When you find out that you or a loved one is no longer able to eat dairy, you know pretty quickly what you have to cut out. But what about substitutes to add in to help replace those dairy products? Are there options for everything? Will they taste good? While everyone’s tastebuds are different, here are some tasty dairy replacement options you can consider for even the fussiest eater.
Delicious dairy allergy replacements
- Oat milk: For the child or adult that is in need of milk — and likes it— oat milk is thought to be one of the best options. Often easier to find and a little nicer on the tastebuds than almond milk, oat milk is great for enjoying with meals as a beverage, and also offers up a noticeable sweetness when it comes to baking, which is a helpful as a substitute for sugar if you want to lessen its amount.
- Margarine: Butter may be delicious, but only if you are living without a dairy allergy. When you are looking for a replacement specifically for butter, you’ll find a wide selection of margarine that can offer you comfort and the same salty tang you want on toast or for use in a recipe. There is also very little change in consistency, which is good.
- Tofu: While tofu often gets a bad reputation for its flavor, it’s actually great when eating the dairy alternative isn’t safe. When you are looking for sour cream or cream cheese for baking, you might be surprised at just how well pureed tofu works! Plus, it’s arguably healthier, so there’s always that benefit as well.
- Soy cheese: Since cheese is used in a lot of recipes, you’ll want to find a tasty option for those who have a dairy allergy. You can find a lot of soy or vegan products that taste great, even if they melt differently. Make sure that you check the ingredients carefully, however, as not all of them are entirely dairy-free.
- Hydrolyzed baby formula: For the most part, a baby is actually able to handle a dairy allergy because they’re already used to breaking down dairy into small unproblematic bits so that they can digest it effectively. However, for those with a strong dairy allergy, you’ll want to shop specifically for a formal that is as highly hydrolyzed as possible, as this will minimize any possible reaction. You can also look for a soy option.
Are you sure it’s a dairy allergy?
Before you cut out all dairy products, it’s important to make sure that you’re dealing with an allergy to dairy itself. Some allergies can feel like they are due to one thing when they are really another, so make sure that you get an allergy test to confirm the results one way or the other. You’ll also get advice and support for eliminating those problem foods from your diet, too, which is always good.
A food allergy is never fun and learning you have to cut out an entire food group from your diet is even worse, but it’s certainly better than having an unplanned and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
