Whole30 almond milk is a pretty big deal – it’s one of the few compliant items you can eat on Whole30 with the word “milk” in it (it really comes down to just almond milk, coconut milk, and other nut milks).
While compliant Whole30 coconut milk can easily be found canned in most grocery stores, almond milk can be a bit trickier to find, although it is becoming more common as increasingly more individuals are working to cut out unhealthy additives and sugar from their diet.
Whole30 Compliant Almond Milk Ingredients & What to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, most store-bought almond milk almost always contains a collection of weird, unpronounceable ingredients that are definitely NOT Whole30 friendly. That, and/or sugar. Why is there so much sugar in our food?
Ingredients to AVOID:
- Carrageenan (a texturizing agent commonly used in food products that is extracted from red and purple seaweed, commonly known as Irish moss. It’s been known to cause gastro issues for some individuals)
- Corn Starch
- Rice Starch
- Soy Lecithin
- Sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite)
- Sugars (honey, cane sugar, agave nectar, evaporated cane juice, coconut nectar, syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, monk fruit extract, etc)
Ingredients That ARE Allowed in Whole30-friendly Almond Milk:
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Acacia Gum
- Gellan Gum
- Locust Bean Gum
- Potassium Citrate
- Ascorbic Acid
- Xanthan Gum
When shopping for Whole30 compliant almond milk, look for the shortest ingredient list possible – those are usually the healthiest!
Whole30 Compliant Almond Milk Brands
With the increase in popularity for the Whole30 diet and paleo eating, increasingly more brands have started cutting out the carrageenans, which means more almond milk is compliant than ever before! Here are the brands we’ve found to be compliant. If you’ve found others, please add them in the comments so we can add them to the list!
1. Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk
Probably one of the most popular brands of almond milk, we’re thrilled they finally wised up and cut out the bad stuff.
Ingredients: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E).
Also Whole30-Compliant:
- Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Coconut Milk
- Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Cashew Milk
2. Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk
This almond milk was previously not allowed due to the inclusion of carrageenans, but the company recognized that people didn’t want carrageenans in their almond milk and have adjusted accordingly, so it’s compliant now!
Ingredients: Almondmilk (Water, Almonds), Vitamin/Mineral Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Zinc), Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavors, Locust Bean Gum, Gellan Gum.
Also Compliant:
- Califia Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- Califia Farms Organic Almond Homestyle Nutmilk
Where to Find It: Many large chain grocery stores
3. Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk
Ingredients: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Contains 2% or less of: Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Sunflower Lecithin, Locust Bean Gum, Gellan Gum.
Also Compliant:
- Silk Unsweetened Coconut Almond Blend
Where to Find It: Many large chain grocery stores
4. SO Delicious Unsweetened Almond Milk
Ingredients: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Contains 2% or less of: Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Phosphate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D2, L-Selenomethionine (Selenium), Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B12), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Gellan Gum.
Where to Find It: Many large chain grocery stores
5. 365 Unsweetened Almond Milk (Whole Foods)
Ingredients: Organic almondmilk (filtered water, organic almonds), tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, xanthan gum, potassium citrate, sunflower lecithin, vitamin a palmitate, ergocalciferol (vitamin d2), dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin e).
Where to Find It: Whole Foods
6. Target Good & Gather Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Ingredients: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Calcium Carbonate, Natural Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E).
Where to Find It: Target
7. Kirkland Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Non-Dairy Beverage (Costco)
Ingredients: Organic almond base (filtered water, organic almonds), organic vanilla flavor, sea salt, sunflower lecithin , organic locust bean gum, gellan gum, vitamin a palmitate, ergocalciferol (vitamin d2), dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), riboflavin (vitamin b2), zinc gluconate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12).
Where to Find It: Costco
8. Safeway O Organics Vanilla Unsweetened Organic Almondmilk
Ingredients: Organic Almond Blend (filtered Water, Organic Almonds), Sea Salt, Organic Locust Bean Gum, Natural Flavor, Gellan Gum.
Where to Find It: Safeway
9. Friendly Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk (Aldi)
Ingredients: Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), Tricalcium Phosphate, sea salt, gellan gum, Dipotassium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sunflower Lecithin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha Tocopherol (natural Vitamin E).
Also Compliant:
- Friendly Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (Aldi)
Where to Find It: Aldi
10. New Barn Unsweetened Almond Milk
Ingredients: Organic Almondmilk (Spring Water, Organic Almonds), Organic Acacia Gum, Sea Salt
Where to Find It: Available at Whole Foods
11. MALK
Ingredients: Organic Almonds, Himalayan Salt, Filtered Water.
Where to Find It: Limited Grocery Stores
If you don’t feel like trekking out to Whole Foods, you can grab New Barn almond milk and other Whole Foods groceries via Instacart.
You Probably Shouldn’t Be Drinking Too Much Of It Anyway
Melissa Hartwig notes that nuts and seeds really aren’t the most ideal fat choice, so try not to go crazy on the almond milk. On top of that, the same rule that applies to smoothies applies to almond milk too – it’s generally better to eat your food than drink it. So ideally, eating a handful of almonds is preferable over almond milk. But a drop in your coffee a few mornings a week is A-OK!
DIY Whole30 Almond Milk
As discussed, Whole30 almond milk isn’t the easiest thing to find. However, it is quite easy to make, so why not do it yourself?
In addition to creating a healthy, Whole30 compliant almond milk you can trust with no additives or secret ingredients, you’ll also save tons of money (store bought clean almond milk ain’t cheap). If you’re getting fed up with Whole30 coffee that’s black as night, whipping up your own DIY almond milk is a fun, exciting alternative to try!
Whole30 Almond Milk Recipe
Ingredients/Supplies:
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 4 cups water
- Cheesecloth or nut milk bag
- Blender
Instructions:
- Place your almonds in a bowl, cover with water, and soak for 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Drain almonds and place in blender (preferably a very strong blender like Vitamix). Add the filtered water and blend for a few minutes until the almonds are broken down.
- Use cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to strain the almond milk and filter out any almond particles. Squeeze to push out any excess moisture.
- Drink and enjoy! Keep milk in a tightly covered container. Almond milk should last for 3-4 days.
Whole30 Almond Milk FAQs
Is Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk Whole30 compliant?
Yes, the Silk Unsweetend Almond Milk is Whole30 approved! Ingredients include: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Contains 2% or less of: Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Sunflower Lecithin, Locust Bean Gum, Gellan Gum.
The Silk Unsweetened Coconut Almond Blend is also Whole30 compliant!
Which almond milk is Whole30 compliant?
Increasingly more almond milks are becoming Whole30 compliant! Some popular ones include: Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk, Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk, Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk, SO Delicious Unsweetened Almond Milk, Whole Foods’ 365 Unsweetened Almond Milk, Target’s Good & Gather Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, Costco’s Kirkland Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Non-Dairy Beverage, and others!
Is Starbucks almond milk Whole30?
No – the Starbucks almond milk is not Whole30 approved due to the additives and sugars included.
Is Aldi almond milk Whole30 approved?
Yes, Friendly Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk from Aldi is Whole30 approved! It contains: Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Gellan Gum, Dipotassium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sunflower Lecithin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, D-Alpha Tocopherol (natural Vitamin E).
The Unsweetened Vanilla is also compliant.
Can I have an almond milk latte on Whole30?
Homemade lattes are a tricky area. Technically, if you don’t include sugar and are just using almond milk and coffee, an almond milk latte would be Whole30 compliant, ingredient-wise. But some might consider this SWYPO (Sex With Your Pants On). Basically, the practice of imitating a food you are emotionally dependent on instead of breaking the addiction.
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Unsweetened Silk Almondmilk is also Whole30 compliant (according to the additives cheat sheet) and easy to get at my Hannaford grocery store… and easy on the pocketbook for a half gallon.
Nice, thanks for the heads up!
Doesn’t the Unsweetened Silk Almondmilk have natural flavors added? If so, is that W30 compliant?
I think I found my answer.
http://forum.whole30.com/topic/45-natural-flavors-added-to-food/
Thank you so much @Kelly. I was drinking the Silk Almond milk before starting the whole30 7 days ago and was using it the first few days just to use it up. I’m dying to milk in my tea or coffee and was hoping I could use the Silk unsweetened almond milk as it’s cost effective as almonds are a fortune to buy here on Vancouver Island.
I’ve been searching online and finally stumbled on this site. What a life saver.
I’m also assuming the unsweetened silk cashew milk is approved as well?
I also am confused it says no peanut butter in the book….. Does this mean NO natural nut butters at all???? But we are allowed nut milk?
Hey Bree – from what I’ve read online, unsweetened silk cashew milk is OK, but I’d make sure to double check ingredients to be safe.
Peanuts are out on Whole30, but most others nuts are OK. Almond butter, sunflower butter, coconut butter, and macadamia butter are fine, as are compliant nut milks. Just be careful with milks because many contain additives/preservatives.
Peanuts are not allowed because they are not a nut. Peanuts are a legume and legumes are not allowed.
So do we have an official confirmation that Silk unsweetened almond milk and cashew milk are compliant? Thanks!
Sure – here’s a confirmation from a Whole30 moderator for the almond milk (although they suggest using in dishes, NOT drinking it) and a confirmation on cashew milk.
However, ingredients do change so ALWAYS read labels and double check ingredients!
Glad to hear that-thanks! Getting ready to start, and have some in the fridge, didn’t want to have to toss it. Around here, we also get Diamond unsweetened almond milk and coconut miilk blends. Ingredients are all shared by that Silk that you mentioned above,except that there’s one ingredient-potassium citrate (not chloride). That ingredient isn’t on the “accepted” or “Banned” additive lists, so I”m wondering about those.
The truth is, I bring work home with me, so to the question “Why not make your own (ketchup, mayo, almond mlik, etc)?” I have to say, “Work.” We don’t all get to check out after 5pm.
As for smoothies, I get the whole idea of not drinking your calories-I’m the world’s most literal person, my dietician teases me about it all the time. But the truth is, when you’re in class from 10-2, there is no time for meat and veggies. Sometimes a smoothie is your only shot at having some kind of lunch, because it’s portable, and you can drink it in the ten minute break. Not ideal, but better than going 10 hours without eating anything. There’s one from The Salt Solution with spinach, avocado, mango and milk of your choice that can’t be beat, if the choice is that or nothing.
I need a hard copy book, or one very close to whole30.
Here’s our info on the best Whole30 books – https://lifehealthhq.com/whole30-book/
I’m so excited to try all of these almond milk brands!