For a child aged 1 or over who regularly has almond drink instead of dairy in meals, start by checking unsweetened cartons for calcium and iodine, then try a small amount in a familiar dish before buying a multipack. A short-ingredient organic drink is another option when the wider diet supplies those nutrients; UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified, according to the 2025 SACN/COT assessment published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Almond drinks are unsuitable for someone with an almond allergy and must not be used as an infant’s main milk drink before age 1.
If almond drink regularly takes dairy’s place in meals, check the exact carton for calcium and iodine. The UK SACN/COT assessment notes that nutrients vary considerably between plant drinks; the drink alone should not be assumed to replace everything dairy contributes.
A small serving in a familiar meal makes it possible to see whether the child accepts the flavour and texture. NHS fussy-eating guidance advises continuing to offer variety without forcing a child to eat.
A simple recipe may suit cereal, smoothies or cooking when that is the priority. If dairy is excluded, account for nutrients elsewhere: the 2025 UK SACN/COT assessment states that organic plant drinks cannot be fortified.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fortification | For frequent dairy replacement from age 1, check the carton for calcium and iodine. Also compare its ingredients and nutrition panel; the UK SACN/COT assessment says plant drinks vary considerably. | If dairy is rarely part of our meals, I want to know what this particular drink contributes rather than assuming every almond drink is alike. |
| Flavour and trial size | Compare sweetened and unsweetened labels with flavours the child already accepts. Try a small serving in a familiar meal before committing to a multipack; a flavour description cannot predict acceptance. | New tastes can be difficult at our table, so I would rather try the drink in a familiar dish without pressure to finish it. |
| Ingredient list | Read the current list for added sugar and other ingredients. A short organic recipe offers a different trade-off: UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified, according to the 2025 SACN/COT assessment. | I prefer a simple recipe for occasional cooking, but need to consider the rest of the diet if dairy is excluded. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredient and allergen statement on every carton. The Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts; an unsweetened or plant-based label does not remove that allergen. | Before serving an almond drink, I need to rule out a relevant nut allergy. |
| After opening | Follow the particular carton’s refrigeration and use-within instructions. For example, Marks & Spencer specifies 0°C to +5°C and use within 3 days for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. | If we use only a little at each meal, I need a carton size we can use within its stated storage period. |
The UK SACN/COT assessment says plant drinks differ considerably in nutrient content. An organic drink cannot be fortified in the UK, while fortification in other drinks must be checked product by product.
For frequent use in meals for a child aged 1 or over, check calcium and iodine on the exact carton and consider what the rest of the diet supplies.
A nutty or creamy description does not establish that a child will accept the drink. NHS guidance recommends repeated, low-pressure opportunities to try foods.
Offer a small amount in a familiar meal first, and try again another time if it is refused.
A multipack can leave unused cartons if the flavour or texture is rejected.
Almond is a tree nut, as identified by the Food Standards Agency. Sweetness, organic status and other recipe choices do not change that.
Do not select an almond drink for someone with an almond or relevant nut allergy; check the current ingredient and allergen statement.
UK early-years guidance permits unsweetened, calcium-fortified plant drinks from 12 months as part of the diet. Frimley HealthierTogether NHS guidance distinguishes using plant drinks in cooking from using them as an infant’s main milk drink.
Check the child’s age and the drink’s intended role. Seek advice from an appropriate clinician or dietitian where dairy avoidance involves a diagnosed allergy, poor growth or a very restricted diet.
Alpro offers Original, No Sugars and barista-style almond drinks in Tesco’s almond-drink listings.
Marks & Spencer lists sweetened and unsweetened almond-drink choices for drinking and cooking.
Tesco lists an own-label Unsweetened Almond Drink with named added nutrients.
Plenish offers an organic almond drink with a short ingredient list for uses such as cereal, smoothies and cooking.
Rude Health Pure Almond is an organic option for households considering a simple almond-drink recipe.
These Alpro options can be considered for familiar meals, but they differ in their stated sugar formulation and pack details. Check the current carton for the nutrients and allergens that matter to your household.
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The product description suggests cereal, smoothies and cooking as uses for this drink. It lists calcium and potassium iodide, but also lists sugar as an ingredient, so do not treat it as unsweetened. Check the current carton’s nutrition and allergen information, and confirm the pack contents before using it as a small trial.
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The listing suggests cereal and smoothies as uses, making a small serving in a familiar meal a way to try its flavour. Joybuy describes added calcium and vitamins B2, B12 and D; check the current carton for iodine if it will regularly replace dairy. This is an 8 x 1L multipack, so consider a smaller first purchase if acceptance is uncertain. It contains almond.
It can be part of meals from age 1, but it is not automatically a nutritional substitute for cow’s milk. UK early-years guidance permits unsweetened, calcium-fortified plant drinks from 12 months as part of the diet; if dairy is excluded, check fortification and consider the child’s wider intake of energy and protein. Do not use almond drink as an infant’s main milk drink before age 1.
It may suit a household prioritising a short ingredient list, provided nutrients normally obtained from dairy are accounted for elsewhere. The 2025 UK SACN/COT assessment states that organic plant drinks cannot be fortified, so do not assume an organic carton supplies added calcium or iodine.
Start with a small amount in a food the child already accepts, such as porridge or cereal, without pressuring them to finish it. NHS fussy-eating guidance recommends continuing to offer variety and trying foods again on another occasion.
Do not select almond drink for someone with an almond or relevant nut allergy: the Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as tree nuts. Check the exact carton’s ingredient and allergen statement, and follow the person’s individual allergy advice.
Follow the instructions on the particular carton. For example, Marks & Spencer specifies refrigeration at 0°C to +5°C and use within 3 days of opening for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; another product may give different instructions.