Milk products, especially yogurt, cheese, and cream cheese, are popular lunch box staples. Packing a fun and healthy lunch without them can be a challenge if your child has a milk allergy. This week of milk-free lunch box alternatives is the answer to boring lunches.
Is your child allergic to more than just milk? We have additional resources if you’re managing multiple food allergies. Ask other parents for lunch ideas on our Food and Cooking Support forum. Search our Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipes collection of almost 1,500 member-submitted recipes. And check out our Allergy-Friendly Foods collection for products made without many of the most common allergens.
Monday
Bagel or small roll with Hummus Without Citrus and Roasted Red Pepper Spread: Add some lettuce or sprouts for crunch. Hummus is a great option instead of traditional cream cheese. If your child is also allergic to sesame, try this recipe for Sesame-Free Hummus.
Pack with cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, fresh fruit, and fortified juice or milk alternative.
Tuesday
Taco salad with a twist: Pack a dish of Rainbow Scoops or Moros Y Cristianos along with tortilla chips or corn chip scoops. Can’t have corn? Send small flour tortillas to fill at lunchtime.
Pack with grapes and fortified juice or milk alternative.
Wednesday
Pizza pinwheels with tomato dipping sauce: Spread a thin layer of Pizza Sauce on milk-free canned crescent roll dough or use Butterhorn Crescent Roll dough. You can also use a gluten-free biscuit dough. Roll out a portion of dough into a rectangle. Top with milk-free “cheese” and your favorite pizza toppings, such as finely diced pepperoni, bell pepper, and mushrooms. They are still yummy even if you leave off the “cheese!” Roll up, slice, and bake. Add a small dish of pizza sauce for dipping.
Pack with carrot sticks, fruit salad, and fortified juice or milk alternative.
Thursday
Roll-up with milk-free "cream cheese" alternative: Spread a flour tortilla with milk-free cream cheese alternative. Then add thinly sliced cucumbers and sprouts or baby greens. Cut in half or in smaller pinwheels. No safe milk-free "cream cheese"? Other options are hummus, mashed avocado, or any other savory spread.
Pack with carrots, fruit roll-up, and fortified juice or milk alternative.
Friday
Pasta with pesto: Toss leftover pasta with Chef Lucas Cheese- and Nut-Free Pesto. The beans are a great source of protein and fiber. Add some chunks of roasted chicken on the side or dice up the chicken and add it to the pasta.
Pack with red pepper strips, granola, and fortified juice or milk alternative.
Still Need More Ideas?
Check out our Allergy-Friendly Lunch Hacks to make packing lunches a little easier, as well as these recipes:
- A Week of Peanut Butter and Jelly Alternatives for Lunch
- A Week of Wheat-Free Alternatives for Lunch
- A Week of Sesame-Free Alternatives for Lunch
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