Are you looking to transition your family to a dairy-free lifestyle but unsure where to begin? Maybe one family member has been successful, but the rest haven’t transitioned yet and cooking two dinners is getting old. With a plethora of dairy-free alternatives available, choosing the right ones for your family can seem daunting. That’s why we’ve curated the ultimate list of dairy-free alternatives to support your family’s dietary shift while still enjoying your favorite flavors and recipes. Explore our tips below, jot down a few products you’re willing to try, and get back to peaceful mealtimes (well, we can’t guarantee that).
Make a List of Essential Dairy-Free Products
So much of what we choose to eat is based on routine. Your family might enjoy the same handful of recipes during a given month. Fortunately, all of your meals and snacks can likely be made dairy-free by switching out the dairy products for plant-based options.
Dairy is pervasive in food, which many people don’t realize until it’s time to cut it out. It lurks in a myriad of everyday items—from beverages and baked goods to soups, dressings, and an abundance of packaged products. When striving to identify foods to avoid and substitute with dairy-free options, it’s crucial to look beyond the obvious suspects like milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese. Have you ever considered what’s in that granola bar you keep in the glove box? Does it have milk or whey protein in it? Even seemingly innocent choices like some breads may contain dairy. This isn’t meant to overwhelm, but rather to raise awareness about the dairy content in familiar foods. Take stock of what’s in your usual meals and compile a list of ingredients that require dairy-free alternatives. Some might be incredibly easy, like switching the brand of your sandwich bread. Others might take a little bit of trial and error to find the best option for your family, such as your favorite plant-based cheese for taco night. And check out our expert tips for picky eaters, which may help make the transition to a dairy-free lifestyle easier.
Go Shopping for Dairy-Free Alternatives
Plenty of high-quality plant-based products are available both online and in stores. Here are just some of our top dairy-free alternatives to satisfy any craving. (Note: While we’ve highlighted our personal favorites, there are numerous other brands and options worth exploring and more coming out every day.)
Milk
When it comes to picking a plant-based milk for kids, we suggest choosing one that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D to help meet their needs. If the milk is a regular part of your kid’s diet, one with low added sugar is preferable. Protein content varies between types, so be mindful of your child’s overall needs when choosing the best option. If they are getting plenty of protein from food sources, you shouldn’t need to worry about choosing a higher protein option.
Kids formulas*: Ripple Kids, Califia Complete Kids Milk, Kiki Milk, Kiddiwinks, Silk Kids Oat Milk
*Note: These are specially formulated for kids and typically have higher fat content, but can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Silk (soy, cashew, almond), Oatly (oat), Almond Breeze (almond), Califia (almond, oat, coconut), Forager Project (cashew, oat), Ripple (pea), Milkadamia (macadamia nuts), Good Karma (flax), Good & Gather (oat, almond), Pacific Foods (hemp, cashew, oat), Dream (rice)
Check out more uses for dairy-free milk here.
Melty Cheese/Slices
Cheese is incredibly popular for kids, and easy for parents to throw a quick meal together with it as the focal point. Luckily there are plenty of dairy-free options for your family to still enjoy grilled cheese, pizza, and mac and cheese. Most of these brands come in both shreds and slices.
Follow Your Heart, Violife, Daiya, Vevan, Chao, Good Planet, Miyoko’s Vegan Mozzarella and Liquid Cheese Spread (great for pizza), 365
Gourmet Cheese
While these can certainly be enjoyed by kids, we added this section with the parents in mind.
Miyoko’s, Treeline, Kite Hill, SriMu, Yvonne’s Vegan Goatless Cheese, Vromage, Rebel Cheese, Misha’s, Dare, Nuts for Cheese, your local vegan cheese purveyor (check your farmer’s market or local health food store – there are tons of stellar small-batch, dairy-free cheesemongers out there!)
Cream Cheese
A bagel and cream cheese can still be an easy breakfast!
Miyoko’s, Daiya, Kite Hill, Treeline, Tofutti, Oatly, Fynd, Violife
Yogurt
Kite Hill (both European and Greek styles), Chobani Oat, Silk, Forager Project, CocoYo, The Coconut Collaborative, So Delicious, Oatly, Trader Joe’s Cashew Yogurt, Fynd, Siggi’s Coconut Blend, Oui Dairy-free
Butter
Miyoko’s Vegan Butter, Earth Balance, Trader Joe’s Plant-based Buttery Spread, Melt, Country Crock Plant Butter
Condiments & Sauces
Follow Your Heart (various dressings, sauces, and mayonnaise), Miyoko’s Roadhouse Cheese Spread, Victoria Vegan Alfredo Sauce, Daiya (dressings and sauces), Trader Joe’s Vegan Tzatziki, Hidden Valley Plant-powered Ranch
Dips
Kite Hill, Good Foods, Tabitha Brown, Violife, House Party Cheesy Dip,
Whipped Cream
So Delicious CocoWhip!, Reddi-wip Non-dairy Whipped Cream (almond and coconut varieties), 365 Plant-based Whipped Topping
Ice Cream
So Delicious (pints and bars), NadaMoo!, Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy, Haagen Dazs Non-Dairy, Arctic Zero Non-Dairy, Whole Foods Non-Dairy, Talenti Sorbetto, Sorbabes, McConnell’s Dairy-Free, Oatly, Cado
Chocolate
Cocoa Parlor (dark chocolate varieties), Hu, Enjoy Life, Hotel Chocolat (dark chocolate varieties), Dandelion Chocolate, Yes Cacao, No Whey, Pascha
Note: There are countless brands of dedicated dairy-free chocolate companies, but some dark chocolates are already dairy-free. And many mainstream brands, like Hershey, are coming out with dairy-free options. Check the label for milk, milkfat, whey, or other milk derivatives to be sure.
For Parents
We understand you might need a lot of coffee to get through the day, and we don’t want you to suffer. Whether you prefer a splash of something simple to lighten your coffee, or you want your morning beverage to resemble pumpkin pie, there are fortunately loads of flavors and options available to allow you to keep your morning ritual.
Coffee Creamer
Silk Soy Creamer, Califia Farms, Wildwood Organic Soy Milk Creamer, Elmhurst, Forager Project, Laird, Nutpods, Starbucks Non-dairy creamer
Barista Milks
Califia Farms Barista Blend (almond), Pacific (soy), Elmhurst Barista Edition (pistachio, almond, oat), Oatly Barista Edition (oat milk), Three Trees (almond and oat)
Get in the Kitchen
All the dairy substitutes mentioned can also be crafted at home. While some, like homemade ricotta or parmesan, are quick and straightforward, others may require patience and specific kitchen utensils. There are thousands of free recipes for dairy alternatives online, but you can also look into a few essential cookbooks if you truly enjoy making meals from scratch. We recommend “This Cheese is Nuts!” by Julie Piatt and “Simple Happy Kitchen” by Miki Mottes to start. Ready to dive into making dairy-free milk and cheese? Check out these simple recipes to whip up a few kitchen staples:
Parmesan – 5 Minute Vegan Parmesan
Ricotta – Quick Vegan Tofu Ricotta
Feta – Dairy-Free Tomato, Cucumber, And Feta Salad
Basic Cheese Sauce – Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce
Oat Milk – Easy Yummy Homemade Recipe
Ice Cream – Homemade Strawberry Dairy-free Ice Cream
Ask Questions About Dairy-Free Options When Dining Out
It’s completely normal to inquire about allergens like dairy when dining out, so don’t hesitate to ask your server about dairy content in menu items. Servers might recommend plant-based dishes or substitutes, or at least steer you away from dishes where dairy is hiding. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover vegan alternatives like dairy-free cheese are increasingly available in pizza joints nationwide, whether big chains or local gems. Craving something sweet? Many ice cream shops offer non-dairy flavors, ranging from pistachio to dark chocolate and raspberry to coconut. When in doubt, ask about options and most restaurants can accommodate a dairy-free lifestyle.
Conclusion
Going dairy-free is simple for the whole family with products widely available in stores, and plenty of recipes to recreate your family favorites. So make family dinner, school lunches, and sports practices enjoyable for everyone by incorporating dairy-free alternatives.
Looking for more food inspiration? Check out our Dairy-free Recipes page.
