Healthy Snack Foods for Kids Without Wheat or Milk

Some children suffer from allergies or intolerances to wheat or milk, or are sensitive to these foods. They need to avoid these foods to avoid getting sick or suffering from allergic reactions. Kids enjoy snacks such as muffins or brownies in which the ingredients include milk or wheat or both. They may also enjoy sandwiches, in which the bread is made with wheat flour. Other snacks, though, are available that do not contain these foods.

Apples and Carrots

Carrot sticks and sliced apples may not seem like much of a snack to kids used to sweeter treats, but these healthy foods may be made more palatable. One option is dipping these foods in gluten-free peanut butter. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, so a gluten-free peanut butter is free of wheat. Serve with juice or water. If milk is a favorite of the child's, substitute rice or soy milk for cow's milk.

Berries

Almost any berry served with a sprinkling of powdered or raw sugar is not only sweet, but rich in antioxidants and high in nutritional value. Substitute the sugar with a drizzle of honey or agave syrup if desired. Gradually lessen the sweetener so that the berries themselves are enough to meet the child's snacking desires.

Quick Breads

Though quick breads are usually made using wheat flour, and sometimes include cow's milk as an ingredient, substitutions are available. Rice, potato and bean flours, as well as packaged gluten free flours, may be used in place of wheat, rye or barley flour. Use soy or rice milk in place of cow's milk. Add applesauce for added moisture, because gluten-free flours provide less moisture to the bread. Quick breads also freeze well, and so may be made in quantity, and then stored in the freezer.

Specialty Foods

Specialty diet foods are available in certain supermarkets and health foods stores. Packaged foods that are wheat free and milk free may be found that are suitable for young children. Food items such as crackers, snack bars, cookies, muffins and cupcakes, as well as some breads, are produced without using wheat or milk as ingredients. These packaged foods are usually more expensive. Some food manufacturers put out wheat-free, milk-free mixes for cakes, brownies and cookies. These mixes are higher in fat and sugar than may be desirable.