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HOME/Food Allergies/Cow’s Milk Elimination Diet – What to Eat Instead

Cow’s Milk Elimination Diet – What to Eat Instead

Cow’s Milk Elimination Diet – What to Eat Instead
November 6, 2015
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By: Carina Venter, PhD, RD

Previously, we discussed how to eliminate cow’s milk from your child’s diet and how to identify milk ingredients in foods. Now that you’ve removed the milk, we need to talk about how to replace those foods in your child’s diet.

Infants and children who rely on “milk” as their main source of nutrients

Infants and toddlers up to the age of 2 years should ideally be prescribed a specialized milk-free formula.  Most other milk substitutes are low in protein and fat and are not always suitable for young children.

For older children who rely on formulas as their main source of nutrition, suitable, milk-free formulas (by age) are available – many of which are ready-to-drink and available in different flavors.

These formulas can be prescribed or purchased over the counter. If you use powder formulas, take care to follow mixing directions carefully as each formula has its own mixing instructions, often different from standard formulas.

For older children who eat a varied diet

Rice, potato, soy, pea, oat, hemp, coconut and nut beverages can be used instead of milk. Be sure to choose beverages that are fortified with calcium. Your doctor or dietitian can advise you on the products that are suitable for your child.

For all other foods, such as butter, margarine, cream, cheese, yogurt, baked goods and ready-made meals, discuss suitable and practical alternatives with your child’s dietitian.. You will also want to spend some focused time in the grocery store and use your label-reading skills to identify specific alternatives that are milk-free. Because milk-free foods will taste different to your child, it may take some trial and error to find the products that she or he likes the best.

The table below summarizes the main nutrients in milk and other food sources that can provide the nutrients when milk is eliminated:

EoE_Milk_Table_FINAL

 

Here are some mealtime ideas incorporating the alternatives above:

Breakfast

Milk-free waffles with syrup and berries

Milk-free pancakes with blue berries

Most “plain” cereals, such as rice/corn puffs and wheat-based cereals (check the label), and milk alternative beverage

Lunch

Most bread is milk free and can be used to make sandwiches with soy or pea-based cheese, ham (milk free), peanut butter & jelly, hot dog, or tuna sandwich

Coconut, soy or rice-based yogurt

Dinner

Spaghetti with red sauce

Milk-free chicken nuggets, baked potato with milk-free margarine

Burger with milk-free cheese slice and salad

Tortilla chips, guacamole and mixed leaf salad

Get baking!

Kids who have a milk free diet can still enjoy baked goods, but it’s important that you know every ingredient that goes into them. You can get started with this muffin recipe that has been tested and enthusiastically approved.

Milk-free muffin recipe:

INGREDIENTS                          12 muffins

  • 1 3/4 cups flour (or wheat-free flour if avoiding wheat)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup blueberries (or raisins or any other fruit if preferred)
  • 1 egg (or 1-1 ½ tsp egg replacer if avoiding egg)
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin cups.
  • Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together into a mixing bowl.
  • Stir in blueberries.
  • Mix egg, oil and water together and then stir them into the flour mixture.
  • Stir only until flour is moist.
  • Spoon mixture into muffin cups.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes.

To summarize:

A milk-free diet can be a healthy balanced diet!

  • Make sure that you are aware of all the milk-free alternative beverages suitable for your child.
  • Remember that infants and those using “milk” as their main source of nutrition will need a specialized formula or prescription – regardless of their age.
  • There are many options for milk-free alternatives for butter, margarine, cream, yogurt, and cheese – speak to your dietitian for practical examples.
  • Learn how to read food labels.
  • Start cooking or baking!

 

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s and the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders.

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TAGS:
  • eosinophilic disorders
  • food allergy
  • food intolerance
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About the author: Carina Venter, PhD, RD

Carina Venter is a Research Associate/Dietician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders. She has published in international journals and has authored book chapters in food hypersensitivity, pregnancy, lactation, weaning and allergy prevention. Carina is also co-editor of the book, Food Hypersensitivity: Diagnosing and Managing Food Allergies and Intolerances.

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