Spanish for Beginners: How to Say 'I Don't Eat ___' for Meat, Dairy, or Nuts
Learn to say 'I don't eat' in Spanish for meat, dairy, or nuts. Use 'No como' plus the food. Includes polite phrases and regional notes.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you need to tell someone that you don't eat a certain food—whether for dietary, health, or personal reasons—the simplest Spanish structure is 'No como' followed by the food. This lesson teaches you to express restrictions for meat, dairy, and nuts, and to distinguish this from asking about ingredients. You'll learn key vocabulary and polite ways to communicate your needs.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I don't eat' followed by meat, dairy, or nuts in Spanish.
- politely explain my dietary restriction to a host or waiter.
- distinguish between stating a restriction and asking about ingredients.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
No como carne.
I don't eat meat.
noh KOH-moh KAR-neh
Use this to state that you don't eat any kind of meat. It's direct and clear.
No como lácteos.
I don't eat dairy.
noh KOH-moh LAHK-teh-ohs
This covers milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. In some regions, 'productos lácteos' is more explicit.
No como frutos secos.
I don't eat nuts.
noh KOH-moh FROO-tohs SEH-kohs
This refers to tree nuts and peanuts. In some countries, 'nueces' means nuts, but 'frutos secos' is broader.
Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.
I'm allergic to nuts.
soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh (male) / ah-LEHR-hee-kah (female) ah lohs FROO-tohs SEH-kohs
Use this to emphasize a medical allergy. The ending changes with your gender: -o for male, -a for female.
No consumo productos de origen animal.
I don't consume animal products.
noh kohn-SOO-moh proh-DOOK-tohs deh oh-REE-hen ah-nee-MAHL
A more formal way to say you're vegan or avoid all animal products.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'No como' + [food]. 'No' means 'not' or 'don't', and 'como' is the first-person form of the verb 'comer' (to eat). For example, 'No como carne' (I don't eat meat), 'No como queso' (I don't eat cheese). To be more specific, you can add 'nada de' for emphasis: 'No como nada de carne' (I don't eat any meat). Note that in Spanish, you don't need an auxiliary verb like 'do'—just 'no' before the verb. Also note that 'No como nada de carne' contains a double negative ('no' + 'nada'), which is standard and emphatic in Spanish, unlike in English.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to inform someone about your dietary restrictions, such as at a restaurant, a friend's house, or a social gathering. For example, if a waiter offers you a dish with meat, you can say 'No como carne, ¿tiene algo sin carne?' (I don't eat meat, do you have something without meat?). If you have a severe allergy, it's important to state it clearly: 'Soy alérgico a los frutos secos' (I'm allergic to nuts). This is different from asking about ingredients, which would be '¿Lleva carne?' (Does it have meat?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué te gustaría comer?
What would you like to eat?keh teh goos-tah-REE-ah koh-MEHRNo como carne. ¿Tienes opciones vegetarianas?
I don't eat meat. Do you have vegetarian options?noh KOH-moh KAR-neh. TYEH-nehs ohp-SYOH-nehs beh-heh-tah-RYAH-nahsSí, tenemos ensalada y pasta. ¿Alguna alergia?
Yes, we have salad and pasta. Any allergies?see, teh-NEH-mohs ehn-sah-LAH-dah ee PAHS-tah. ahl-GOO-nah ah-LEHR-hyahSoy alérgico a los frutos secos.
I'm allergic to nuts.soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah lohs FROO-tohs SEH-kohsA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, dietary restrictions are increasingly understood, but it's helpful to be explicit. In some regions, 'carne' can refer to beef specifically, while 'pollo' (chicken) and 'pescado' (fish) are separate. If you don't eat any meat, say 'No como carne ni pollo ni pescado' or 'Soy vegetariano/a'. For dairy, 'lácteos' is widely understood, but in some countries, 'productos lácteos' is clearer. Always communicate allergies clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'No como no carne' or 'No como carne no'.
Try this instead: In Spanish, negation is simple: just put 'no' before the verb. The correct form is 'No como carne'. Avoid double negatives like 'No como no carne', which would mean 'I don't eat no meat' (a double negative that is nonstandard).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I don't eat dairy' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
No como lácteos.
This uses the pattern 'No como' + 'lácteos'. You could also say 'No como productos lácteos' for clarity.
2What is the difference between 'No como carne' and '¿Lleva carne?'
Show a sample answer
'No como carne' states that you don't eat meat, while '¿Lleva carne?' asks if a dish contains meat.
The first expresses a personal restriction; the second asks about ingredients. Both are useful in different contexts.
3How would you politely tell a host that you are allergic to nuts?
Show a sample answer
Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.
This clearly states your allergy. Remember to match the adjective ending to your gender: -o if you're male, -a if you're female.
To say 'I don't eat ___' in Spanish, use 'No como' + the food. For meat: 'No como carne'; dairy: 'No como lácteos'; nuts: 'No como frutos secos'. For allergies, say 'Soy alérgico/a a...'. This clearly communicates your restrictions.
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