coconut milk-questions

[momma_c]

can you drink coconut milk or is it just used in cooking/baking? if so is anyone drinking it or giving it to their child?
my 14 month old son is currently on neocate with allergies to everything, milk, soy, egg, peanut, wheat, corn, rice, beef, etc. i mean.. everything.
i am trying to come up with something else he can drink besides the neocate..he is not fond of plain water and i have tried to add some organic grape juice but he gets a bit of a diaper rash from it.
anyways, any ideas?

[kjbrown92]

Neocate has corn in it (though it may be elemental so I'm not sure if that is okay or not).

When DS was an infant (he's 8yo now) and was on Neocate at 8 months. They stopped him at 14 months and after testing okay with milk and soy again, said that milk was fine. No mention of formula. And I know people advocate BFing or formula until 24 months now (or longer) but my DS wasn't ever deficient in anything from having things just in whole foods. At 18 months, when he got both intolerances back (milk and soy), he just went on enriched rice milk. I always made sure his diet was very nutritious and varied. When DD2 was intolerant, at 12 months old, the pediatritian never suggested formula. She went to enriched rice milk (she's almost 4yo now). Of course those are mainstream doctors.

That being said, we use coconut milk for coconut milk yogurt, in smoothies, for baking, in curries and other cooking, etc.

Is he intolerant of things or allergic? And what's the complete list and maybe we can come up with other things. DD2 only had about 20 foods at one point but the GI doc said it was a very balanced diet, so I didn't worry about it (though she only had one fruit). Aside from her food issues, she's always been pretty healthy.

[changingseasons]

Well, you could drink it... it's pretty rich, so I wouldn't drink too much! Also pretty allergenic.

[nalo]

Uck - I wouldn't drink it. It's just way to rich and thick. We use it for smoothies though!

[lil_miss_understood]

I have, in the past, drank it. When we first went dairy free, I was *jonesing* for milk so very badly (milk is an intolerance of mine, so I crave it, apparently). I *needed* a creamy drink so- I drank a whole can of coconut milk. I didn't feel too well after that though.
However!! In an Allergy cookbook I have somewhere, there is a recipe for coconut milk cocoa (which I still have to try and I'm very much anticipating).
I'm assuming that hemp milk is not an option?

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by JacquelineR

I have, in the past, drank it. When we first went dairy free, I was *jonesing* for milk so very badly (milk is an intolerance of mine, so I crave it, apparently). I *needed* a creamy drink so- I drank a whole can of coconut milk. I didn't feel too well after that though.
However!! In an Allergy cookbook I have somewhere, there is a recipe for coconut milk cocoa (which I still have to try and I'm very much anticipating).
I'm assuming that hemp milk is not an option?

LOL- I remember that. It was right about the same time I figured out how to make coconut milk ice cream, and ate a huge bowl of it. Man, it was good... but I sure paid for it later! Of course I've since discovered that DD is allergic to coconut, so I don't have to worry about making that mistake again!

[nalo]

I just re-read the OP and felt like commenting again. You say your LO is not interested in drinking plain water so you are looking for something else for him to drink. May I go out on a limb and say...it's really important for him to drink water and get used to having that be his main drink. It is by far the healthiest thing a person can drink (not talking nutrients obviously, but humans don't need milk, juice, etc. - we really need water!). Of course I am not implying that water replace any amount of his formula, just that it should be his main other beverage when thirsty. Since he does not seem to want plain water why don't you try making various teas until you find one he likes. I would brew it up and then cool it for a cold beverage. You could brew a fennel tea, peppermint, ginger...lots of good options for adding flavor to water using whole foods/spices (not tea packets).

[momofmine]

Did the coconut ice cream give you diarrhea, cs? Just being nosy and curious, because my kids both had diarrhea from coconut flour, but seem to be great with coconut oil. So I am curious if they are intolerant of the coconut products, but okay with the oil, or if it was just too much fiber on their gut ATM.

[sprouthead]

Originally Posted by DoulaMary

Since he does not seem to want plain water why don't you try making various teas until you find one he likes. I would brew it up and then cool it for a cold beverage. You could brew a fennel tea, peppermint, ginger...lots of good options for adding flavor to water using whole foods/spices (not tea packets).

Sorry to hijack- can you elaborate on how to make tea w/o tea packets? Do you use the actual plants?

[Naomismom]

I have had good luck feeding my daughter rice milk with 1-2 tablespoons of coconut milk in it. 2 tablespoons adds tons of fat and helps fill her up.

[kjbrown92]

I use coconut milk to make cocoa. I use a LOT of coconut milk. I'd cut it when feeding it to a child though. It is VERY rich.

[nalo]

Originally Posted by sprouthead

Sorry to hijack- can you elaborate on how to make tea w/o tea packets? Do you use the actual plants?

Boil water and add whatever you want in there and then let it continue to boil for a while - until it's as strong as you want it. For fennel use fennel seeds you buy in the spice isle. For ginger use a hunk of peeled fresh ginger, for peppermint use fresh peppermint leaves. Hope those ideas help.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by momofmine

Did the coconut ice cream give you diarrhea, cs? Just being nosy and curious, because my kids both had diarrhea from coconut flour, but seem to be great with coconut oil. So I am curious if they are intolerant of the coconut products, but okay with the oil, or if it was just too much fiber on their gut ATM.

I don't think it did... just a REALLY bad stomach ache. It could have though, it was like 6 months ago so I don't really remember.

[WuWei]

What about bone broths, green juice, and homemade formula, water kefir, soup, coconut water?

"Broth is Beautiful": http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/broth.html

Recipes for making infant formula, what to include, essential fats, probiotics, iron, vit. C, non-dairy recipe, etc. http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html

Juice/smoothie recipes: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ighlight=juice

Here are two links to info on the many health benefits of coconut water:

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/coconutwater.html

http://www.cocotap.com/nutrition.htm

I heard it is best served chilled.


Everything you ever wanted to know about kefir, and more, and recipes. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=203282

Here are a few other threads with suggestions: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...th+green+juice

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...th+green+juice



http://www.mothering.com/discussions...th+green+juice


Pat

[WuWei]

Btw, there is corn and soy in Neocate. Is he on an antacid? Antacids CAUSE allergies! http://www.mothering.com/discussions...59&postcount=3

Probiotics?

What about gut healing and/or yeast issues?


Pat

[nalo]

mmmmmmm......I looooove coconut water and have recently been made aware of it's amazing benefits. i am skeptical of drinking it from a can though - ever only had it straight from a coconut. can anyone vouch for it's tastiness and/or is it as effective when it's not straight from the source?

[WuWei]

Apparently there is an organic coconut water commercially. I'd probably prefer it from a glass bottle, rather than a can, though. I haven't tried it. But, our local co-op orders it.


Pat

[momma_c]

forgive me for not adding the quotes to the questions i am answering here, i am going to try and do my best. thanks again for all the help you all have given, this has been my main resource for the last 14 months.

all of my son's known allergens (via rast blood test and back patch test) are milk, soy, egg, peanut, rice, beef, banana, avocado, corn, rye, wheat, gluten, oat. i think that is it? if there is any other somewhat major allergen i am missing you can add it. he is allergic to so many things its overwhelming.
yes i do know there is corn in the neocate, however he was switched from breastmilk to neocate at 9 months of age and all of his eczema and yukky poos and screaming stopped within three days. the current allergist we have asked me to try him on alimentum but it has the same things that neocate does plus a milk source. this is the same allergist that told me to also give him rice milk and keep him on the allergens that did not show up as a major threat. now, how could i do that? i am still trying to make a plan, i don't even know if a second opinion will help matters. we all know how the dr's treat us. i have since taken him off all allergens that i was not aware of and his constant runny nose is gone.
thank you much wuwei for all those links, i have only seen the homemade formula one before so that should all be some good reading for me.
and what is with hemp milk? i really do not know much about it but have the feeling i did look at it before and there was something in it my son could not have.

thanks to all!!

[kjbrown92]

I haven't found a hemp milk that doesn't have something in it that we can't have either. And our lists are similar (though we can do peanuts and avocado, but are avoiding other foods).