Lactose Intolerance: Four Meal Ideas to Make the Whole Family Happy

If you or someone in your family suffers with lactose intolerance, then you are certainly aware of the challenges of preparing a meal that makes everyone in the family happy. Preparing meals for your family while meeting the needs of someone with lactose intolerance does not mean that the whole family must alter their eating habits. Here are some quick and easy meal ideas that will meet the needs of everyone at your table.

Pizza Night

In many families, sharing pizza is a time honored once a week tradition. It is possible for everyone, even the dairy free diner at your table, to enjoy this family favorite. If you are ordering in, simply order one individual pizza without cheese. Be sure to explain that you are ordering for someone who has lactose intolerance and ask to review the contents of the crust and any other toppings to ensure there are no hidden sources of dairy. Many pizzas come with special crusts so it is necessary to specifically request that no butter or cheese is added to the crust.

If you choose to make the pizza at home it is even easier to customize. Make your own dough or just purchase a kit that you have reviewed and determined to be dairy free. Simply form the dough into individual sized portions and each person can top their pizza as desired. Cheese free pizzas work best with thick sauce as they lack the holding power cheese usually provides.

Taco Night

Traditional tacos consist of a folded corn tortilla filled with meat, cheese, and various other desired toppings such as lettuce, tomato, and sour cream. When serving tacos to a group that includes someone who cannot eat dairy, present the meal buffet style. Simply fill the shells with meat and pile them on a platter. Present the various toppings in bowls and let each person top their tacos as they would like. Include a bowl of refried beans, which gives the lactose intolerant person a nice alternative to cheese.

Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes