People who proselytize lentils, tofu, bok choy and “calcium-fortified plant-based milk” as replacements for dairy products seem to completely miss the point.

Dairy products haven’t been consumed for centuries simply because of nutritional content, but because they taste amazing. They are the foundation for a healthy relationship with food, culture and the environment. That’s why some of the world’s top dairy-consuming countries, such as the Netherlands, Sweden and France, are among the healthiest and most sustainable.

Don’t get me wrong: Lentils, tofu and bok choy are great in their own right. But they’re not replacements for camembert, Greek yogurt or salted butter.

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This post was published in The Globe & Mail as a Letter to the Editor.