Advice after your nerve block for surgery
On this page…
Introduction
Some children’s symptoms may be caused or made worse by foods containing cow’s milk, soya and wheat. This diet sheet will help you to avoid all these foods.
All milk, milk products, soya and wheat and manufactured foods containing these ingredients 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. 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. You may be advised to follow a milk free diet yourself if you are breastfeeding your child. Following a dairy milk free diet whilst breastfeeding can reduce some of your child’s symptoms. Using a soya and wheat-free diet may also reduce symptoms but discuss with your dietitian to ensure your diet remains healthy.
If you baby is drinking infant formula, it will need to be changed to a hypoallergenic formula. These are 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
Soya Milk
This should be avoided.
The following milks are suitable substitutes; many brands are available. Alpro Oat growing up milk is one of the closest to cow’s milk in terms of nutrient profile. Koko Super 9 is also a close alternative, but there are always new brands and shops’ own brands being made available. Check labels to ensure they are fortified with calcium.
- Oat Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Nut milks e.g. Almond milk, Hazelnut milk, Cashew milk
- Pea milk
- Hemp milk
Oat Milk e.g. Oatly, Oat Dream, shop’s own brand
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. Choose the carton with added calcium.
Goats, Sheep and Buffalo Milk
These milks should be excluded as their protein is similar to that of cow’s milk and may cause similar reactions.
Lactose-free Milk
This product should be avoided.
Nut Milk
For example, Ecomil, Rice Dream hazelnut-almond, Alpro almond and Alpro hazelnut these can be used unless there is also a concern about possible nut allergy.
A2 Milk
This should be avoided as it still contains cow’s milk.
Over the age of 4½ years rice milk can be used instead of milk. Most supermarkets and health food shops stock various brands. If your child is also excluding gluten from their diet, avoid Rice Dream. If possible, buy a brand that has calcium added to it e.g. Provamel, Rice n Easy.
Manufactured Foods
When you buy any tinned, packet or other processed foods, the list of ingredients should always be checked.
Milk, soya and wheat are present in foods in many ways.
Milk, wheat and soya derivatives are listed below and any foods containing these ingredients should be avoided:
Milk
|
Whey powder |
Casein |
Milk solids |
|
Buttermilk |
Caseinates |
Butter |
|
Milk powder |
Non-fat milk solids |
Margarine |
|
Shortening |
Skimmed milk powder |
Cream |
|
Artificial cream |
Hydrolysed whey protein |
Lactose |
|
Cheese |
Whey syrup sweeteners |
Yoghurt |
|
Cheese powder |
Hydrolysed whey sugar |
|
|
Monosodium glutamate with lactose |
||
Wheat
|
Breadcrumbs |
Wheat bran |
Pasta |
|
Wheat gluten |
Wheat binder |
Couscous |
|
Wheat starch |
Wheat germ |
Semolina |
|
Bulgur wheat |
Wheat germ oil |
Rusk |
|
Wheat thickener |
Bran |
|
|
Wheat flour and bread, cakes and biscuits made with wheat flour |
||
Soya
|
Soya margarine |
Soya derived additives (E471, E472) |
Soya bean |
|
Lecithin (E322)* |
Soya bean curd (tofu) |
Soya milk |
|
Soya flour |
Hydrolysed vegetable protein |
|
* Most lecithin comes from soya beans but if this is not stated on food packaging, the food should be avoided
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.
Loose, Unwrapped and Unpackaged Foods
Any foods sold loose, or unwrapped or unpackaged foods may be at risk of cross contamination. Since December 2015 information about the ingredients should be available at the point of purchase. You may need to ask staff for information about ingredients.
May Contain Labels
Some food labels say, for example, ‘may contain milk’, ‘may contain soya’, or ‘may contain wheat’. This means that although milk, soya and wheat 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, soya or wheat allergy these food products should be avoided.
|
Foods Allowed |
|
Milk Milk substitute:
|
|
Milk Products
|
|
Eggs
|
|
Fats and Oils
|
|
Breakfast Cereals (using milk substitute)
|
|
Flours, Grains and Pasta
|
|
Foods to Avoid |
|
Milk
|
|
Milk Products
|
|
Eggs
|
|
Fats and Oils
|
|
Breakfast Cereals
|
|
Flours, Grains and Pasta
|
|
Foods Allowed |
|
Milk Milk substitute:
|
|
Milk Products
|
|
Eggs
|
|
Fats and Oils
|
|
Breakfast Cereals (using milk substitute)
|
|
Flours, Grains and Pasta
|
|
Foods to Avoid |
|
Milk
|
|
Milk Products
|
|
Eggs
|
|
Fats and Oils
|
|
Breakfast Cereals
|
|
Flours, Grains and Pasta
|
|
Foods Allowed |
|
Breads
|
|
Meats and Poultry
|
|
Fish and Fish Products
|
|
Vegetables
|
|
Biscuits and Cakes
|
|
Beverages
|
|
Foods to Avoid |
|
Breads
|
|
Meats and Poultry
|
|
Fish and Fish products
|
|
Vegetables
|
|
Biscuits and Cakes
|
|
Beverages
|
|
Foods Allowed |
|
Fruit and Nuts
|
|
Puddings and Desserts
|
|
Soups and Sauces
|
|
Sugar and Confectionery
|
|
Preserves and Spreads
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
Foods to Avoid |
|
Fruit and Nuts
|
|
Puddings and Desserts
|
|
Soups and Sauces
|
|
Sugar and Confectionery
|
|
Preserves and Spreads
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast
- Milk, soya and wheat free cereal with milk substitute
- Milk, soya and wheat free bread toasted with milk free spread, jam, nut butter
- Fruit
- Fruit juice or water
Mid-morning/Mid afternoon
- Milk substitute, squash or water
- Plain crisps, popcorn, milk, soya and wheat free cake or biscuit, fruit
Snack Meal
- Sandwich with suitable bread and spread
- Meat, fish, eggs, poultry, nut butter or vegetarian filling
- Salad or vegetable sticks
- Fresh fruit or canned fruit, jelly or pudding made without milk, soya or wheat or using milk, soya and wheat free substitutes
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, soya or wheat or using milk, soya and wheat free substitutes
Before Bed
- Milk substitute or cocoa made with milk substitute
- Milk, soya and wheat free bread toasted with milk free spread and jam
- Milk, soya and wheat free cereal with milk substitute
Baby Foods
Many commercial baby foods contain milk or milk products, soya or wheat. Remember to check the label. Company/supermarket websites will often list product ingredients.
School Dinners
It should be possible to arrange milk, soya and wheat free meals at school or nursery. Your dietitian will be able to provide information about the diet to make it easier for the school. Alternatively, your child can take a milk, soya and wheat free packed lunch.
Recipe for Milk Jelly
- Dissolve 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 (e.g. oat milk or cream substitute).
- Put into fridge to set - serve with fresh or tinned fruit.
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 for cakes and one teaspoon per 180g of special flour for bread. This is available in supermarket ‘free from’ aisles and health food shops
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 to eat.
Calcium Supplements
If your child refused 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.
Other Sources of Calcium
Milk substitute with added calcium
Oranges
Baked beans
Broccoli
Canned sardines with bones
Tahini (sesame seed paste)
Ask for a list of suitable calcium rich foods from your dietitian.
Tablets and Medicines
Some medicines may contain milk, lactose, soya or wheat as a filler so, check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are suitable.
Publications
Allergy Free Cookbook by Alice Sherwood, DK books
ISBN 978 1 4053 1260 8
Food Allergies: Enjoying Life with a Severe Food Allergy 2nd Edition
Tanya Wright RD, Publisher: Class Publishing, London
ISBN: 978 1 85959 146 8
How to Cook for Food Allergies by Lucinda Brune-Gardyne, 2007
Publisher: Rodale
ISBN: 978-905744 04 6
Catalogue of Products
Other Useful Websites
www.
www.
www.
Supermarket Nutritional Services
They may be able to provide you with lists of their own brand foods which are milk, soya and wheat free.
Aldi Stores
www.
Asda
www.
Coop
www.
Lidl
www.
Tesco
www.
Marks & Spencer
www.
Morrison’s
www.
Sainsburys
www.
Waitrose
www.
Useful Addresses
Allergy UK
www.
Alpro
www.
The Anaphylaxis Campaign
https:/
Delamere Dairy Ltd,
info
www.
General Dietary Ltd
info
www.
Glutafin
glutenfree
www.glutafin.co.uk
Good Hemp
www.
H J Heinz Co Ltd
www.
Oatly
c/o Wassen International Ltd
www.
Rice Dream
www.
registration
0845 602 1519
Nutrition Point Ltd
Station Court
442 Stockport Road
Warrington
Cheshire, WA4 2GW
0800 954 1981
info
www.
Contact Information
Frimley Park Hospital: 0300 6134053
Wexham Park Hospital: 0300 6153232
Email: fhft.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
DT/116
Approval date:
1 June 2026
Review date:
1 June 2029
Click ‘show accessibility tools’ at the bottom of the page
Then click ‘select language’
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.