Children who follow dairy-free diets often have lactose intolerance, which is a condition that makes them unable to digest a sugar called lactose found in dairy products. Lactose cannot be digested because lactose intolerant children are deficient in the enzyme lactase. Other children may follow a dairy-free diet due to cultural or other reasons. If your kids are eating a dairy-free diet, you'll need to balance their foods carefully to ensure that they get all necessary nutrients that normally come from dairy.
Substitutes
Of course, a dairy-free diet eliminates milk products, cheeses, yogurt and other dairy products. Certain other foods contain similar nutrients as dairy products, particularly calcium. Instead of dairy, your child can get calcium from foods like broccoli, kale, bok choy, spinach, pinto beans, rhubarb and almonds, MayoClinic.com says. Canned salmon, oranges and tofu contain calcium as well. Oysters, sardines, shrimp and most leafy-green vegetables provide adequate amounts of calcium, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. You can also replace regular milk with lactose-free milk, soy milk or rice milk, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Tips
If your child is lactose intolerant, she could still consume dairy products if you add lactase enzyme drops, MayoClinic.com says. Lactase enzyme tablets are also available and taken prior to meals to aid in digesting dairy. You might try Kosher products marketed as "Pareve," which don't contain lactose or dairy, suggests the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Considerations
If lactose intolerance is a concern for your child, you can learn about the level of your child's tolerance with the help of a dietitian or physician. If your child can tolerate small amounts of lactose, he may be able to digest certain dairy products with low levels of lactose, such as cream cheese, cottage cheese and aged cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan or Swiss, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can also try cultured dairy like kefir and yogurt, which have natural digestive bacteria. Your child may try small amounts of milk, like less than 4 oz., at mealtime to find out the level of lactose tolerance, MayoClinic.com notes.
Key Nutrients
A dairy-free diet is often lacking in certain nutrients like calcium and vitamin D, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In addition to enriching your child's diet with dairy alternatives that are rich in calcium or fortified with vitamin D, your child may need to take a supplement. Kids who consume dairy often get much of their daily requirement of vitamin D from fortified milk. On a non-dairy diet, your child could get vitamin D from sunlight exposure, as well as foods like egg yolks, salmon and mackerel. If you're having difficulty integrating enough non-dairy foods containing calcium and vitamin D into your child's diet, ask his doctor about supplementing with a daily vitamin and calcium tablet, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
Keep in mind that some food products and beverages can contain lactose, despite being non-dairy, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Read all labels carefully on packaged foods and drinks to look for lactose. Processed foods like soups, meats, baking mixes, non-dairy creamers and salad dressings sometimes contain added lactose, MayoClinic.com says. Also, remember that powdered or dried milk products and foods or drinks containing whey have lactose in them, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Work with a registered dietitian or your child's doctor to plan a well-balanced diet that doesn't include dairy.
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