Lactose Intolerance at Christmas

Last Updated: 10th November 2022 · Written by Kate Young

Christmas is a whirlwind of presents, food, and drink. For many people, it is a non-stop conveyor belt of social events, family visits and car journeys. All the while you’re making the most of the “it’s Christmas” excuse to gorge on all of your favourite foods. For the general population, this isn’t a problem, but if you’re living with lactose intolerance, you have to think twice before letting loose.

There are so many foods that are entirely off-limits for those with lactose intolerance, here we take a look at a few which might make you more sympathetic to anyone you know living with this condition.

Mince Pies

It’s almost considered the best practice to always have a box of mince pies in the house ready for all visitors to have with a brew. When it comes to snacks at this time of year, it doesn’t get much more festive than the humble mince pie. However, for people living with lactose intolerance, a mince pie represents the potential for diarrhoea, bloating and headaches. The majority of pre-packaged mince pies contain butter which will trigger or aggravate symptoms of lactose intolerance. Fortunately, there are plenty of lactose-free recipes on the internet.

Irish Cream 

Brands such as Baileys have successfully established Irish cream drinks as a traditionally festive drink in recent years. Irish coffees are one of the most popular drinks at pubs and restaurants up and down the country at Christmas. Still, this incredibly tasty drink is yet another trigger food for people living with lactose intolerance. Baileys do offer a dairy-free option which is something to bear in mind for friends struggling with this condition.

Mashed Potatoes

Everyone has their own “secret” recipe for the best mashed potatoes ever. But, in truth, it often boils down to the addition of either butter or milk to make it creamy. While this makes for an incredibly rich, tasty mash, it is yet another example of one of the most popular Christmas foods being off-limits. When you’re preparing your amazing mashed potato, consider whether your recipe may be excluding someone from enjoying their Christmas dinner.

Chocolate

By this point, you’re probably wondering what on earth people with lactose intolerance get to eat. Well, it gets worse. Chocolate is loaded with dairy and, therefore, lactose. Chocolate is often the gift people turn to when they have exhausted all other ideas. So consider this when you’re buying that secret Santa selection box.

The Importance of Intolerance Testing 

For many people, they could be experiencing the symptoms of lactose intolerance and not identified that as the cause or they may be suffering from another food sensitivity. The good news is that you can diagnose your personal intolerances with a test from Lifelab Testing.