Milk Allergies? 44 Easy and Delicious Dairy Free Recipes for Kids (2024)

FAQs

What is the best milk for kids who are allergic to milk? ›

Use of tree nut milk, including almond and cashew milks, have become increasingly popular. Rice and oat milk, as well as hemp milk, are also possible alternatives. Some of these alternatives are flavored, for example with chocolate and vanilla.

In one study, fewer than 20% of children had outgrown their allergy by age 4. Still, about 80% of children are likely to outgrow their milk allergy before they are 16. Fortunately, allergists are specially trained to assess milk and dairy allergies at all ages.

Meats, fish, poultry and cheese

Thus, those with cow's milk allergy should be careful when consuming beef or foods containing beef. Not allowed: All cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese. Some sausage products, bologna, frankfurters.

Milk alternatives can include beverages made from plants, such as soy, oat, rice, coconut, cashew, and almond. If you choose a milk alternative, here are things to remember: Milk alternatives should not be given before 12 months.

The test made a few things clear: soy milk, at its best, tastes closest to cow's milk. Oat tastes like a sweetly nutty cereal milk while almond tastes like the water left in your sink after washing the breakfast dishes.

You may see these different terms: cow's milk allergy (CMA), cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA), dairy allergy. They all mean the same thing. To keep it simple, KFA uses the term “milk allergy.” A milk allergy is an IgE-mediated allergic reaction to milk protein.

Substituting for Milk

There are a number of commercially-produced cow's milk alternatives made from soy, coconut, rice, potato, oat, almond, hazelnut, cashew, hemp, flax, sunflower, and even macadamia. Most of these are available in a few different flavors (such as “original,” “vanilla,” “chocolate,” and “mocha”).

Your baby may experience frequent watery, foul-smelling loose poops if they have a cow's milk protein allergy. You may also notice mucus in the stool, and your little one may be gassy and colicky. Babies with diarrhea may quickly become dehydrated, so calling your doctor is recommended.

As many children outgrow their milk allergy, treatment for this particular food allergen is often unnecessary. If your child doesn't seem to be outgrowing their allergy, talk to an allergist about food desensitization treatments such as oral immunotherapy (OIT).

How can I help my child with milk allergy? ›

If your child has serious allergic symptoms, like trouble breathing or throat tightness, use the epinephrine auto-injector right away. Also use it right away if your child's symptoms involve two different parts of the body, like hives with vomiting. Then call 911 and have them take your child to the emergency room.

Cheese is a quintessential ingredient in most pizzas, adding a creamy texture and delightful flavor. However, for those with lactose intolerance, cheese can be a major dietary foe. Traditional mozzarella cheese, a staple on most pizzas, is high in lactose, making it a potential source of digestive discomfort.

If one is lactose intolerant, then better avoid regular cakes, as milk and butter are the main ingredients along with flour and eggs used in the traditional cake recipes, such pancakes, waffles etc. Those with lactose intolerance can eat rice cake with no cream/cheese topping and dairy free cakes.

Did you know…? Eggs are still a part of a dairy-free diet. Even though they are found in the dairy section of the grocery store, eggs do not contain milk sugar and milk proteins. Eggs are safe to eat in a milk-free diet.

People who are lactose intolerant can safely consume lactose-free cow's milk or non-dairy milk alternatives that are naturally free from lactose. Lactose-free cow's milk, as well as non-dairy milks such as coconut milk, soy milk, and almond milk, are all good alternatives to regular cow's milk.

Rice Milk

Rice milk is the least allergenic of the nondairy milks. This makes it a safe option for those with allergies or intolerances to dairy, gluten, soy or nuts. Rice milk is mild in taste and naturally sweet in flavor.

A variety of plant-based calcium enriched cow's milk substitutes are available from most supermarkets and include those made from: oat, pea, coconut, quinoa, rice and tree nuts such as almond, cashew and hazelnut. Current recommendations suggest using a hypoallergenic formula until 2 years of age.