Food Allergy Substitutions: A Quick Overview for Easy Swaps

Swapping out tree nuts and peanuts

Tree nuts and peanuts are technically different — peanuts fall into the legume category. You might be allergic to just one category, but many people are allergic to both.

Instead of munching on nuts and trail mix, you can snack on roasted chickpeas or soybeans, crispy rice cereal, or nut-free granola. (Find out how to make roasted chickpeas.)

If you’re allergic to peanuts but not tree nuts, you can try almond butter and cashew butter instead of peanut butter. Otherwise, try seed butters, such as sunflower seed butter or even pumpkin seed butter.

FYI, here are sneaky foods to avoid if you have a nut allergy. You may need to research whether certain food products were made in factories or plants, or with the same equipment as these allergens.

Swapping out dairy

You’re in luck: Today’s dairy aisles are packed with plant-based alternatives. Experiment with soy, almond, cashew, and oat milk to find the one that works for you. Some are great with coffee, some are great for savory cooking, and some are great from the glass.

Along with plant-based milks, try almond-based yogurt for an easy breakfast or snack. Look for unsweetened varieties to reduce your intake of added sugars. You can also use cashew cream to add silkiness in your cooking, to swap out heavy cream, or nutritional yeast flakes to add a cheesy flavor.

Swapping out soy

Soy can be tricky since it frequently sneaks into a variety of processed foods. That’s why it’s really important to check the labels.

For sushi and stir fry, replace soy sauce with coconut aminos. It’s completely soy-free, but tastes nearly identical to soy sauce.

If you’re looking for a plant-based protein, skip soy-based tofu and tempeh and try seitan instead. Sometimes called “wheat meat,” seitan is made from the protein of wheat and makes a chicken-like product. You can also look for soy-free tofu made from other legumes, like chickpeas.

Finally, be careful with your oil choices. Many vegetable oils contain a mix of oils, often including soy. Try olive oil or sunflower seed oil, and check the label to make sure there’s no soy oil added.

Swapping out wheat

A wheat allergy and a gluten intolerance are not the same thing. However, since gluten is a protein in wheat, avoiding gluten will naturally help you avoid wheat. Experiment with gluten-free flour mixes for your baking, and try gluten-free breads and baked goods. It may take some time to find the products you like best.

Alternatively, you can ditch the “copycat” products and embrace grains that are naturally wheat-free. For your starches, make meals with brown rice, quinoa, potatoes, or corn tortillas.

Oh, and here are 8 sneaky foods that aren’t gluten-free.

Swapping out eggs

If you love to eat eggs, try whipping up tofu scramble instead of scrambled eggs. You can eat tofu scramble on its own, or you can mix it with sauteed veggies. The best part? You can store leftover tofu scramble in the fridge and reheat it later (it won’t get all rubbery like leftover eggs).

For baking, there are a number of eggless binders you can try. For example, you can swap eggs in baking with:

• Flax eggs (flax meal mixed with water)

• Unsweetened applesauce

• Pumpkin puree

• Mashed banana

• Vegan egg replacer (such as Ener-G Egg Replacer)

• Silken tofu

Whatever your allergy, do your research. There’s a world of possibilities for satisfying and delicious foods — once you look beyond your limitations.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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