Is there "milk" that tastes like milk for lactose intolerance?
So, we have determined that our son is indeed lactose intolerant. We, last week, had 8 different milk alternatives.. I like Soy milk, but it's different. He Loves the taste of Milk. All of the options are sweet. Do you know of one that tastes like milk and isn't sweet?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
20 Comments:
Did you try unsweetened soy milk, nut milk or grain (rice or oat) milk? You can get them without extra sugar added. Also, different brands taste differently, so you might have to try a few kinds before you find one that you like. None of them taste exactly like dairy milk.
KarynMC at 7:25AM on 02/04/09
I use the low-fat Lactaid 70% milk. I HATE soy milk. The Lactaid 70% actually won a taste test on The Slate for best tasting milk period. It's a little bit sweeter than regular milk, but not by much. Their 100% is sweeter. I am lactose intolerant but not super intolerant. I can eat cheese and yogurt with no problem, but milk has always bothered me. I can use as much milk as I want now on my cereal. I can drink chocolate milk! It's pretty cool.
Have you tried goat's milk? Goat's milk doesn't have lactose in it so there's nothing to be intolerant about. Some people love it, others, not so much. Might be worth a try though.
chisai at 7:33AM on 02/04/09
I second the lactaid
nelson5757 at 9:41AM on 02/04/09
A third for the Lactaid, although we use the skim. The calcium-fortified variety tastes terrible, but the regular skim is delightful.
littlestcapy at 10:05AM on 02/04/09
There's a brand of organic lactose-free milk that I really like (I never thought I'd be THAT person, looking for low-fat, lactose-free organic milk!), if that's a concern since it's for a child. I think it's called Organic Valley? Not cheap, but I think it's worth it -- definitely tastes like milk. I also really like the Lactaid, low fat or reduced fat.
Hope that helps!
CookiePie at 10:10AM on 02/04/09
The Organic Valley lactose free milk does actually taste like milk. I found a $1.00 off coupon for it on their web site, too. http://www.organicvalley.coop/coupons/
gb506 at 10:43AM on 02/04/09
Ditto on the Lactaid if you can't get something local. The reason it's a touch sweeter is that the lactose has been broken down into simpler sugars. I know some lactose-intolerant people who use Lactaid exclusively.
I haven't tried rice milk, it might be less sweet than soy milk. Also check the kind of soy milk you tried, if it had any flavour to it then it will be more sweet. An Orthodox Jewish friend uses soy milk to make desserts when they are having a meat meal, and I've learned some things from her.
morgancain at 10:56AM on 02/04/09
I find, just like the posts above mine, that LACTAID milk tastes just like I remember regular milk tastes like. I have bought all kinds - Full Fat, Reduced Fat and Fat-Free - and they all taste perfect to me.
I also buy regularly Parmalat's ZYMIL lactose-free milk. Parmalat's milks, in general, taste a tinge different than regular fresh milk, but I really enjoy the taste. And because these milks are UHT, you can buy them and store them by the case and take advantage of club prices and sales.
Some other thing to consider... lactose-intoletant people usually tolerate well yogurt. It has something to do with the live active cultures. So you can supplement your kid's calcium and dairy intake with yogurt. And yogurt cheese is a great alternative when making pasta dishes, spreading on toast, etc. if he likes cream cheese. There are alternatives, but this is so much cheaper to make...
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 11:16AM on 02/04/09
I agree with Lactaid. My brother is lactose intolerant, and I wasn't able to tell the difference between Lactaid and normal milk. Also, Blue Diamond unsweetened almond milk isn't sweet if it's the sweetness that bothers him, but it doesn't really taste like milk...still tasty IMO, but not milk. Alternately, he might be able to pull off taking Lactaid tablets and then having whatever diary he wants.
cycorider at 11:50AM on 02/04/09
I agree with Lactaid as well. My son (almost 10 years old) is very lactose intolerant and does perfectly fine with this product. It tastes just like regular milk and causes him no difficulty.
juliebugsmama at 12:57PM on 02/04/09
I also like Lactaid. I found rice milk to be very sweet.
PerkyMac at 1:06PM on 02/04/09
And Lactaid lasts lots longer in the fridge. I actually think it tastes better than other milk.
ocarol at 3:24PM on 02/04/09
Another vote for the Organic Valley lactose-free, it's the best tasting lactose-free that I've tasted.
faycat at 5:39PM on 02/04/09
@ocarol~first of all, great name. I have noticed how long it lasts! Mostly because he won't drink it. He says it's too sweet.
@everyone~Thanks for all the advice.
I picked up some of the pills. We're going to try those.
He doesn't seem to be bothered by cheese, which is good. And he loves it. So between that and yogurt I know he's getting enough Calcium. He just loves milk so I was trying to find some. Going to try the Organic Valley. I can't remember if I've tried it yet or not. =)
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 8:02PM on 02/04/09
I adore unsweetened almond milk. It isn't sweet at all.
amandalovesfood at 1:41AM on 02/14/09
Littlestcapy's comment about calcium-fortification of lactose-free milks is interesting. In addition to the lactase enzymes that digest the lactose, both calcium phosphate and carrageenan are added to the calcium fortified versions. I've noticed obvious taste and tactile differences with this type of milk - notably the thickness and different taste.
Note also that carrageenan is added to most soy milks, and regular condensed milks as well.
Bottom line is that two of our favorite local supermarkets now carry store brand 2% lactose free milk. Shelf life, flavor, and mouthfeel are all just like Lactaid (non fortified), and run about $0.40 cheaper than Lactaid for 1/2 gallon sizes.
Hope this information helps - or is at least interesting to some of you.
ungodly at 9:38AM on 02/28/09
Lactaid and other milks like it taste sweet because the lactase enzymes break up the lactose turning it into sugars. I thought it was too sweet when I first drank it as a young person as well. But, after a couple of days- especially noticing that I wasn't in pain anymore, I got used to it, and now I love it. Maybe your son just needs a bit of time.
worldturtle at 10:38AM on 08/31/09
When my GI doc diagnosed me with lactose intolerance, he said that yogurt would not be a problem as well as hard cheeses, but to avoid soft cheeses. I honestly don't think I am lactose intolerant tho-.
Cassaendra at 11:58AM on 08/31/09
Lactaid, lactaid, lactaid! I love the stuff. The skim does taste a bit sweeter, but it's pretty hard to taste the difference in 2%. You can also get store-brand lactose free milk, as others have mentioned. I also agree that any calcium-fortified lactose free milk tastes just awful. I've tried just about every non-dairy milk, and lactose-free milk is the closest you can get. I rarely drink milk by itself anymore.
I will warn you that taking pills with uncooked* milk has never worked for me, so be prepared for issues there.
*There are two ways to deal with the now un-digestable lactose in the milk. Take lactase supplements, pre-added like in lactaid, or in pill form, or boil/cook the milk at high temperature for awhile. Both of these will denature and subsequently break down the lactose protein, which is what a LI person's body can no longer do on it's own.
Anyway, good luck!
Skythe at 12:18PM on 08/31/09
As mentioned, all lactose free milks will be a little sweeter because of the breakdown of sugars. Might I suggest encouraging your son to try the milk with cereal or something first, where the flavor difference won't be quite as noticeable, before trying to drink it straight from the glass. I found this helped me get used to drinking soy milk when I went through a lactose-issue stint. Good luck, and as a few have mentioned, it will just take a little time and some open-minded thinking.
You may also find he prefers different milks for different things (drinking, cereal, etc). Play around with it!
thinkingincrayons at 12:31PM on 08/31/09