butter and honey

How to understand this verse?

15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Some people say that this proves the necessity of dairy in the diet
Others say that the butter is a symbol of nuts and plants rich in fats

First, the butter does not represent nut foods as the description is given later on in the chapter:
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

Sorry vegans, butter comes from sheep and cow's milk.

now the question is, do dairy products actually improve moral discernment? how does eating butter (and honey) help us to choose right from wrong?

Let's see the context of this verse.

The prophecy is the destruction of the prosperity of Judah by Syria (Assyrian) and Israel (Ephraim):

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

The only source of food will be grazing cattle and wild honey. No more is the land cultivated by man in his wisdom, but returned to its natural state wherein it was first found:

Lev. 20:24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.

Could it be it is not the specific diet of dairy and sugar (proven to be a harmful mixture) that gives a child the wisdom to choose good and refuse evil, but the circumstances in which the Lord in His wisdom places him?

Bring this scenario to the present day. We work 8-10 hours a day cultivating a business or lifestyle which prospers us. But there is coming a day (mark of the beast) when we can no longer rely on our own judgment and strength, but will have to depend soley on the Lord God to provide our every need.

Like Elijah who was feed by ravens, and Judah who lived by wild honey and butter, learning to subsist each day entirley by God's provision will bring a spiritual awakening which will revive the faith and love of the true Christian.

1Pet. 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

Butter
4 tablespoons almond flour/meal if you make your own in a food processor make sure there is no skin on the almonds as otherwise you'll end up with little brown bits through your butter
5 tablespoons any mildly flavoured unsweetened non-dairy milk but NOT soy, see recipe notes for suggestions
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil standard or extra virgin. Only use extra virgin if you don't mind a slight taste of olive oil in the finished butter
120mls | 1/2 cup melted & room temperature refined coconut oil it must be refined NOT unrefined
a pinch of turmeric optional but helps make colour a little more yellow