You want to make something special for your dad for Father’s Day but you or your dad or other family members may have food allergies. A traditional milkshake would be out of the question because who wants to give dad a stomach ache on Father’s Day.

Many folks have lactose intolerance which makes dairy a no-no. Lactose intolerance is one of the most common food intolerances, affecting up to 65 percent of the world’s adult population. Advertising would have us believe that “Every body needs milk,” but an estimated 50 million sufferers of lactose intolerance would disagree. They experience abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, gas, cramps or diarrhea after consuming dairy products.

Milk is anything but the perfect food for individuals who do not produce enough of the enzyme lactase, needed to digest lactose, or milk sugar. Undigested lactose produces stomach and intestinal symptoms within 30 minutes to two hours after eating.

Lactose intolerance can be found in people of all ages with males and females affected equally. Certain ethnic groups, whose diets do not traditionally include dairy, are more likely to have the intolerance. These include people of Asian, African, Native American and Hispanic backgrounds.


If you or your dad are lactose intolerant, I have the answer---a healthy paleo cookie dough milkshake that you can serve to dad or yourself whenever you want. It will be safe for your dad because it has no dairy. Here’s what you need for two servings.

1 ½ cups full-fat canned coconut milk
2 T. sunbutter or other safe seed or nut butter
Pinch of sea salt
Sweetener to taste
3 T. cacao nibs

Begin by freezing the coconut milk in ice cube trays. When you are ready to make your milkshakes, place the frozen coconut milk cubes in your high-speed blender. Add the other ingredients except for the cacao nibs and pulse until blended into an ice cream like consistency. Next, add the cacao nibs and pulse your blender a few more times to distribute them throughout the mixture.

Divide the mixture between two glasses and enjoy.

Another healthy option for dad would be a Paleo Wendy’s Copycat Frosty.

You will need for two servings:

One frozen banana or pear
2 T. cocoa powder
1 1/8 cups coconut milk
12 ice cubes
2 T. honey or sweetener of choice
½ tsp. vanilla extract

Blend everything up in a high-speed blender and divide between two glasses and sip away.