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Introduction
Some children’s symptoms may be caused or made worse by foods containing milk and wheat; this diet sheet will help you to avoid all foods containing milk and wheat.
All milk, milk products and manufactured foods containing milk and wheat must be excluded from the diet.
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. Infant milk formulae are fortified with vitamins and minerals and may be nutritionally adequate.
Under One Year Old
You may continue to breastfeed your baby, but you may need to follow a milk and wheat free diet yourself if you are ask for more written advice to help with this.
If your baby is having 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
Breast Milk
You may continue to breast feed, but you may need to follow a milk and wheat free diet yourself; ask for more advice about this.
There are many plant based ‘milk’ alternatives available on the market. They vary in nutritional value; your dietitian will advise on which one is suitable.
- Coconut Milk (e.g. Koko, Koko Super 9, shops’ own brands)
- This is available from some supermarkets and health food stores. Check you brand is calcium enriched; most are low in protein and energy
- 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 you to avoid 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 brands that have calcium added to them. If your child is avoiding soya, the following alternatives may be used
- Oat Milk (e.g. Oatly, Oat Dream, shops’ own brands)
- This can be used instead of milk if your child is not also avoiding gluten. This is available from some supermarkets and health food stores. Buy the brand that has calcium added to it
- Good Hemp, Brand Milk Alternatives
- This is available from some supermarkets and health food stores. It contains added 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
- Pea Based Milk (e.g. Mighty Pea, shops’ own brand)
- They 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 extra calcium (check the label). If fortified, shops own brand alternative milks are a great, cost-effective choice for your child.
Over Four and a Half Years Old
- Rice Milk e.g. Rice Dream, Freedom, Rice n Easy, shops’ own brands
- Most supermarkets and health food shops stock various brands. If possible, buy a brand that has calcium added to it
The Department of Health recommends that all children between the ages of six months and five years old should take supplementary vitamins A, C and D in the form of vitamin drops unless they are drinking 500mls of infant formula per day.
Other Milks
- Goat, 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
May Contain’ Labels
Some food labels say, ‘may contain milk’ or ‘may contain wheat’. This means that although milk or wheat are not deliberately added to the food, the manufacturers cannot guarantee that the product does not contain small amounts of milk or wheat. If your child has a milk and wheat allergy these food products should be avoided.
Some gluten free foods may contain wheat, so check the label.
Baking Without Wheat
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 (wheat free flours) for cakes and 1 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 15 and 16.
Labelling
By law, any manufactured food containing milk or any of the common 14 allergens or derivatives, must be highlighted on the ingredient list in bold, underlined or in italics. When you buy any tinned, packet or other processed foods, the list of ingredients should always be checked.
Milk and wheat are present in foods in many different forms. Milk and wheat derivatives are listed on the next page and any foods containing these ingredients should be avoided:
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Milk |
Casein and caseinates |
Milk solids |
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Buttermilk |
Non-fat milk solids |
Butter |
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Milk powder |
Skimmed milk powder |
Margarine |
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Shortening |
Yoghurt with lactose |
Cream |
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Artificial cream |
Hydrolysed whey protein |
Lactose |
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Cheese powder |
Whey syrup sweeteners |
Cheese |
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Monosodium glutamate |
Hydrolysed whey sugar |
Whey powder |
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Breadcrumbs |
Wheat bran |
Bran |
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Bulgar wheat |
Wheat gluten |
Couscous |
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Wheat germ oil |
Wholewheat pasta |
Oats |
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Wheat thickener |
Wheat binder |
Barley |
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Semolina |
Wheat germ |
Rye |
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Hydrolysed wheat protein |
||
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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.
Tablets and Medicines
Some medicines may contain milk, lactose or wheat as a filler, so check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are suitable.
Milk and Wheat Challenge
Many children grow out of intolerances as they get older. Your doctor will advise when milk and/or wheat can be reintroduced into your child’s diet 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.
School Dinners
It should be possible to arrange milk and wheat free meals at school or nursery. Your dietitian will be able to provide plenty of information about the diet to make it easier for the school. Alternatively, your child can take a milk and wheat free packed lunch. Some children require a life-long milk and wheat free diet.
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Foods Allowed |
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Milk Milk substitute:
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Milk Products
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Eggs
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Fats and Oils
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Breakfast Cereals (using milk substitute)
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Flours, Grains and Pasta
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Breads
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Fruit and Nuts
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Foods to Avoid |
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Milk
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Milk Products
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Eggs
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Fats and Oils
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Breakfast Cereals
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Flours, Grains and Pasta
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Breads
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Fruit and Nuts
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Foods Allowed |
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Soups and Sauces
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Meats, Poultry and Alternatives
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Fish and Fish Products
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Vegetables
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Puddings and Desserts
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Biscuits and Cakes
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Sugar and Confectionery
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Foods to Avoid |
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Soups and Sauces
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Meats, Poultry and Alternatives
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Fish and Fish Products
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Vegetables
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Puddings and Desserts
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Biscuits and Cakes
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Sugar and Confectionery
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Foods Allowed |
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Preserves and Spreads
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Beverages
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Miscellaneous
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Foods to Avoid |
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Preserves and Spreads
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Beverages
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Miscellaneous
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Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast
- Milk and wheat free cereal with milk substitute
- Milk and wheat free bread toasted with milk free spread/
- nut butter or jam
- Fruit
- Fruit juice, tea, coffee or squash
Mid-morning/Mid-afternoon
- Milk substitute, tea, coffee or squash
- Plain crisps, popcorn, milk and wheat 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
Main Meal
- Meat, fish, poultry, egg or vegetarian alternative
- Potato, rice, quinoa or wheat free pasta
- Vegetables or salad
- Fresh fruit, canned fruit, jelly or pudding made without milk or
- wheat or using milk and wheat free substitutes
Before Bed
- Milk substitute or cocoa made with milk substitute
- Milk and wheat free bread toasted with milk free spread and jam
- Milk and wheat free cereal with milk substitute
Baby Foods
Many commercial baby foods contain milk or milk products and wheat. Remember to check the label. You may wish to contact the company to receive an up-to-date product list.
Home-made 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.
Basic Wheat 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
- ⅛cup (30ml) of vegetable oil
- Preheat oven to 180°C or 350°F
- Combine dry ingredients and give them a good dry mix to ensure even distribution
- Beat egg lightly and add it with the other liquids to the dry ingredients
- Mix thoroughly until the batter is a similar consistency to a muffin mix
- Pour into a greased small loaf tin
- Place on the centre rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes
- Check with a skewer to ensure the loaf is baked right through
- Allow to cool in the tin for 30 minutes. 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)
- Put into fridge to set - serve with fresh or tinned fruit
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 or to buy over the counter
Other Sources of Calcium
- Milk substitutes—soya, rice or oat milk with added calcium
- Broccoli
- Baked beans
- Oranges
- Canned sardines with bones
- Fortified dairy alternative yogurts
- Fortified dairy alternative cheeses
Ask your dietitian for an information sheet on more dietary sources of calcium.
Suitable Finger Foods
By 6 - 7 months your baby can be offered finger foods to encourage self-feeding. Suitable milk and wheat 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 wheat free biscuits
- Fingers of toast (using suitable bread) with milk free spread
- Cooked pasta shapes (using suitable wheat free pasta)
- Baby rice cakes or milk and wheat free cereal
Ask your dietitian for more information on a milk and wheat free weaning diet.
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.
Cheeses Made from Soya
Scheese www.buteisland.com
Tofutti www.
Cheezly www.
Violife www.
Catalogue of Products
Useful Contacts
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Allergy UK |
Alpro Soya UK Ltd. |
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The Anaphylaxis Campaign |
B Free Foods Ltd (wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, soya free) |
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General Dietary Ltd |
Glutafin (Dr Schár UK Ltd) |
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Kallo Foods Ltd |
Nutrition Point Ltd |
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Orgran |
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Rice Dream |
Ultrapharm Ltd NP4 0JJ - 0845 270 1400 |
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
DT/111
Approval date:
1 June 2026
Review date:
1 June 2029
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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.