Q: Katherine - I am after some lunch tips for a 7-year-old girl who has just been put on a dairy-free diet. She loves yogurt and cheese, so I’m not sure what to do.

A: Alisa – There are ample dairy-free substitutes available on the market for both yogurt (So Delicious, WholeSoy & Co., and more) and cheese (Daiya, Vegan Gourmet, and more), but they may not meet your little one’s expectations at first. Sometimes switching straight from a dairy product to a dairy-free substitute for that product can be a bit too "different" for young and more sensitive taste buds. Taking a "dairy break" can remove a little of that taste memory, so that she can later enjoy these other products in their own right.

You can certainly trial these dairy alternatives, many are excellent, but also consider venturing out into some other kid-friendly foods. I can offer ample resources, recipes, and ideas in this area ...

Dairy-Free Back to School Articles:

Here are some back to school bites where I have covered different aspects of this topic before ...

• Packable Back to School Snacks - Going far beyond string cheese.
• Best Books & Cookbooks for Going Back to School Dairy-Free - These are my top picks. With this selection in your arsenal, your child will never get bored with their lunch box!
• Amazon Deals on Back to School Snacks - They offer great discounts on natural food shelf-stable items every August, September, and October.

Instant E-Books for Lunch Box Tips, Ideas, and Recipes:

• Smart School Time Recipes (FREE!) - Did you know that we put out a free e-cookbook specifically for healthier breakfasts and lunches? The recipes are a collection from many of my online friends, but I ensured that all are either dairy-free or include a dairy-free option. You can download it in seconds from my personal blog, Alisa Cooks. 
• Dairy-Free Product Lists - These are HUGE lists of dairy-free products, from bread to milk alternatives to snack bars.
• Go Dairy Free: The Guide & Cookbook - Yes, Go Dairy Free is available as an ebook (Kindle, iPad, PDF, etc.) in addition to paperback. See my notes below for the back to school friendliness in this book.

Go Dairy Free for Back to School:

Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook is my largest compilation of tips, snacks, and recipes for kids and lunch boxes. Within you will find sections entitled, “Kids: Back to School & Celebrations” and “Snack Time,” plus recommendations for quick meals and snacks, grocery shopping guides, and numerous health tips (calcium and protein anyone?). And of course, there are the recipes.

Here is just a sampling of the kid-friendly recipes in Go Dairy Free, which are not only dairy-free, but also made without eggs and peanuts for those peanut-free school zones …

Chewy Granola Bars (So good! Includes a nut-free option)

Maple Bran Muffins (Yummy & nutritious pack-along breakfast)

Cashew Creme Cheeze (great for spreading on bagels!)

Fudge Brownie Cookies (For a special lunch box treat)

More Favorite Kid-Friendly Recipes (Online):

I've got some more great recipes posted online that I've developed since writing Go Dairy Free. Here are a few of my favorites that have been very popular with moms ...

 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Banana Muffins 

Speedy Homemade Burger Buns

Veggie Udon for Ramen Lovers

Ten-Minute Tuna Couscous

Banana Oat Snack Bars

Article and Photos by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.