On this page…

Introduction

Some children’s symptoms may be caused or made worse by foods containing cow’s milk or gluten. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, oats, barley and rye. All milk, milk products, gluten and manufactured foods containing milk and gluten must be excluded from the diet. This diet sheet will help you avoid all foods containing milk and gluten.

Milk Substitutes

When milk is excluded from the diet, a substitute is needed to provide the nutrition that your child needs for healthy growth and development. Many milk substitutes are fortified with vitamins and minerals and may be nutritionally adequate.

There are also other substitute milks available in health food shops and supermarkets, which are not nutritionally adequate and should not be given to your child unless agreed with your dietitian.

Under One Year Old

You may continue to breast feed your baby; however, you may need to 
follow a milk free diet yourself whilst you are breastfeeding; ask for more information from your dietitian

If your baby is drinking infant formula, this will need to be changed to a hypoallergenic infant formula; these are only available on prescription from your GP.  The milk substitutes suitable for children over one can be used in family meals or maternal diet if needing to follow this.

Over One Year Old

Plant based non-milk alternatives vary in their calcium, protein and energy content. It is important to check the label and compare brands. 

  • Soya Milk e.g. Alpro 1+, shops own brands
    • Some children who are intolerant to milk are also intolerant to soya.   Although this makes the diet quite restrictive, your doctor may advise avoiding soya, especially in the first six weeks. After this time, your doctor may suggest a trial re-introduction.   

If soya milk is tolerated, other soya products can be used e.g. cheese/yogurts/custard choose the cartons that have calcium added to them. If your child is avoiding soya, the following alternatives may be used:

Coconut Milk e.g. Koko, shops own brands, Koko Super Milk

  • This is available from some supermarkets and health food stores; it tends to be low in protein and energy; check the brand you are buying contains additional calcium

 

  • Good Hemp
    • This is available from some supermarkets and health food stores.  Be aware this does not contain additional calcium
  • Nut-based Milk e.g. Ecomil, Alpro, Almond Breeze, shops own brand 
    • These milks are generally based on almonds or hazelnuts.  They can be used unless there is a concern about a possible nut allergy.  Check your brand contains additional calcium
  • Pea Based Milk e.g. Mighty pea, shops own brand 
    • These can be used unless there is a concern about a possible pea/ legume allergy. Check your brand contains additional calcium. vitamins and iodine if needed
  • Organic brands of alternative milks are not fortified with additional calcium, check the label

Other Milks

  • Goats, Sheep and Buffalo Milk 
    • These should be excluded as their protein is similar to that of cow’s milk and may cause similar reactions
  • Lactofree Milk  
    • This product should be avoided as it contains cow’s milk protein
  • A2 Milk
    • This should be avoided as it still contains cow’s milk
  • Oat Milk e.g. Oatly, Oat Dream, shops own brands 
    • Milk substitutes based on oat should be avoided on a gluten free diet

Labelling

By law, any manufactured food containing milk or any of the common fourteen allergens/derivatives, must be highlighted on the ingredients list, usually in bold.

May Contain Labels

Some food labels say, for example ‘may contain milk’ or ‘may contain gluten’. This means that although milk and gluten are not deliberately added to the food, the manufacturers cannot guarantee that the product does not contain small amounts of them. If you have a milk or gluten allergy these food products should be avoided.

Baking Without Gluten

Recipes made with flour other than wheat flour are often very crumbly. Xanthan gum can be added to wheat free recipes, particularly bread, to help make a better product.  

Try adding ½ teaspoon per 180g of special flour for cakes and one teaspoon per 180g of special flour for bread. This is available in supermarket “free from” aisles and health food shops or from the stockists listed on the pages 13 and 14.

Manufactured Foods 

When you buy any tinned, packet or other processed foods, the list of ingredients should always be checked.

Milk and gluten are present in foods in many different forms. Milk and gluten derivatives are listed below and any foods containing these ingredients should be avoided:

Milk

Casein and caseinates

Milk solids

Buttermilk

Non-fat milk solids

Butter

Milk powder

Skimmed milk powder

Margarine

Shortening

Yoghurt with lactose

Cream

Artificial cream

Hydrolysed whey protein

Lactose

Cheese powder

Whey syrup sweeteners

Cheese

Monosodium glutamate

Hydrolysed whey sugar

Whey powder

Breadcrumbs

Wheat bran

Bran

Bulgar wheat

Wheat gluten

Couscous

Wheat germ oil

Wholewheat pasta

Oats

Wheat thickener

Wheat binder

Barley

Semolina

Wheat germ

Rye

Hydrolysed wheat protein

Gluten, wheat flour, bread, cakes and biscuits made with wheat flour

Loose, Unwrapped and Unpackaged Foods

Any foods sold loose or unpackaged may be at risk of cross contamination. Information about ingredients should be available at the point of purchase.  You may need to ask staff for information about ingredients.

Coeliac UK

The Coeliac UK website is a good resource for information on following a gluten free diet. 

Calcium Supplements

If your child refuses to drink a suitable milk substitute or take enough with breakfast cereals and puddings, it may be necessary to start a calcium supplement. Your dietitian will recommend a suitable calcium supplement that is available on prescription.

Other sources of calcium:

  • Soya or rice milk with added calcium
  • Broccoli
  • Baked beans
  • Oranges
  • Canned sardines with bones
  • Dairy alternative yogurts 
  • Dairy alternative cheese

Ask your dietitian for more information on milk and gluten free foods rich in calcium. 

Tablets and Medicines

Some medicines may contain milk, lactose or gluten as a filler, so check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are suitable.

Eating Out

If you are eating out with your child, ask about ingredients before you go. If you are not sure, do not give it to your child. You can try looking at the website www.leaveitout.com

Foods Allowed

Milk

Milk substitute

  • Choose the carton that contains added calcium and vitamins. UHT and fresh versions may be available

Milk Products

  • If your child is allowed soya milk you can also give special soya products such as yoghurts, flavoured milks, desserts, custard and ice cream.
  • Dairy free cheeses (e.g. Cheezly, Sheese, Tofutti).
  • Non-dairy cream made with vegetable oil

Eggs

  • Boiled, poached and fried.
  • Omelette or scrambled egg made using milk substitute and dairy free spread

Fats and Oils

  • Dairy free margarine e.g. Pure, Vitalite or shops own brand
  • Kosher margarine e.g. Tomor
  • Vegetable or olive oil

Breakfast Cereals (using milk substitute)

  • Rice Krispies, Coco Pops.
  • Natures Path, Doves Farm, Orgran ‘free from’ cereals.
  • Other cereals only if known to be milk and gluten free

Flours, Grains and Pasta

  • Millet, rice, ground rice, sago, quinoa, cornflour, tapioca, cornmeal, maize, buckwheat, rice, potato, soya flour, Doves Farm gluten free flour range.  Gluten free pastas from supermarket ‘free from’ ranges.

Breads

  • Special milk and gluten free bread
  • Rice cakes

Meats, Poultry and Alternatives

  • All fresh or frozen meat and poultry.
  • Gravy, sauces and stews made without milk or gluten.
  • Processed and pre-packaged meat only if known to be milk and gluten free.
  • Tofu and soya beans (if soya allowed).
  • Lentils, beans and pulses, Quorn

Preserves and Spreads

  • Honey (not for under 1 year old), marmalade, syrup, jam and treacle
  • Peanut butter only if known to be milk and gluten free

 

Foods to Avoid

Milk

  • Cow’s milk – full fat, semi skimmed, skimmed, sterilised, UHT, milkshakes
  • Sheep, goat and buffalo milk.
  • Dried milk, Coffee Mate and other coffee creamers.
  • Evaporated and condensed milk

Milk Products

  • Fromage frais, yoghurt, yoghurt drinks, mousse, ice-cream.
  • Cream – double, single, whipping, clotted and artificial cream.
  • Cheese, cheese spread, cottage cheese, curd cheese, cream cheese, vegetarian cheese

Eggs

  • Scotch egg

Fats and Oils

  • Butter, Ghee and any other margarine or low fat spread unless known to be milk and gluten free

Breakfast Cereals

  • Cornflakes, Cheerios, porridge, Oatibix, Coco Rocks, Weetos and other chocolate flavoured cereals
  • Special K, muesli, Weetabix, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat and other cereals unless known to be milk and gluten free

Flours, Grains and Pasta

  • Wheat, rye, barley, oats, semolina, wheat flour and pasta

Breads

  • All other breads, croissants, paratha, pitta, naan, chapatti, fruit loaf
  • Crispbread and crackers unless known to be milk and gluten free

Meats, Poultry and Alternatives

  • Made up’ meat dishes e.g. sausages, burgers, hot dogs, faggots, meatballs, rissoles, tinned meats
  • Meat in batter or breadcrumbs e.g. chicken nuggets unless known to be milk and gluten free
  • Vegetarian burgers, grills, ‘made up’ dishes unless known to be milk and gluten free

Preserves and Spreads

  • Lemon curd, chocolate spread, mincemeat.
  • Sandwich spread, mayonnaise, salad cream, paste unless known to be milk and gluten free

Foods Allowed

Puddings and Desserts

  • Jelly, meringues.
  • Fruit – fresh or canned in juice or syrup.
  • Custard and other milk puddings made with milk substitute.
  • Pies, crumbles and sponges made with milk and gluten free ingredients.
  • Sorbets, and ice lollies only if known to be milk and gluten free.
  • Swedish glace ice dessert (if soya allowed)

Fish and Fish Products

  • All fresh or frozen fish or shellfish.
  • Canned fish in brine or oil.
  • Sauces and stews made with milk substitute and milk free margarine.
  • Processed and pre-packaged fish only if known to be milk and gluten free

Vegetables

  • All fresh, frozen and dried vegetables and potato.
  • Canned vegetables in brine.
  • Mashed potato with milk substitute and milk free margarine.
  • Plain potato crisps not low-fat crisps

Fruit and Nuts

  • Fresh, frozen and dried fruit.
  • Canned fruit in juice or syrup.
  • Plain, roasted or salted nuts (whole nuts should not be given to children under 5 due to the risk of choking)

Biscuits and Cakes

  • Home-made biscuits and cakes made with milk and gluten free Ingredients.
  • Supermarket ‘free from’ range

Soups and Sauces

  • Home-made soups without milk, cream, pasta or wheat flour.
  • Sauces made with milk substitute.
  • Home-made gravy, Marmite, Bovril, Vegemite.
  • Ketchup, salsa, tomato-based sauces only if known to be milk and gluten free

Sugar and Confectionery

  • Sugar, glucose.
  • Boiled sweets, lollies, pastilles and gums.
  • Marshmallows and mints

Foods to Avoid

Puddings and Desserts

  • Yoghurts, fromage frais, mousse and ice cream.
  • Custard, Instant custard mixes desserts, blancmange.
  • Pies, crumbles and sponges unless known to be milk and gluten free

Fish and Fish Products

  • Canned fish in sauce, ‘made up’ fish dishes or fish in batter or breadcrumbs e.g. fish fingers unless known to be milk and gluten free

Vegetables

  • Mashed potato with ordinary milk and butter
  • Canned vegetables in sauce
  • Potato salad, coleslaw
  • Potato waffles, croquette potatoes, oven chips, flavoured potato crisps
  • Vegetables in batter or breadcrumbs unless known to be milk and gluten free

Fruit and Nuts

  • Fruit pie fillings unless known to be milk and gluten free
  • Coated or dry roasted nuts unless known to be milk and gluten free

 Biscuits and Cakes

  • All other biscuits and cakes unless known to be milk and gluten free

Soups and Sauces

  • Canned and packet soups.
  • White, parsley, butter and cheese sauces.
  • Gravy mixes, stock cubes and browning unless known to be milk and gluten free

Sugar and Confectionery

  • Artificial sweeteners that contain lactose e.g. Canderel, Sweet n Low unless known to be milk and gluten free.
  • Fudge, milk chocolate, toffee and all other sweets and chocolates unless known to be milk and gluten free

Foods Allowed

Beverages

  • Milk substitute.
  • Tea, coffee, cocoa without milk or using milk substitute.
  • Milkshake powder or syrups only if known to be milk and gluten free.
  • Mineral waters, fizzy drinks, squash, fruit juices

Miscellaneous

  • Gluten free baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar, yeast.
  • Herbs, spice, salt, pepper, vinegar, essences, herbs, spices.
  • Colourings, gelatine

Foods to Avoid

Beverages

  • Milk, milkshakes, Bournvita, Ovaltine, Horlicks.
  • Drinking chocolate and other chocolate drinks

Miscellaneous

  • Medicines and tablets containing lactose or gluten filler.
  • Blended spices.
  • Monosodium glutamate containing lactose or gluten filler

Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast

  • Milk and gluten free cereal with milk substitute
  • Milk and gluten free bread toasted with milk free spread and jam
  • Fruit 
  • Fruit juice, squash or water

Mid-morning/Mid-afternoon

  • Milk substitute, squash or water
  • Plain crisps, popcorn, gluten and milk free cake or biscuit, fruit

Snack Meal

  • Sandwich with suitable bread and spread
  • Meat, fish, poultry, egg or vegetarian filling
  • Salad or vegetable sticks
  • Fresh fruit
  • Fruit juice, squash or water

Main Meal

  • Meat, fish, poultry, egg or vegetarian alternative
  • Potato, rice, quinoa or gluten free pasta
  • Vegetables or salad
  • Fresh fruit, canned fruit, jelly or pudding made without milk or gluten or using milk and gluten free substitutes
  • Fruit juice, squash or water

Before Bed

  • Milk substitute or cocoa made with milk substitute
  • Milk and gluten free bread toasted with milk free spread and jam
  • Milk and gluten free cereal with milk substitute

Basic Gluten and Milk Free Bread Recipe

Ingredients: NB quantities in brackets are approximately UK conversions

  • 1 cup (125g) of rice flour
  • 1½ tbsp (25g) sugar
  • 1¾ tsp gluten free baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup (120ml) of milk substitute
  •    cup (30ml) of vegetable oil
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C or 350°F
  2. Combine dry ingredients and give them a good dry mix to ensure even distribution
  3. Beat egg lightly and add it with the other liquids to the dry ingredients
  4. Mix thoroughly until the batter is a similar consistency to a muffin mix
  5. Pour into a greased small loaf tin
  6. Place on the centre rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes
  7. Check with a skewer to ensure the loaf is baked right through
  8. Allow to cool in the tin for 30 minutes
  9. Once cool slice and enjoy

Recipe for Milk Jelly

Dissolve half a packet of jelly in 250ml of hot water then allow to cool until semi set/at room temperature.

Whisk in 250mls of milk substitute (soya/oat milk or cream substitute) and put into fridge to set - serve with fresh or tinned fruit.

Baby Foods

Many commercial baby foods contain milk or gluten. Remember to check the label. You may wish to contact the company to receive an up-to-date product list.

Homemade Weaning Foods

Suitable first weaning foods are pureed fruits and vegetables. These should be cooked with no added salt or sugar and pureed using a blender, liquidizer or sieve. Milk substitute should be added to ensure a smooth consistency.

Suitable Finger Foods

By 6 - 7 months your baby can be offered finger foods to encourage self-feeding. Suitable milk and gluten free finger foods include:

  • Cooked vegetable sticks e.g. carrot, courgette
  • Pieces of peeled fruits e.g. banana, soft tinned fruit, apple or pear
  • Milk and gluten free biscuits 
  • Fingers of toast (using suitable bread) with milk free margarine
  • Cooked pasta shapes (using suitable pasta)
  • Baby rice cakes or milk and gluten free cereal

Ask your Dietitian for more information on starting solid food on a milk and gluten free diet. 

School Dinners

It should be possible to arrange milk and gluten free meals at school or nursery. Alternatively, your child can take a milk and gluten free packed lunch.

Milk and Gluten Challenge

Many children grow out of intolerances as they get older. Your doctor will suggest that milk and/or gluten is reintroduced into your child’s diet at some stage and will provide you with the necessary instructions.

If there is a possibility that your child may react severely it will be recommended that the challenge is given under hospital supervision. Some children require a life-long milk and gluten free diet.

Useful Contacts

 

Allergy UK

www.allergyuk.org

The Anaphylaxis Campaign
info@anaphylaxis.org.uk

Alpro Soya UK Ltd.
www.alprosoya.co.uk

www.provamel.co.uk

Oatly
www.oatly.com

Coeliac UK

www.coeliac.co.uk

Imagine Foods (Rice Dream)

www.tastethedream.eu

General Dietary Ltd

www.generaldietary.com

Kallo Foods Ltd

www.kallo.com

Glutafin (Dr Shar-UK Ltd)

glutenfree@glutafin.co.uk

www.glutafin.co.uk

Nutrition Point Ltd

info@dietaryspecials.co.uk

www.dietaryspecials.co.uk

Lifestyle Healthcare Ltd

info@ultrpharm.uk

 

Rice Dream

www.ricedream.co.uk

registration@haincelestial.co.uk

Orgran

www.orgran.com

  

 

Essential Reading

Diet Intervention and Autism - A Practical Guide for Parents

By Marilyn Le Breton. 

Published by Jessica Kingsley - ISBN 1-85302-935-1

 

Cheeses Made from Soya

Scheese - www.buteisland.com

Tofutti - www.triano.f2s.com

Cheezly - www.redwoodfoods.co.uk

Violife - www.violifefoods.com

Publications

Allergy free cookbook by Alice Sherwood

Publisher: DK Books - ISBN 978 1 4053 1260 8 - £14.99

How to Cook for Food Allergies by Lucinda Brune-Gardyne, 2007

Publisher: Rodale - ISBN: 978-905744 04 6

The Allergy Free Family Cookbook by Fiona Heggie

Publisher: Orion

Catalogue of Products

www.goodnessdirect.co.uk


 

Contact us

If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.

About this information

Service:
Dietetics

Reference:
DT/109

Approval date:
1 June 2026

Review date:
1 June 2029

Click ‘show accessibility tools’ at the bottom of the page 

Accesibility tools snip.PNG

Then click ‘select language’  

dropdown menu reading 'Select language'

 

Interpreters for your appointment

Alternative formats 

You can use the accessibility toolbar at the bottom of your screen to: 

  • Change the text size 

  • Adjust the font 

  • Modify the colour contrast 

  • Use the translate function 

If you would like this information in another format, such as Braille, audio, or easy read, please speak to a member of staff. 

You can also print as well as download as PDF using the “Print this page” button at the end of the page.  

Staff will print a copy for you on request 

Important note 

This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.