Milk-Free Diet
Some children and adults are allergic to the proteins found in cow's milk. Their reaction may include any combination of uncomfortable symptoms in the digestive tract ("colic", constipation, nausea, fat malabsorption, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), skin (rash), or respiratory system (coughing, asthma, runny nose, sinus symptoms).
The only ay to avoid an allergic reaction is to completely avoid eating or drinking milk, milk products, or anything made with milk or milk products. You will need to eliminate all fresh, evaporated, condensed, dried powdered milk, cream cheese, butter, margarine made with milk solids and all foods containing any of these ingredients.
Following is a list of ingredients to look for on a food label, and avoid.
| Avoid |
- Artificial butter flavor
- Butter
- Butter fat
- Butter oil
- Buttermilk
- Casein
- Calcium caseinate
- Sodium caseinate
- Cheese (of any kind)
- Chocolate
|
- Cream (of any kind, including heavy, light and sweet)
- Curds
- Custard
- Dry milk solids, regular and non-fat
- Ghee
- Half-n-half
- Ice cream, ice milk
- Lactose
- Lactalbumin
- Lactoglobulin
|
- Margarine (as an ingredient on a label you cannot know if it contains milk solids or not)
- Milk (of any type)
- Milk powder
- Pudding
- Sherbet
- Sour cream
- Yogurt
- Whey
|
The following ingredients may also contain milk
- Caramel color and caramel flavoring. Call the manufacturer to find out for sure.
- Foods with the term "non-dairy" on label. "Non-dairy" foods may still contain milk protein and you need to read the label to decide if your child should eat the food.
What About Calcium?
Milk and food from milk are the main sources of calcium in our diets. Calcium is needed for strong, growing bones and teeth. Children may not get enough calcium if they can't eat milk and milk products.
To provide more calcium, serve the following foods instead:
- Broccoli
- Cooked, dried beans
- Blackstrap molasses
- Dried figs
- Beverages labeled "fortified with calcium" such as orange juice, enriched soy milk, or enriched rice milk
- Tofu
- Rhubarb
- Brazil nuts, almonds
- Canned salmon or sardines (with bones)
- Greens, such as spinach, collard greens, kale, beets, mustard, and dandelion
Check with your child's doctor about using a calcium supplement. Acceptable forms are calcium carbonate, gluconate, lactate and citrate. Avoid dolomite or bone meal supplements due to their risk related to lead poisoning.
Food Group Guidelines
Milk and milk products are used in preparing foods in every food group. Following is a list of foods that are okay, and foods to be avoided.
Milk
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Milk substitutes: soy milk, rice milk, oat milk
- Soy-based infant formulas: Isomil, Prosobee
- Hydrolyzed protein infant formulas: Nutramigen, Pregestimil, Pepdite One Plus, Alimentum, Neocate, Peptamen Jr., Neocate Jr., Elecare, Next Step Toddler Soy Formula
|
- Milk: Whole, low fat, 2%, skim, chocolate, malted, dried, buttermilk, condensed, evaporated
- Eggnog
- Lactase-treated milk (i.e., Lactaid drops or tablets)
- Lactaid milk
- Cheeses of any type
- Goat's milk
|
Cream Substitutes
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Creamer: Coffee Rich, Farm Rich
- Whipped topping: Rich's Whipped Topping
|
- Creamer: Cremora, Coffee Mate, Instant blend and other non-dairy creamers which contain milk protein
- Whipped topping: Cool Whip
|
Eggs
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Any eggs prepared without milk or milk products
|
- Any eggs prepared with milk or milk products, i.e., cheese omelet, souffles, and custards
|
Meat, Fish, Poultry, and Meat Substitutes
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Plain: beef, lamb, veal, pork, ham, chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, liver and organ meats
- Kosher: meat and poultry products, luncheon meats, hotdog's, bologna and salami
- Dried beans and peas
- Peanut butter
- Tofu
- Oscar Meyer All-Beef Franks
|
- Cheese of any type
- Breaded, frozen meat products, such as chicken patties, fish sticks, pot pies, etc.
- Creamed meats
- Luncheon meats and cold cuts (read label)
|
Breads and Cereals
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Breads and rolls without added milk products - Italian, French, Kosher and pareve breads may be acceptable (read the label)
- Cereal: Plain hot cereals and most cold cereals such as: Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Puffed Wheat, Cheerios, Wheaties, 40% Bran Flakes
- Crackers: Ritz crackers, Nabisco saltines, Keebler Honey Grahams (read the label)
|
- Most commercial breads and rolls
- Doughnuts
- Crackers and breads made with butter and/or enriched with milk solids
- Zwieback
- Frozen pancakes, waffles, and french toast
- Cereals: Instant hot cereals with cream flavoring and cold cereals with milk protein ingredients such as Golden Grahams, Granola, Cocoa Krispies
- Triscuit crackers
|
Potato or Substitutes
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- White and sweet potatoes
- Rice
- Pasta, macaroni, noodles
- Frozen french fries if no milk ingredients are included (read the label)
|
- Potatoes cooked with milk and/or butter
- Rice, potato and noodle mixes
- Frozen french fried, processed potato mixes
- Canned spaghetti and pasta
- Macaroni and cheese
|
Fruit and Fruit Juices
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- All (Calcium-fortified juices improve calcium intake)
|
- Commercial frozen fruits may have lactose added
|
Fats
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Vegetable oils
- Kosher (K/pareve) margarine may be acceptable (check the label)
- Lard, bacon
- Real mayonnaise
- Salad dressings made without milk solids/products
|
- Butter
- Margarine with milk solids
- Cream: sweet, sour, heavy, whipped or light
- Half-n-half
- Cream cheese
- Commercial gravies
- Canoleo margarine
|
Soups
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Broth and bouillon
- Broth-based soups to which no milk protein ingredients have been added (read the label)
|
- Cream-based soups
- Commercial soups containing margarine
- Milk-based chowders
- Dried soups with added milk products
|
Desserts/Sweets
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Gelatin
- Water ice and popsicles
- Angel food cake
- Milk-free cookies: gingersnaps, graham crackers
- Cake, cookies, pies and other desserts made without added milk products.
- Soy "ice cream" such as Tofutti, Tofu Lite, Rice Dream frozen dessert, Imagine Foods Pudding
- Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Granola bar
- Plain cocoa powder
- Sweeteners such as sugar, honey, syrup
- Jams and jellies
- Pure sugar candy, such as marshmallows and gumdrops
- Homemade cake frosting without added milk
|
- Most commercial baked goods
- Cream pies
- Ice cream and sherbet
- Custard and puddings
- Milk chocolate, most chocolate candy and fudge
- Commercial pie crust
- Cool Whip and whipped cream
- Candies made with milk or dairy products, such as butterscotch, caramels, toffee, peppermints, coated candies
- Commercial frostings
- Artificial sweeteners, including Equal and Sweet 'n Low
|
Beverages
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Carbonated drinks
- Kool-Aid
- Tea
- Fruit juices
- Unsweetened chocolate
- Nestles' chocolate or strawberry Quik syrups
|
- Cocoa mixes
- Instant coffee blends
- Powdered flavoring mixes
- Cocoa malt
- Ovaltine
- Eggnog
- Some powdered soft drink mixes may contain milk protein (read the label)
- Hershey's syrups
|
Miscellaneous
| Allowed |
Avoid |
- Most condiments: mustard, ketchup, spices, soy sauce, vinegar, and molasses
- Pickles and pickle relish
- Pure cocoa powder
- Carob powder
- Gravy without added milk
- Snacks: potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, and plain popcorn
|
- Cream sauces and gravies made with milk products
- Party dips
- Pizza
- Snacks: corn curls, cheese-flavored chips and snacks
|
Additional Resources