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Pediatric Nutrition

Golisano Children's Hospital / Pediatric Nutrition / Soy-Free Diet

 

Soy-Free Diet

The soy-free diet is a modification of the normal diet with the elimination of soybeans and all foods containing by-products of soybeans. Soybeans are a legume and are a staple in Asian countries. If your child is allergic to soy, the following ingredients should be avoided: hydrolyzed soy protein, miso, soy sauce, soy flour, soy grits, soy nuts, soy milk, soy sprouts, soy protein concentrate, soy protein Isolate, soy sauce, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP).

The following ingredients may indicate the presence of soy protein: flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, natural flavoring, vegetable broth, vegetable gum, vegetable starch.

CHECK LABELS: Manufacturers constantly change product recipes. Rechecking labels is very important to ensure the product is soy-free.

Most people with soy allergies may safely eat soy lecithin and soy oil. Soy lecithin is a mixture of fatty substances, a by product of soybean processing. Lecithin is often used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, or an antioxidant.

Soy-Free Suggestions

Beverages Milk, fruit juice, carbonated beverages, Kool-Aid, cocoa, hot chocolate, Rice Dream, Westbrae Rice Drink
Bread/Crackers Syrian bread, French bread
Cereals Oatmeal; Cream of Rice; Cream of Wheat; Cold cereals with allowed ingredients; Cereals without soy (check labels)
Desserts Fruit; Jell-O; homemade puddings (cornstarch, tapioca, rice); ice cream; sherbet and fruit ices; popsicles; fudgesicles; homemade cakes; cookies and pies made with allowed ingredients; baking chocolate; yogurt
Fats Butter, cream, bacon, soy-free mayonnaise, lard, pure vegetable oil (e.g., coconut, corn, cottonseed, olive, peanut, safflower, sunflower)
Fruit All fruit and fruit juices
Infant formula Enfamil, Similac, Nutramigen, Alimentum, Pregestimil
Meat/Fish/Poultry/Cheese/Eggs All types of plain or prepared with allowed ingredients; water-packed tuna; Kosher 100% beef hot dogs; eggs; all cheese except soy cheese and imitation cheeses containing soy
Meat Alternatives Legumes, nuts, seeds (e.g., baked beans, peanut butter without additives) all except soybeans
Miscellaneous Salt, pepper, spices, mustard, relish, catsup, pickles, olives, coconut
Potato or Substitute Potato, rice, pastas (spaghetti, macaroni, plain noodles)
Snack Foods Potato chips, popcorn, dry roasted peanuts—all snack foods only if prepared without soy (check food labels)
Soups Homemade and canned soups made with allowed ingredients
Sweets Sugar, jams, jellies, honey, molasses, syrups, marshmallows
Vegetables All except soybeans

Additional Resources

For more information or soy-free products: