Dairy-free diet for a child: menus and foods

In recent years, the number of babies with intolerance to dairy products has increased markedly. Many European scientists believe that this was due to global urbanization. Toddlers who live in the city do not tolerate dairy products more often than their rural and village friends. For any intolerance to dairy products requires the appointment of a special dairy-free diet.

Usually, a non-dairy diet includes the basic principles of proper nutrition, but with the replacement of dairy products with alternative sources of protein. Protein is necessary for the child's body for active growth and development.

The basis of the dairy-free diet are the following principles:

1. Complete exclusion of all dairy products. Casein (the main structural milk protein) should be replaced with other alternative sources of animal and vegetable protein.
2. Inclusion in the diet of more animal protein. For babies of the first year of life, with the introduction of complementary foods, lean turkey and chicken will be excellent options. You can also use veal or rabbit. For children from the year you can add white fish. However, the introduction of fish in the diet should be carried out gradually so as not to cause an overload of the body with protein products. For kids from three years old, you can add red varieties of fish.
3. Combine different types of proteins. Vegetable proteins should be added to animal proteins. They are more found in legumes, beans and soybeans. For children under one and a half years, as a vegetable protein, you can use a side dish of boiled beans with a small amount of vegetable oil. For older children, add boiled pea porridge to the ration or add beans to soups.
4. Power should be fractional, at approximately equal intervals of time. Feed your baby at least five or six times a day. Portions should be small (according to age needs). At each meal, try to include a protein product and a side dish. Be sure to add vegetables.
5. Sufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables. They really need a baby to strengthen immunity and growth.
6. As desserts, you can treat your baby with various fruits, nuts, or dried fruits. If you choose a finished product, carefully monitor the composition written on the label. It should not contain milk and any dairy ingredients. If it is indicated that the product contains traces of milk - it is not worth buying. Pay attention to hidden dairy products. Often manufacturers write on the label "contains lactose." Lactose is milk sugar. The use of such products for babies with milk intolerance is also prohibited.

Very often, after the child has identified intolerance to the components of milk, many mothers become hysterical. They do not understand how to get calcium from food and how to feed the baby. Panic is not worth it.

For babies from 1 year old, you can offer non-dairy cereals as an excellent breakfast. Cooking recipes are a huge amount. Give preference to cereals, which retain their taste without the use of milk. Children aged 2-3 years old can add a variety of chopped fruit to porridge. A great start to the day will be oatmeal, cooked in almond or rice milk, with the addition of pieces of banana or dried apricots.

Older kids from 5 years old should include more protein foods of animal origin in the menu. Choose varieties of meat that are quickly and easily absorbed by the children's body. Well-lean veal, rabbit or turkey. Fish will also be an excellent source of protein. If the child tolerates legumes well, add them as a side dish. This will further enhance the intake of protein in the children's body.

In rarer cases, babies have intolerance to milk and cereals. So kiddies to a dairy-free diet is also assigned gluten free. All meals containing gluten are completely excluded from the diet. These include, for example, oatmeal. It is allowed to eat corn and amaranth cereals. They perfectly saturate without harm to the children's body with gluten intolerance.

Tips for a dairy-free diet can be found in the video below.