If your child is newly diagnosed with a dairy allergy, the words ‘casein’ and ‘whey’ no longer sound foreign, and you’re scrutinizing food labels. You’re reworking your pantry to provide dairy-free alternatives at home, but may worry how you’ll cope with birthday parties, and school lunches and snacks.
Particularly if your child really loved milk and cheese, it can take time to adjust to the dairy-free lifestyle. When it comes to school and parties, kids don’t want to stand out from their peers or miss out on ‘the good stuff’. Tears may flow at the prospect of being the only one to have to pass on the chocolate ice cream at the Back-to-School Bash.
The good news is that with a little planning, you can prevent meltdowns by suggesting or providing genuinely tasty non-dairy snacks and treats that a kid will love.
Dairy-Free Challenge #1: The birthday party
If you’re hosting, a wealth of websites offer recipes for dairy-free cakes (hint: test them pre-party). Icing with confectioner’s sugar, milk substitute and a dairy-free vegetable spread tastes great. Head to your local natural foods store for truly delicious rice- or soy-based “ice cream”. While you’re there, check out the selection of dairy-free frozen cakes, pies, and other baked goods. They’re no longer hard to find, but be prepared to pay more for convenience.
If your child’s the invitee, first call the host. It’s asking too much to request special foods, but it’s possible the cupcakes she’s baking are non-dairy, and it would be simple to leave off the buttercream frosting on a couple. If not, send similar dairy-free foods, preferably items viewed as treats that you save for special occasions. Consider keeping a stash in your freezer so you won’t have to scramble at the last minute. If pizza’s on the menu, you can preorder a personal size with soy cheese or no cheese, but be sure to check the chain’s crust and sauce ingredients, as some include milk products.
Dairy-Free Challenge #2: School lunch and snacks
Life can be easier if you pack a lunch rather than opting for the school’s fare, where selections frequently include cheese. You’re in control of the menu that way, and don’t have to worry about accidental exposures. In the lunchbox, try soy or rice cheese slices on a sandwich, soy yogurt, fruit roll-ups and non-dairy chips, and your child’s cold lunch won’t look much different from any other kid’s. They’re pricey, but boxed rice or soy milks with straws in chocolate, ‘very vanilla’ or juice smoothie flavors are usually a hit.
What about the rotating snack schedule at preschool or kindergarten? You can send a safe snack with your child each time. Or, a willing and conscientious teacher can check ingredients on the snack of the day, and grab a replacement snack from a stored back-up supply if needed. Individually packaged snacks, if affordable, make your child feel she’s getting a special treat, too. For class parties, consider frozen fruit bars, sorbet, or rice/soy-based cream treats. Kids love chocolate, and Oreos and Teddy Grahams surprisingly don’t contain milk (always check current labels for changes). If your child comes home with a sack full of Halloween or Valentine’s Day treats that are off limits, make her an offer she can’t refuse: trade it all in for a toy!
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