1. Choose Kosher
Kosher refers to the rules for the preparation of food used by the Orthodox Jewish community. The way that the food is prepared must follow specific rules to be considered kosher. This is great news when you are trying to pick lactose free soups. Kosher rules state that dairy products do not mix with meat in the same dish. Therefore any kosher soups will not include dairy. Kosher rules relate to the method of preparation, butchering, serving and storing of foods. Eating kosher is not restricted to just the Jewish community.
2. Exotic Cuisines
When looking for lactose free soups, try soups from Asian, African, West Indian cuisine. Tasty and exotic, what could be better? The cuisines from these areas of the world do not incorporate cow's milk. Some recipes use other types of milk, such as coconut, almond or soy. These milks do not contact lactose.
3. Look for the Veggies
Mixed vegetable soups never have milk products in them, with the exception of chowders. Simply look for a soup with a lot of vegetables. Soups with just one vegetable also come creamed, so avoid these. Example would be cream of broccoli and cream of mushroom. Vegetable soups where meat or chicken have been added often include pasta or rice. Pasta is made with milk, and so has a small portion of lactose in it. The amount is considered very minor and not a potential risk to anyone.
4. A Few Key Words
Eating out can be difficult when you are trying to avoid lactose or dairy products in your soups. Certain cultures add dairy products to their soup, while others never do. French, Italian, English and other European cultures often have lactose in their soups. The following words are hints to lactose in a soup: rose base, chowder, rich, creamy, decadent, hearty and cream. When ordering in a restaurant, check the description of the soups and the names for hints.
5. Read the Ingredients
In the grocery store, look at the ingredient listing on the back of every package of food. The manufacturers provide a complete listing of all the items that have gone into the food, in descending order of quantity. Look for milk products, cream, milk by-products as indicators that the soup is not lactose free. Lactose in soup is a binding or thickening agent, so keep an eye out for it as an individual ingredient as well.
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