Families serving a dairy-free snack
An unsweetened almond drink can accompany fruit, toast or another food. Choose the food as well as the drink to suit the child's appetite and dietary needs.
Who is this for?
Families replacing dairy for a child over one
If a plant-based drink regularly replaces dairy, compare its calcium, iodine, vitamin, energy and protein information. Low fat alone does not establish whether it meets the child's dietary needs.
Families checking school allergy rules
Almond drinks contain nuts. Check the child's allergies and the individual school or club's policy before taking one onto its premises.
What should you check?
Start with the fat figure on the exact carton, then consider what the drink contributes alongside the rest of the snack. If it regularly replaces dairy, its wider nutrient profile matters too.
| Priority | What to check | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and sugars | The Department of Health and Social Care states that a liquid must contain no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml to make a low-fat claim. Compare fat and sugars using the same units, and check the exact variant's label. | I'm looking for an unsweetened drink with a confirmed low-fat figure, rather than assuming all almond drinks have the same composition. |
| Fortification | Read the carton for calcium, iodine and added vitamins. Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust advises checking calcium and iodine fortification when a child cannot consume dairy; UK government guidance says organic plant-based drinks cannot be fortified with nutrients. | If this drink regularly replaces dairy, I need to consider its declared nutrients as well as its fat content. |
| The whole snack | Compare energy and protein per 100ml, then consider the accompanying food. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children's Health advises that nut-based drinks often contain less energy and protein than some other plant-based alternatives. | The drink will be served with food, rather than relied on as the after-school snack by itself. |
| Allergies and location | Read the pack's allergen statement and check the child's allergies. If the drink is going onto school premises, ask about that setting's current food-allergy and packed-lunch rules. | I need an option that is appropriate for the child and permitted wherever the snack will be served. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating the drink as the entire snack
M&S lists 0.5g protein per 100g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; Alpro lists 0.5g per 100ml and Sainsbury's lists 0.6g per 100ml for the named products. Those figures describe the drinks, not a complete snack.
Serve the drink with food chosen for the child's appetite and dietary needs, rather than relying on the carton alone.
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Assuming every dairy alternative is fortified
Fortification varies between plant-based drinks. The UK Office for Health Improvement & Disparities states that organic plant-based drinks cannot be fortified with nutrients.
If the drink regularly replaces dairy, check the exact carton for calcium, iodine and vitamins rather than judging it by the length of its ingredient list.
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Assuming every school has the same nut rules
Almond drinks contain nuts, while rules about bringing allergens onto school premises depend on the setting. England's Department for Education guidance says schools may discourage allergens such as nuts in packed lunches; it does not establish a universal nut ban.
Check the child's allergies, the pack warning and the specific school or club's policy before sending the drink in.
Relevant brands and product lines
These references concern the named almond drinks, not every product made by each brand.
M&S
Its Unsweetened Almond Drink is listed with added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- M&S declares 0.9g fat and 0.2g sugars per 100g for this product.
- M&S warns that it is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy. Its per-100g fat figure is not directly comparable with per-100ml figures without a matching measurement basis.
Alpro
Roasted Almond No Sugars is an almond drink with declared calcium and iodine fortification.
- Alpro lists 1.1g fat, 0g sugars, 120mg calcium and 22.5µg iodine per 100ml for this variant.
- These figures apply to Roasted Almond No Sugars, not every Alpro almond drink.
Sainsbury's
Its Unsweetened Almond Drink is listed with added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- Sainsbury's declares 1.4g fat, less than 0.5g sugars and 0.6g protein per 100ml for this drink.
- Sainsbury's says this product is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under three.
Rude Health
Its organic almond range includes No Sugars Organic Almond Drink and Pure Almond.
- Rude Health lists spring water, organic almonds, carob seed flour and sea salt for No Sugars; Pure Almond lists water and 5% organic Italian almonds.
- The No Sugars product warns that it may contain traces of other nuts. Check the exact carton for fat and nutrient values when comparing drinks.
Plenish
Plenish describes its organic Almond M*lk as containing water, organic almonds and salt.
- According to Plenish, this product has no added sugar, oils or additives.
- An ingredient list does not establish its fat content or whether it is fortified; check the carton for those details.
Tesco
Tesco lists an Unsweetened Almond Drink within its almond-drink range.
- It offers an own-brand unsweetened variant to consider alongside the named alternatives.
- Compare its current carton's fat per 100ml and fortification details before deciding whether it meets your requirements.
Almond drink options on Joybuy
This long-life almond drink is an option to serve alongside an after-school snack. Check its carton against your fat, fortification and allergy requirements before use.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L
A long-life almond drink to serve with food at snack time. The listed pack contains eight 1L cartons. As it contains almonds, check the child's allergies and any school policy before use.
Questions about almond drinks for children
What does “low fat” mean for an almond drink in the UK?
The Department of Health and Social Care states that a liquid must contain no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml to make a low-fat claim. Check the exact carton's per-100ml figure; a per-100g figure is not the same measurement basis.
Which named drinks have comparable fat figures per 100ml?
Alpro lists 1.1g fat per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, while Sainsbury's lists 1.4g per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. M&S lists 0.9g per 100g for its product, so do not place it in a per-100ml order without a comparable figure. Check the carton in case its information has changed.
Is an almond drink enough on its own after school?
Serve it as a drink alongside food rather than assuming it makes a complete snack. Alpro's Roasted Almond No Sugars lists 0.5g protein per 100ml and Sainsbury's Unsweetened Almond Drink lists 0.6g per 100ml; consider the child's needs and the food served with it.
Can almond drink be a child's main dairy alternative?
Check the child's age and the drink's energy, protein and fortification before using it regularly in place of dairy. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children's Health advises that nut-based drinks often contain less energy and protein, while Sainsbury's specifically says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under three. Seek appropriate dietetic advice if a child depends on a dairy alternative.
Can an almond drink be taken to an after-school club?
Check the child's allergies and the club or school's policy before taking it onto the site. Almond drinks contain nuts; England's Department for Education guidance says schools may discourage allergens such as nuts in packed lunches, but does not establish a universal nut ban.