Dairy Allergies and in need of Dairy Free Meal Ideas!

[Athora80]

I have been allergic to dairy since I was a baby and I think my 2 year old is also allergic but I have yet to get him tested. I am stubborn when it comes to giving it up but it's getting harder to keep eating it. My body has changed so much since I had my son and my dairy reactions have flared. I have Chronic Fatigue (or my doc THINKS I so), never actually diagnosed, I have bad GERD with esophagitis and gastritis, brain fog and difficulty concentrating and I have bad anxiety. I think a lot of it is due to my diet, I eat a lot of dairy and I need to completely cut it out. The trouble is I am sleep deprived and constantly chasing a wild 2 year old boy who only stops when he sleeps. I need some ideas of snacks and meals without dairy. I have the butter substitute covered (earth balance). I would love to find a good source of dairy free chocolate for my sweet tooth. Any ideas or resources would be awesome!

[kitchensqueen]

You're onto a great thing with Earth Balance - it's the closest thing to real butter on the market. And you can pretty much substitute soy milk for regular milk in any recipe with good results, especially baked goods. Cheese is the biggest dairy culprit that's hard to replace, but it's pretty easy to just leave out without horribly detrimental effects. Soya Kaas make an acceptable mozzarella substitute for the occasional pizza or lasagna - the flavor and melting properties are pretty spot on. But read the label - they make a line with dairy, and then make a vegan line without it. You want the vegan line.

Chocolate you're going to pay for - dairy-free is pricey. And look for dark chocolate as opposed to milk chocolate. My favorite brand is Equal Exchange, but Endangered Species makes a good bar as well. For super-premium chocolate, Tazo is a brilliant stone ground, hand made bar. You just have to read the labels - some of their flavors have dairy products added in, some don't. 

[Ragana]

My DH can only have limited dairy right now & my daughter is vegetarian, so I tend to try to find vegan meal and snack ideas, and then sometimes add meat/cheese for those of us who eat it.

Check out these sites - the recipes are really varied and they make the food look so delicious and appealing:

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

http://www.theppk.com/

Homemade Lara bars are a good snack - easy to make & yummy:

http://www.livingcrunchy.com/2012/04/homemade-lara-bars/
 

BTW, have you ever been tested for gluten intolerance/celiac? I ask because a few of my friends and family with it had similar symptoms to yours & celiacs can also react to casein in dairy products.

http://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-Research%3A-Associated-Diseases-and-Disorders/Casein-%7B47%7D-Cows-Milk-Intolerance-and-Celiac-Disease/

[pek64]

Be careful about relying too much on soy. I am allergic to dairy and substituted soy products, then became allergic to soy.

Olive oil makes a good substitute for butter, as well. If you need something more saturated, try coconut oil.

Rice, oat and nut milks can also be used for cows' milk.

[EarthyMamaofDaisy]

My kids are allergic to milk (plus a bunch of others) but some good meals are fried rice, chile, homemade chicken fingers, French toast made with coconut milk with a fruit topping.

[GirlFromNZ]

I'm so sorry to read your post! I'm also dairy intolerant, have had chronic fatigue and also deal with panic attacks. I wonder if any or all of those things are linked in some way? I would be very interested if anyone has any research on this? 

I also find it so hard to think of meals without dairy, especially since we live in such a dairy society (well, I do. In New Zealand the dairy industry is worshipped and a life without dairy isn't conceivable) and I really love cheese. Like you though, my tiredness and tummy flare up when I eat dairy. 

Also, I agree with the PP. I tried vegan for a while (it was the thing that kicked my chronic fatigue!) but ended up reacting to soy in the same way I do dairy. For me personally, I've found that avoiding cheesy meals is easier and better than trying to substitute it. 

Here are some of my food ideas (snacks, dinner, brekkie etc):

• smoothie - either an OJ-based one with kiwifruit (kiwi) and pineapple or one made with non-dairy milk (almond is my first choice, followed by hemp), berries, banana and a dash of vanilla
• stir fry 
• french toast - dip bread in beaten egg and vanilla mixture, fry and smother with fruit sauce/maple syrup
• sticky BBQ chicken and roast potatoes - make a marinade with tomato sauce, brown sugar, worcester sauce (do you have that in America? if not, the flavour you're trying to get is salty, so maybe soy sauce would sub?) and mustard. Chuck chicken pieces in and marinade for couple hours. I make roast potatoes by par-boiling them for 10-20 mins to cut down on roasting time, that way dinner is ready in under an hour with hardly any prep. Serve with salad or steamed veggies.
• sweet and sour chicken/pork/tofu with noodles
• wraps are always on the menu. Chicken/beef, salad, hummus and wraps/pita bread - quick and healthy
• I love a one-pan oven recipe from Jamie Oliver. We call it Jamie's chicken: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/tender-chicken-legs-with-tomatoes (we make it without the chilli). 
• homemade burgers are good
• to sub whipped cream, I use coconut milk/cream. It sounds weird, but tastes lovely. It doesn't taste like cream, but it gives the same satisfaction. you may need to google quantities, but basically it's tinned coconut milk/cream with some vanilla and icing sugar (powdered sugar)
• lemon chicken (another oven dish) http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/3758/quick-roast-chicken-with-lemon-and-spices
• meatloaf/nutloaf/lentilloaf with mashed potatoes (earth balance and non-dairy milk)
• laksa with roti bread
• lentil/mince bolognaise with pasta (just avoid the cheese on top or sub it)

Hope this all helps!! And good luck with everything!! 

[chicasmama]

Hi, I have been living without gluten and dairy for about 7 years now and had the exact same symptoms you described. For me I react to casein which is very often found in foods that are labeled dairy free. Reading labels is a must. I am very sensitive and with that being said I do fine with ghee as a butter alternative since the milk proteins have been removed. I have a ton of awesome recipes that are gfcf and also have a child that has celiac/ dairy allergies and she is happy with the food options we have created for her. The key is to not rely to heavily on any one grain or legume as this can become problematic with allergies to that grain/legume. ( not for everyone, but for some) soy and rice being being very common for this type of thing. Plus variety is just good for our diet and nutritional needs anyhow. Please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to help you with recipes and ways to convert some of your favorites to dairy free or gluten and dairy free.

[pek64]

I urge caution regarding ghee for dairy allergic people. Some do react to ghee.

[chicasmama]

I totally get what your saying, however I feel that the context of what was written was from a personal standpoint versus a "hey this is what you should do" I was just pointing out options....one of which has worked for me.