What Makes Oat Milk the Best Plant-Based Milk?
The best plant-based milk depends on what you want to pour it into. Oat drink’s mild flavour and creamy texture make it a useful choice for cereal, porridge and cooking. Protein, sugar and fortification vary between products, though. Here we compare oat milk benefits with those of other milks, and explain how MYOM Original Oat Drink works when you add the water at home.
Key takeaways
- Oat drink brings a mild flavour and creamy texture to cereal, porridge and cooking. For coffee, choose a blend made for foaming.
- MYOM Original contains 1.9g of sugars and 0.5g of fibre per 100ml when prepared as directed, with added calcium, vitamin D3, B12 and iodine.
- A premix lets you add water at home rather than transport a full bottle of ready-made drink. Environmental comparisons still depend on the product and supply chain.
Why oat can be the best plant-based milk
For everyday use, oat has a practical advantage: its flavour fits breakfast as easily as a savoury sauce. The best oat milk for you should also suit your nutritional needs and the way you make it.
Taste and texture: oat drink has a mild sweetness and a creamy feel. Almond can bring a nuttier flavour, soy a more distinctive taste, and coconut a flavour you may want in some recipes but not others. Texture and performance depend on the recipe and brand; no drink is guaranteed never to split when heated.
Nutrition: check the finished drink rather than assuming it has the same benefits as a bowl of oats. Research on oat beta-glucan examines particular amounts and forms of the fibre; it does not establish the same effects for every oat drink. MYOM Original provides 0.5g of total fibre and 0.4g of protein per 100ml, alongside added calcium, D3, B12 and iodine.
Sustainability: Comparisons of dairy and plant drinks show that the answer changes with the measure: greenhouse gas emissions, land use and water use are different questions. MYOM’s premix format tackles transport weight by leaving you to add most of the water at home.
Oat milk vs other milks, compared
Use this as a guide to the differences, then check individual labels. Creaminess is subjective; fibre and ingredients vary by formulation. Environmental notes refer to broad comparisons, not a ranking of every brand.
| Milk | Creaminess | Fibre | Sustainability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oat (MYOM) | Creamy | 0.5g / 100ml | Premix reduces transport weight | Cereal and cooking |
| Cow’s milk | Varies with fat | None | Higher emissions in broad comparisons | Protein |
| Soy | Varies | Check label | Lower emissions than dairy on average | Protein; check label |
| Almond | Often lighter | Check label | Water demand matters | A nuttier taste |
| Rice | Often lighter | Check label | Water use and emissions vary | A mild, sweet taste |
| Coconut | Varies | Check label | Depends on sourcing | Coconut flavour |
For soya, almond, pea, coconut, rice and the newer milks in more depth, read our guide to the types of plant-based milk.
Is oat milk better than cow’s milk?
Oat drink can suit people who want a dairy-free option, but it is not nutritionally identical to cow’s milk. Prepared MYOM Original has 34 kcal and 1.4g fat per 100ml, including 0.2g of saturated fat. It contains 0.4g of protein, so it should not be treated as a like-for-like protein replacement for dairy. MYOM is fortified with calcium, D3, B12 and iodine; other oat drinks may not be. If you use it in overnight oats, consider the protein in the whole meal.
Is oat milk better than almond milk?
Oat may be the better choice if you prefer a creamy texture and a mild flavour. Almond may suit you if you like a lighter, nuttier drink. Some unsweetened almond drinks contain less sugar and fewer calories than oat drinks, so compare labels. Almond production’s water demand is worth considering, but water use alone does not describe the whole environmental footprint.
What makes MYOM different
MYOM Original is an oat drink premix: add water and shake to make the drink at home. Its ingredients include oats, rapeseed oil, minerals and vitamins, with no gums or stabilisers listed. The format means less water travels with the product. MYOM’s sustainability comparison reports around 87% less transport weight per litre equivalent than carton oat drink; this is a weight comparison, not a claim of 87% lower emissions. Follow the pack’s mixing directions for the stated nutrition values.
How to use oat drink
Pour oat drink on cereal, stir it into porridge and overnight oats, or use it in soups, sauces and baking. If coffee is your priority, choose a barista blend and follow its heating guidance. Add the amount of water stated on the MYOM pack; changing the dilution changes the nutrition per 100ml.
What to look for in a good oat drink
- An ingredients list that suits your preferences. MYOM Original uses oats, water, rapeseed oil, minerals, sea salt and vitamins.
- Sugar values per 100ml of prepared drink. “No added sugar” does not mean sugar-free; MYOM Original contains 1.9g of sugars per 100ml.
- Added calcium, vitamin D and B12, plus iodine if you want it. Fortification differs between products, so check each nutrient on the label.
- The recipe you prefer. MYOM contains no dipotassium phosphate; its absence alone does not make one drink healthier than another.
Frequently asked questions
Is oat milk the healthiest plant-based milk?
Is oat milk the healthiest plant-based milk?
There is no single healthiest plant milk for everyone. Compare protein, sugar and fortification with your own needs. MYOM Original supplies added calcium, D3, B12 and iodine, but is low in protein. It contains 0.5g of fibre per 100ml, so check the amount per serving when comparing drinks.
Is oat milk better than cow’s milk?
Is oat milk better than cow’s milk?
It depends on what you need. Oat drink offers a dairy-free option; cow’s milk supplies more protein. Fortified oat drinks can provide added calcium and other nutrients, but the amounts vary. Compare the two labels rather than assuming every oat drink is nutritionally equivalent to dairy.
Is oat milk better than almond milk?
Is oat milk better than almond milk?
Oat often suits people who want a creamy, mild drink. Almond offers a nuttier taste, and some unsweetened versions are lower in calories and sugar. Compare the products you would actually buy, including their fortification and ingredients.
Is oat milk good for you?
Is oat milk good for you?
Oat drink can fit into a balanced diet. Choose a product whose sugar, protein and fortification suit your needs. Prepared MYOM Original contains 1.9g of sugars, 0.4g of protein and 130mg of calcium per 100ml. Those figures are more useful than a blanket claim that all oat drinks are healthy.
What is the most sustainable plant-based milk?
What is the most sustainable plant-based milk?
There is no single winner on every environmental measure. Oat, soy, almond and rice drinks generally have lower greenhouse gas emissions than dairy in broad lifecycle comparisons, but differ in water and land use. MYOM’s premix reduces the weight transported before you add water at home. Compare the same volume of prepared drink and the same impact measure.
The best plant-based milk, made fresh
If you want a mild, creamy oat drink for everyday use, MYOM Original lets you mix it at home. Check the ingredients and nutrition, choose the format that suits you, and start with the pack’s mixing directions. Choose your pack and add water at home.
