We recently had a mother write to us for advice and help with food allergy questions. Recently, she found out that her 3 year-old is allergic to dairy protein (specifically Casein) and nuts. One problem is that milk and cheese are staples of his diet. Also, it is a vegetarian family, so these foods were an important source of protein.

She needs some advice on how to get around offering him dairy products, while meeting nutritional requirements and maintaining the boy’s interest in eating. She has tried rice milk, almond milk, and coconut milk without much success. The parents were advised against using soy milk and other soy products due to estrogen content.

Does anyone have a similar situation? Can you share your experiences with what foods you offer your child that might work? How did you explain to your child why they can’t have regular milk, ice cream, and cheese? Any words of wisdom or advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance for your comments and posts.