5 Dairy-Free Ingredient Substitutes for People with Dairy Allergies

From ice cream to frozen pizzas, there are thousands of grocery store items that contain dairy.

This poses a real problem if you’re someone that has a dairy allergy or sensitivity. In fact, according to FoodAllergy.org, consuming the slightest amount of any food or beverage that contains dairy can quickly cause you to experience…

• Bloating.
• Digestive issues.
• Hives.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal pain.

The only solution to avoiding these unpleasant symptoms: Avoid all dairy products.

This might seem challenging considering how many food products contain dairy. But, the good news is that--due to the increased awareness of dairy allergies/sensitivities--many products now exist for those who need ingredient substitutes.

If you’re looking for alternative dairy option to ensure you can enjoy your favorite foods and desserts without the uncomfortable side effects, keep reading.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite non-dairy ingredient replacements below…

Non-Dairy Ingredient Substitute #1 - Almond Milk

Almond milk is by far one of the most common dairy-free milk options available.

The reason we’re including it on our list is that it’s such a versatile and delicious dairy-free option.

Almond milk is low in calories, high in vitamin D, and contains around 6 grams of protein per 8-ounce glass.

It has the same nutritional benefits as dairy milk--without the gut-wrenching side effects.

The best part...it has a sweet and subtle pleasant taste. For this reason alone, many people--even those without dairy intolerances--are switching over to almond milk based products.

How to Use Almond Milk:

Almond milk can be used the exact same way cow milk is used. You can drink it by itself, pour it on top of cereal, or use it in any recipe you’re making. There’s no need to measure out this ingredient any differently for cooking or baking purposes.

Non-Dairy Ingredient Substitute #2 - Canned Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is another wonderful dairy alternative.

It’s made from the white flesh of coconuts and comes packed full of natural protein, fiber, iron, vitamin C, and healthy carbohydrates.

Like almond milk, coconut milk can be consumed as a beverage or used in any type of recipe that normal dairy milk is used in.

That being said, we love using coconut milk for baking as a base for cooking dishes such as curries, sauces, and soups.

How to Use Coconut Milk:

Once again, there’s no need to treat coconut milk any differently than cow milk. Simply use the same measurements you’d use while cooking and/or baking with traditional dairy products. Our only recommendation is to purchase unsweetened coconut milk in order to avoid consuming too much sugar.

Note: If you don’t care for the flavor of coconut, use a refined coconut product. Only unrefined coconut products taste like coconut.

Non-Dairy Ingredient Substitute #3 - Cashew Soft Cheese

If you’re a cheese lover, having a daily sensitivity is a downer.

The good news…

There are many dairy-free, nut-based cheeses on the market that taste just as good as cheese made from cow milk.

You can purchase nut-based cheeses in many mainstream grocery stores. That being said, it’s simple--and often cheaper-- to make your own nut cheese at home.

Give this tasty recipe from The Full Helping a try…

Ingredients:

• 1 generous cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours (up to 10, or overnight, is fine), drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (for stronger garlicky flavor, use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder or 1 crushed garlic clove instead)
• ½ teaspoon salt (more as needed)
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup water (more as needed)

Directions:

1. Place the cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse repeatedly to break the cashews down, until they form a coarse, wet meal. Scrape the sides of the food processor down with a spatula.
2. Turn the motor of the processor on. With the motor running, drizzle in the water and let the cashews process for about 10 seconds. Stop and scrape the machine down again. Continue processing for a full 1-2 minutes, or until the cashew cheese is smooth and thick, adding a tablespoon of extra water if needed. The consistency should be a little bit like hummus (see photos of finished cashew cheese as a cue).
3. Taste the cashew cheese and add lemon, salt, and pepper to taste. If you like, pulse in fresh herbs or other flavorings.
4. Serve. Cashew cheese will keep for up to 6 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

(Recipe Source: https://www.thefullhelping.com/go-to-cashew-cheese-recipe/)

Non-Dairy Ingredient Substitute #4 - Banana Ice Cream

Have a sweet tooth? Love ice cream? Missing out on your favorite dessert because you can’t consume dairy?

We’ve got you covered with our delicious banana ice cream recipe.

That’s right--bananas are a wonderful ingredient that you can use to make creamy, decadent homemade ice cream. Better yet, it’s a healthier alternative to dairy-based ice creams so you don’t have to feel guilty about eating dessert!

Here’s how it’s made…

Ingredients:

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1.5 cups coconut milk

Optional ingredients to taste:

• Chocolate syrup
• Cinnamon
• Strawberries

Directions:

1. Combine ripe bananas, vanilla, and coconut milk into a mixer. Mix until thoroughly mashed and combined.
2. Add flavoring ingredients if desired--cinnamon, chocolate syrup, strawberries.
3. Place mixture in a glass baking dish and cover.
4. Freeze mixture for 6 hours.
5. Scoop and enjoy!

Non-Dairy Ingredient Substitute #5 - Nutpods Dairy Creamer

If you’re like the majority of coffee drinkers in the world, you likely enjoy a splash of creamer in your cup of Joe.

That being said, dairy sensitivities greatly limit your options when it comes to delicious tasting creamers.

As coffee lovers, we’re happy to let you know that you no longer have to settle for a boring splash of soy milk in your cup of coffee.

What’s the alternative?

Nutpods!

Nutpods are a dairy-free creamer made from heart-healthy almonds and mct-rich coconuts.

They come in a variety of flavors including…

• Hazelnut Nutpods
• Original Nutpods
• French Vanilla Nutpods

Having a dairy sensitivity no longer means that you have to miss out on your favorite foods and beverages.

At Pure Modern Living, we’ve stocked our shelves with allergy-friendly alternatives, so all of your foods and drinks are just a click away.

Discover all the other dairy-free products that we carry online and have them shipped directly to your door.

Shop now!