The Bean & Seed

Growing up, there was always an ongoing “argument” in my family that centered around 2% vs. whole milk. Whole milk “tastes better” and is “more nutritious” one side would say. But 2% is “better for you” said the other. Looking back, this is both comical and puzzling to me. Today, I only purchase dairy milk if it’s going into a recipe that just wouldn’t work without it. I’m someone who chugged 2% until the day I became lactose intolerant around the age of 20. I’m thankful that we have a lot of options at the supermarket in this day and age; I think I’ve tried them all at this point. From real milk with an added lactase enzyme, to soy, almond, and oat, surely there’s something out there to fill the role milk used to play for you. But your milk or milk substitute of choice isn’t the point of this post. This is a post about conscious decisions. So, the reason my family’s 2% vs. whole milk “feud” is so funny to me… isn’t there room for both?

Every week I go to Wegman’s and buy two kinds of oat milk. One Extra Creamy and one or two Zero Sugar. The idea is to use Extra Creamy where it matters and Zero Sugar where it doesn’t/would make more sense. So, Extra Creamy gets used primarily in coffee and Zero Sugar when being combined where additional sugar isn’t needed like fruit smoothies and cereals. This is important to me for two reasons. One, I am conscious of the fact that my family has a history with too much sugar being an issue and I want to make decisions to limit it in my diet. Two, I want to find the most enjoyment I can with anything I eat. In this two oat milk setup, I can enjoy some sweetness in my coffee that makes it creamier but still less sugared than coffee creamer would, and in a fruit smoothie I can enjoy the natural sugars of the fruit without the redundancy of the added sugar found in a milk substitute.

Is this guy really going to keep going on about milk? Does he really have lingering issues with this from childhood? No, and maybe. The real crux of what I’m getting at here is that there are decisions we make unconsciously that could be hurting us. This could be at the grocery store, in relationships, in our careers, anywhere really. We do some things a certain way just because we always have. We do some things because of marketing. We do some things because we’re expected to. I’ve learned to slow down and ask myself what would be the most appropriate in any given situation rather than simply falling into habit or aligning to expectations. In the grocery store, this could mean substituting with a healthier option when it makes sense or even going full fat for the occasional fun and flavorful blast! In either scenario, I’ve thought about why I’m making the choice I am. We need to do this in all facets of life. If we do, I think we’ll find we can make decisions that both benefit us and make us happier.

Thanks for reading, Matt

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November 7, 2025 Update: Changed layout to match current posts.