Low-Lactose Diet At times during your treatment it may be necessary to follow a special diet to correct nutritional problems that have occurred. Only your doctor or dietitian should decide when you need to follow a special diet and for how long of a period you should follow that diet. Milk products contain lactose. Because lactose is hard to digest, your doctor or dietitian may put you on a low-lactose diet. Milk products that may be easier for you to digest include buttermilk, acidophilus milk, sour cream, and yogurt. Low-lactose milk is available at most groceries and there are liquid drops or caplets that can be added to milk and other dairy products to break the lactose down. If you are having problems digesting lactose, you need to be aware that it is often used as a filler in products such as instant coffee and medicines. Be sure to read the labels of all foods you eat to make sure they don't contain lactose, milk solids, and milk solids products. Your doctor or dietitian can help you determine which foods you can eat and advise you about low-lactose products that are available. Example of Low-Lactose Diet Foods from NCI: Water, lactose-free carbonated beverages, fruit-flavored drinks, fruit punches, lemonade, limeade, nondairy product drinks, low-lactose milk, acidophilus milk, coffee, and tea Breads of all varieties Any cooked or dry cereal that does not contain lactose All flours Fermented cheeses Fruit ices; gelatines; angel food cake, desserts made with nondairy products, buttermilk or sour cream All eggs except raw eggs and those prepared with milk or milk products Margarine that does not contain milk solids, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, shortenings All fresh, canned, or frozen fruit juices, fruit that is not processed with lactose Any meat, poultry, fish, legumes, or nuts EXCEPT creamed or breaded fish, poultry, and meat; cold cuts, hot dogs, liver, sausage, or other processed meats containing milk or lactose, gravies made with milk Fermented milk products such as acidophilus milk, buttermilk, yogurt, and sour cream; low-lactose products, lactose-digesting pills or caplets White or sweet potatoes, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti or other pasta, rice Broth-based soups Honey, jams, preserves, syrups, molasses All vegetables except those prepared with milk Catsup, chili, sauce, horseradish, olives, pickles, vinegar, gravies without milk, mustards, all herbs and spices, peanut butter, unbuttered popcorn   Sample Low-Lactose Meal Pattern from NCI   Breakfast 1/2 cup fruit juice 1 serving cereal 1 slice toast 1 tsp margarine Jelly 1 cup acidophilus or low-lactose milk Sugar Salt and pepper Beverage Snack Crackers 2 tbsp peanut butter Jelly or honey Lunch 3 oz meat or substitute 1/2 cup vegetable and/or salad 2 slices bread or roll 2 tsp margarine 1 serving fruit Salt and pepper Beverage Snack Broth-based soup 1 slice bread or roll 1 tsp margarine Dinner 1 serving salad 3 oz. meat or substitute 1/2 cup rice 1/2 cup vegetable 1 serving fruit or dessert 1 cup acidophilus or low-lactose milk Salt and pepper Snack 1/2 cup juice Popcorn or pretzels