Dairy Milk: Nutrition, Costs & Environmental Impact
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Think about these questions before listening. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Thinking about your own diet, what factors influence your choice between dairy milk and plant-based alternatives like soy or oat milk?
- The popularity of plant-based milks has grown significantly in recent years. What do you believe are the main reasons behind this trend?
- When it comes to food shopping, how do you balance factors like cost, health benefits, and environmental impact? Which one is usually most important for you and why?
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Making a Choice
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the audio recording.
01According to the audio recording, what are the primary nutritional benefits of consuming cow's milk?
Sample answerThe recording states that cow's milk is very nutrient-dense. It's a good source of protein, calcium, and B vitamins, which are important for bone health and can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. It also mentioned that some fermented dairy products can be good for your gut.
02Why do a large number of people worldwide have difficulty digesting milk?
Sample answerIt's because of lactose intolerance. The speaker explains that about 68% of the global population lacks the enzyme called lactase, which is needed to break down the sugar in milk. This can cause digestive problems like bloating and cramping.
03In what ways does the dairy industry contribute to environmental problems?
Sample answerThe audio recording highlights several issues. Dairy cows produce a lot of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Farming them also requires a significant amount of land and water, and large-scale operations can pollute local water systems with waste.
04What key factors should a person weigh when deciding between dairy milk and plant-based alternatives?
Sample answerA person should consider their personal health, like if they are lactose intolerant. They also need to think about nutrition, as soy milk is the most similar to dairy in protein, while others might need fortification. Finally, they should consider the environmental impact, as plant-based milks generally have a much smaller carbon footprint.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
Carbon footprint — the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by a person, event, organization, or product.
Usage note: This term is essential for environmental discussions. We often talk about 'reducing' or 'lowering' our carbon footprint. For example: 'Choosing oat milk over dairy can significantly lower your breakfast's carbon footprint.'
To weigh the pros and cons — to carefully consider the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of a situation before making a decision.
Usage note: This is a common idiom used when making a choice. For example: 'Before switching to a plant-based diet, it's important to weigh the pros and cons with a doctor.'
To cut down on (something) — to reduce the amount or quantity of something you consume or use.
Usage note: This phrasal verb is very common when talking about diet and lifestyle changes. It's less extreme than 'to cut out', which means to eliminate completely. For example: 'I'm trying to cut down on dairy for environmental reasons.'
A viable alternative — a substitute or option that is practical, effective, and likely to be successful.
Usage note: Use this collocation to describe a good replacement. 'Viable' is a great word to show that an option really works. For example: 'For many people, soy milk is a viable alternative to cow's milk in coffee.'
Ethical considerations — concerns or issues related to moral principles and what is considered right or wrong.
Usage note: This is a semi-formal phrase used to introduce the moral dimension of a topic, such as animal welfare in the dairy industry. For example: 'Beyond the environmental impact, there are also ethical considerations to think about.'
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Food choices and their consequences
Complete the sentences by matching the two halves. This will help you practise language for discussing the impact of our food choices.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Grammar: Mixed conditionals
Grammar
Mixed conditionals combine two different conditional types to talk about unreal situations. We often use them to connect a hypothetical past event with its present result, or a hypothetical present situation with its past result. This is useful for discussing the consequences of choices, like those related to diet and the environment mentioned in the audio recording.
Examples
If I had read more about the dairy industry's carbon footprint (past condition), I wouldn't be buying cow's milk now (present result).
This structure (If + past perfect, would + base verb) links an unreal past action to its present consequence.
If I weren't lactose intolerant (present condition), I would have tried the ice cream you offered yesterday (past result).
This structure (If + past simple, would have + past participle) links a general, ongoing condition to a specific past event.
If governments had subsidized plant-based alternatives earlier (past condition), they would be more affordable for everyone today (present result).
We can use this to speculate about how different past actions could have changed the present situation.
Key points
- Past condition, present result: If + past perfect, ...would + base verb.
- Present condition, past result: If + past simple, ...would have + past participle.
- A common mistake is using 'would' in the 'if' clause. Always use the correct tense (past simple or past perfect).
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Correct the mistake
Read the sentences below, which are all related to diet and the environment. Each one has a single error.
Find the error in each sentence and write the corrected version.
01If I would have known about its carbon footprint, I would be drinking oat milk now.
Corrected version
If I would have had known about its carbon footprint, I would be drinking oat milk now.
02When deciding on a milk substitute, it's important to weigh the pros and negatives.
Corrected version
When deciding on a milk substitute, it's important to weigh the pros and negatives. cons.
03My doctor suggested to cut down on dairy to see if my digestion improves.
Corrected version
My doctor suggested to cut cutting down on dairy to see if my digestion improves.
04If I wasn't lactose intolerant, I would have ordered the cheese platter at the party last night.
Corrected version
If I wasn't weren't lactose intolerant, I would have ordered the cheese platter at the party last night.
05Almond milk is a viable alternate, but it doesn't have as much protein as soy milk.
Corrected version
Almond milk is a viable alternate, alternative, but it doesn't have as much protein as soy milk.
06There are many ethical consideration that lead people to choose plant-based diets.
Corrected version
There are many ethical consideration considerations that lead people to choose plant-based diets.
07We would have less pollution today if people started to reduce their consumption years ago.
Corrected version
We would have less pollution today if people had started to reduce their consumption years ago.
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Making informed dietary choices
Read the passage about the factors that influence people's decisions regarding dairy consumption.
Fill in each blank with the correct word or phrase from the word bank.
Word bank
When deciding whether to continue drinking dairy milk, it's essential to all the factors involved. For many, related to animal welfare and land use are just as important as nutritional benefits. This leads some people to their dairy intake or eliminate it completely. They might be concerned about the overall of their diet and look for a more sustainable option. Finding a that tastes good and has a similar nutritional profile can be challenging, as each option has its own environmental .
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The modern milk dilemma
Read the passage below, then answer the comprehension questions.
The weekly supermarket visit has become a moral maze for many shoppers. Standing in the chilled aisle, consumers now find themselves having to weigh the pros and cons of a dozen different options. Many are choosing to cut down on dairy due to health concerns, its environmental impact, and ethical considerations regarding animal welfare. If consumers hadn't become so aware of these issues, the dairy aisle wouldn't look so different today.
For many, oat milk has emerged as a viable alternative, praised for its creamy texture and relatively low carbon footprint compared to dairy. Yet, the decision isn't always straightforward. People must balance nutritional needs, taste preferences, and cost. This complex decision-making process reflects a broader shift in how we think about food, where personal choices are increasingly connected to global responsibilities.
01According to the passage, what are three factors people consider when choosing to reduce dairy consumption?
Sample answerPeople consider health concerns, the environmental impact of dairy, and ethical considerations about animal welfare.
02Which specific product is mentioned as a 'viable alternative' to cow's milk?
Sample answerThe passage mentions oat milk as a viable alternative.
03What does the author imply by calling the supermarket visit a 'moral maze'?
Sample answerIt implies that choosing a product like milk is no longer a simple decision but a complex one that involves difficult ethical and environmental questions.
04What does the sentence 'If consumers hadn't become so aware of these issues, the dairy aisle wouldn't look so different today' suggest about the past and present?
Sample answerIt suggests that a past change (consumers becoming more aware of issues) is the reason for the current situation (a wider variety of milk alternatives being available).
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- Should governments tax products with a high carbon footprint, like dairy, to encourage people to choose more sustainable options? What are the ethical considerations of such a policy?
- Thinking about your home country, how common is it for people to cut down on dairy for health or environmental reasons? What viable alternatives to traditional dairy are popular and why?
- Imagine you are advising a friend who is trying to weigh the pros and cons of switching to a plant-based diet. What practical advice would you give them to make the transition easier and more affordable?