious

Oatly Frozen Dessert Ice Cream

IDK about you, but Oatly milk is our latte milk of choice. It's light but still creamy, with a benign taste we're obsessed with (because nut milks are, well, nutty). It's no wonder that it works *perfectly* for ice cream too. And Oatly's branding? So. Adorable. We can't get enough.

Flavor Recs: Banana Split, Strawberry, Coffee

@oatly

Cado Avocado Ice Cream

You could be an avo toast girlie or a chips n' guac girlie, but either way, you know that avocados are the softest, buttery-est green out there. That also makes avos the creamiest dairy-free alternative. Cado Ice Cream is made from the healthy, non-saturated fats of avocados. And with the added nutrients too? It's a win-win. 

Flavor Recs: Simply Lemon, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Mud Pie

@cadoicecream

Van Leeuwen Vegan Ice Cream

You can find adorable Van Leeuwen parlors all over NYC. We're obsessed with their signature pastel aesthetic and even more obsessed with their tasty vegan selections. The ingredients are simple, but the taste? Oh-so cravable. Call us when you grab a pint of your own. 

Flavor Recs: Choc Chip Cookie Dough, Oat Milk Brown Sugar Chunk, Strawberry Shortcake

@vanleeuwenicecream

Have a fave dairy-free ice cream we missed?
Let us know on Threads @girlslifemag!

Top image: @oliviamarcus
Slider image: @itscaroxline

by Laila Mayfield | 8/13/2023