Dairy is a bit of a hot topic lately. Did you hear that Dave Hughes has taken up a milk free challenge? “Milk is for baby cows,” Hughesy said. (Click here to send him a message of support.)

What's more, just recently health experts declared that there is no nutritional need for humans to drink cow’s milk. Which makes sense since after all, I’m not a calf. Are you?

I’ve known for a long time that I wasn’t a cow but I’m so pleased that doctors are finally figuring it out too. So I’m celebrating in the best way possible -- by eating LOADS of dairy-free chocolate. (Skip to the bottom of this blog to find out how you can get your hands on some too.)

Harvard professor Dr Ludwig has said that you can get more calcium from kale than you can from cow’s milk. That means one bowl of this kale and avo salad and you’ll have calcium coming out your ears! But if you’re like me and the thought of eating kale makes your face do this, --> don’t fret because you can also get calcium from nuts, seeds, beans and green leafy vegetables, including my personal fave:  (Check out what else the experts are saying about dairy by clicking here). (That’s not really me in the picture by the way. Although I did have that fringe in primary school.)

The best part about getting calcium from plant sources is that there are no casualties. A lot of Aussies don’t realise that over 700,000 dairy calves (called bobby calves) are killed as ‘waste’ every year.

Thankfully it’s easy to save the lives of dairy calves. Simply give dairy the flick. There are so many great dairy-free alternatives out there these days! Have you been to the milk aisle in your local supermarket lately? Soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, almond milk ... it’s a dairy-free smorgasbord.

And what’s the most delicious use of cruelty-free milk? Cruelty-free chocolate! So let’s get on with it, shall we?

The prize: I have 5 heavenly dairy-free chocolate packs to give away. I don’t use the word ‘heavenly’ lightly. I promise that after one taste you will want MOOOOOOre. (Classic cow gags. Couldn’t help myself.)

How to win: Easy - click here and take the 3 minute chocolate challenge. (Ends 30 September.) Good luck!

Meet Dave Hugs, aka Hugsy.

He is Dave Hughes’ newest number one fan. Why?

First this: (Heads up: there’s a little bit of language in this clip.)

And now this:

Hughesy is giving up cow’s milk! This morning he said he’d have a go at giving up dairy for the calves, saying “I do believe that milk is for baby cows.” Hugsy did this face:

Why is Hugsy so excited about this news? Well, what happens to calves in the dairy industry is pretty grim. To produce milk, cows need to have a calf. And like most mums, cows form very strong bonds with their babies. Yet, most calves born into the dairy industry are separated from their mums within days of their birth, and what happens to them next is something the dairy industry doesn't want you to know:

The good news is that it is so easy to eat dairy-free these days. And health experts are starting to realise that cow’s milk might not even be all that good for us. If you’ve been thinking about going dairy-free, why not “chuck a Hughesy” and try it out? You might feel better for it and you’ll be saving lives!

The other good news is that Hugsy is on his way to meet his favourite Aussie comedian right now! We’ve sent him over with a bag of delicious dairy-free goodies to NOVA 100 to say a big thanks to Hughesy on behalf of all the ‘baby cows’.

If you’d like to send some love to Hughesy for being such a good bloke, head here for ways to get in touch with him.

P.S. If you want to get your hands on some dairy-free choccies as well, head over to our 3 minute chocolate challenge for a chance to win some for free!