A dairy-free diet does not contain any milk from an animal or any products made from milk. People may go on a dairy-free diet because they:

• have a milk allergy or intolerance
• are on an elimination diet (they stop eating some types of food for a set amount of time, then re-add to their diet to see if it causes symptoms)
• follow a special diet (such as a vegan diet, which has no animal products in it)

Read food labels and teach your child how to read them. Avoid products whose label:

• lists milk as an ingredient or says "contains milk"
• says "may contain milk" or "produced in a facility that also uses milk." This means that it's possible (but not likely) that the food had contact with a milk product during processing.

Avoid all milk products, such as:

• milk (including dry/powdered milk)
• buttermilk
• cheese
• yogurt
• cream/half-and-half
• ice cream
• butter and ghee
• pudding and custard

Avoid other ingredients that can contain milk, including:

• casein, whey, and curds
• lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoglobulin
• lactoferrin
• rennet
• tagatose (a type of artificial sweetener)

Some unexpected foods might contain milk, such as:

• margarine
• soups
• salad dressing
• sherbet
• baked products (such as breads, brownies, cookies, cakes, and muffins)
• chewing gum
• cold cuts (deli meat)
• hot dogs
• crackers
• seasoned snacks (for example, sour cream and onion potato chips)
• cereals
• baby cereals and foods
• "non-dairy products" or milk/dairy substitutes or alternatives
• canned meats/fish
• vitamins
• medicines
• seasoning packets
• toothpastes
• cosmetics

What can I substitute for dairy? Many dairy substitutes are available, such as:

• dairy-free/vegan butter, cheese, and ice cream
• dairy-free milk and yogurt alternatives (such as those made with soy, rice, coconut, oat, or almond milk)

Don't substitute goat's or sheep's milk products for dairy without talking to your doctor first. These are similar to cow's milk products, so your child might need to avoid them.

How can my child get the nutrition they need on a dairy-free diet? Kids on a dairy-free diet need to replace the calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and protein that they would ordinarily get from dairy foods. Choose dairy substitutes that are fortified with these vitamins, such as fortified almond, rice, oat, and soy milk substitutes. Serve plenty of calcium-rich foods like leafy green vegetables, nuts, and beans. 

Talk with a dietitian or your doctor to make sure your child gets the vitamins and nutrients needed from a dairy-free diet. Give your child any vitamin supplements that your health care provider recommends.

How do we avoid dairy away from home? When eating away from home, always ask if there's any dairy in the items your child orders. If the cashier/server doesn't know, ask for an ingredient list. If no ingredient or nutrition label is available, have your child choose something else.