Lifestyle | Health & Wellness

What Does Lactose Free Milk Taste Like?

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You Might Need a New Milk

I almost didn’t write this article because I wasn’t sure how to not initially sound like an infantile cranky person. When I first went on a low FODMAP diet and realized that I needed to embrace lactose free milk, my initial response was, “ew”.

A tall glass of lactose free milk in front of a glass pitcher of milk.

It just sounded so gross. Now I know better, but I figured there must be plenty of you who just got the message about forgoing regular (cow’s)milk and are reticent about trying anything labeled “lactose-free” and presenting itself as real dairy.

We Are Here to Tell You That You Have Nothing to Worry About

Lactose-free milk tastes like delicious, creamy cow’s milk. The real stuff! It is made by adding a lactase enzyme to the milk, which in turn converts the beverage to being lactose-free.

All of the other inherent nutrition is retained, just without the lactose that low FODMAP diet followers want to avoid. And it just tastes like milk! There is no odd or residual flavor from the enzyme.

A tall glass of lactose free milk from above.
Are You a Soy Milk Fan? It’s Time to Change!

As an aside, I had been using soy milk in my tea everyday, but as it was made from whole soybeans, and had probably been significantly contributing to my GI symptoms, I knew I had to give it up as I embarked on my Elimination Phase.

I tried almond milk, which I had been using in cereal, but it was too thin and watery in my hot beverage of choice. My morning beverage is important to me and sets me up for the day. I needed an alternative to soy, which had the thicker and creamier body, and lactose-free milk seemed like the best bet.

And still, it took me a while to actually try it because I assumed it would be weird in some way.

A tall glass of lactose free milk in front of Organic Valley Lactose Free Milk container

Does Lactose Free Milk Taste Weird? Nope!

Off to the store I went. Lactaid brand milk is easy to find in most grocery stores and comes in whole, 2%, 1% and also calcium enriched versions of each. The Lactaid brand has been around since the 1970s and you might recognize the label when you see it.

(As an aside we use their Lactaid Lowfat Cottage Cheese and also their Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream).

Here in the Test Kitchen we stock the refrigerator with Organic Valley Lactose-Free Whole Milk and use it in our hot beverages and for our recipes where whole milk is called for. Their products contain no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMO “anything”, as the brand touts.

Their brand launched in 1988 by a group of midwestern farmers, who were fed up with the state of commercial agriculture. It began with one farmer putting up posters, calling his fellow farmers to action.

We love their story! Organic Valley can now be found in many supermarkets nationwide in the U.S.

Happily Ever After

So my story has a happy ending. I add lactose-free whole milk to my tea every morning and let me tell you, I love it. I feel so normal! That might sound strange, but when you are embarking on the more restrictive Elimination Phase, so much of it makes you feel like an oddball.

If you were used to 2% or skim, you can use those lactose-free counterparts.

I was quite thankful that I could enjoy my morning hot beverage just like everyone else does.

Looking back, I realize that I missed out on weeks of satisfaction.

Don’t wait! Try some today.

Lactose, Dairy & the Low FODMAP Diet

An overhead shot of cheese and milk on a white marble background with the words Lactose, Dairy and the Low FODMAP Diet overlaid

Even if you’ve only recently heard of FODMAPs, you’ve probably known about lactose for a long time. Lactose, represented by the “D” in FODMAP, is a disaccharide (sugar) that is naturally present in milk and foods made from milk, and it requires the enzyme lactase for digestion. Read Lactose, Dairy & the Low FODMAP Diet

25 Cheeses You Can Eat If You Are Lactose-Intolerant

Do you suffer from lactose-intolerance? Do you love cheese? (For many, that is a rhetorical question). Did you know that eating dairy-free and lactose-free are not the same thing? Read: 25 Cheeses You Can Eat If You Are Lactose-Intolerant

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