Best Dairy Free Recipes For Kids

Dairy-Free Recipes for Kids

Finding nutritious dairy-free recipes that the kids will actually eat can be a challenge—so much kids food has so much cheese!—but I hope this list helps you to have a few more options for easy toddler meals and kid-friendly recipes. There is almost always a substitution available to make a recipe dairy-free, but there are also so many delicious recipes and foods that naturally don’t contain any dairy. Some of my favorites are below. (You can always use plain nondairy milk, a nondairy yogurt substitute, or a neutral oil in place of butter—or vegan butter!) This post includes my top dairy-free picks and you can see all dairy-free recipes for kids that are either naturally dairy-free or have a dairy-free option in the Notes at the end of the recipe.

What to Feed a Dairy-Free Toddler

When a child can’t have dairy, it can help to focus on the foods they can eat. A dairy-free toddler, assuming no other allergies, can eat the following dairy-free foods:

Complex carbohydrates including whole grains Fruits Vegetables Meat, poultry, fish Legumes, seeds, and nuts Healthy fats including avocado, hemp, chia, and flax Plant-based dairy substitutions including plant milk, nondairy yogurts, and more

TIP: Keep a running physical list of all of the foods your child can eat if you often feel stumped for what to serve them.

Dairy-Free Breakfast Recipes

These dairy-free recipes for kids either are free from dairy or offer easy substitutes—and are great options for easy toddler breakfasts. TIP: You can make any smoothie recipe using nondairy milk or nondairy yogurt. Any overnight oats recipe can be made with nondairy yogurt.

Dairy-Free Snack Recipes

Try these healthy snacks for kids if you need to provide dairy-free options. They are easy to make, easy to store, and super yummy for the kids to eat. TIP: Store-bought snacks including mini Larabars, MadeGood granola bars, and Enjoy Life Foods products are all dairy-free.

Dairy-Free Dinner Ideas

Try these family-friendly dairy-free recipes for kids for dinner to feed everyone at the table a delicious dairy-free meal.

Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas for Kids

Find these easy dairy-free recipes for kids to serve for lunch without having to rely on cheese or yogurt.

Dairy-Free Desserts

These are my go-to dairy-free desserts for kids, which can be enjoyed by the whole family. TIP: Buy dairy-free chocolate chips as needed.

Best Tips for Success

In recipes that call for milk, use plain nondairy milk, plant-based milk, or lactose-free milk if that works for your family. In recipes that call for butter, use vegan butter or melted coconut oil or avocado oil. Some recipes also work with coconut milk for adding a creamy texture. For recipes that call for yogurt, try Greek-style nondairy yogurt. Try easy sides like Roasted Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, simple noodles, roasted cauliflower, Roasted Carrot Fries, peas, sliced cucumbers, Roasted Bell Peppers, salsa and crackers, or a dip like hummus. Add more flavor without relying on cheese with fresh herbs, soy sauce, nut butter, garlic, and/or onion. Some families like to replace Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment to share!