[Namaste Amma]

Hi. I'm new to this forum and really looking forward to getting to know you all!<br><br>
I'm hoping you guys have some suggestions for me, as I am really at a loss for protein ideas for my DD, 15 months. She has soy and dairy allergies, possibly eggs and nuts (we're holding off on those right now). Clearly this really limits her sources for protein. She still nurses at least 4 times a day, so I'm not too worried, but obviously as she nurses less it will be more important that we provide her plenty of sources of protein. She loves her fruits, veggies, and any carbohydrate I put in front of her.<br><br>
The only sources of protein she eats regularly are oatmeal, whole grain bread and pasta, the occasional Quorn product (though I try to limit the processed meat substitutes), lentils and beans. I need to start preparing brown or wild rice for her. Am I missing anything? I've only made quinoa once, and it was awful. Her solids intake is still pretty low overall.<br><br>
Thank you!

 

[Googy]

You don't want to do Quorn if she has an egg allergy. There is egg in Quorn. Some of the Quorn products have dairy too.<br><br>
It sounds like you are down to lots of beans, seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, hemp, chia), and whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat bread, quinoa, barley, millet, etc). Seitan too.

 

[okura]

allergies suck huh.<br><br>
lentils, especially red ones are pretty easily digested, so a good bean choice for little ones.<br>
chickpeas (garbanzo in the US right?) are a favourite of ours too - mashed up with lemon juice and olive oil to make hommous.

 

[MountainMamaGC]

If you can find it, red rice has way more protein than brown. I found it at the italian center. I tastes good to me and I make sloppy joes with it and kidney beans.<br><br>
Hemp powder has a lot of protein and it hides well in a smoothie.

 

[mumkimum]

Millet is also relatively high in protein, grain wise, and more rice-tasting than quinoa. Millet porridge (like oatmeal - but cooks longer) is good, and it's easily added to soups or served like rice.<br><br>
I'm thinking buckwheat flour is higher in protein, as is chickpea flour (which is very tasty).

 

[Ruthla]

Rice protein powder is free of all those allergens and is vegan, but it's also a very highly processed food. I keep some on hand for "too busy to eat" days, but in general it's best to stick with whole foods. If you're not planning to feed her any meat or fish (which are perfectly safe and appropriate for dairy and egg allergic people, but obviously not vegetarian), then I'd suggest offering lots of beans- maybe even bake with a combination of bean and grain flours so that she'll get balanced protein even if she fills up on muffins or cookies.<br><br>
It's also important for you to avoid her allergens, so there won't be any traces of them in your milk.

 

[Namaste Amma]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Ruthla</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/14999431"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">It's also important for you to avoid her allergens, so there won't be any traces of them in your milk.</div>
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Yup, I am following the same restrictions. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[Namaste Amma]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Googy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/14998496"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">You don't want to do Quorn if she has an egg allergy. There is egg in Quorn. Some of the Quorn products have dairy too.</div>
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Cooked eggs seem to be okay, thankfully. Though for ethical reasons I'm moving toward entirely vegan for DD and myself. We use the dairy-free Quorn.

 

[Namaste Amma]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm trying to get a good idea of what to be moving toward as she gradually eats more solids. I'm so glad she is still nursing. With all these limitations, it's especially awesome. Hopefully she continues to BF a lot until we get testing done and know officially what is okay!<br><br>
I'll have to check out other threads for ideas on using some of the foods you guys suggested. Thanks again.

 

[somegirl99]

Just a note on the quinoa, you need to rinse it extremely thoroughly before you cook it or it will taste nasty.<br><br>
It has naturally occurring saponins (detergent-like molecules) on it, so when you start rinsing it (use a very fine-mesh sieve) you will see some bubbles/lather coming off it. Keep rinsing until you don't see that any more.<br><br>
If you don't rinse it enough it will taste very bitter. Prepared properly it has a very neutral flavor and a bit more texture than rice.

 

[somegirl99]

Oh, you also might want to try some hemp milk and see if she'll take it.

 

[caiesmommy]

I agree with the quinoa! Rinse rinse and rinse some more!<br><br>
Hemp seeds are great. Ds will eat hemp seeds on everything! So we use "sprinkles" on pasta, in smoothies, even his roasted potatoes get a sprinkling of hemp seeds. He loves them.<br><br>
I would try beans as finger foods, you could also make bean patties as a change or soups high and beans.<br><br>
I don't envy you! My ds has a milk intolerance/gluten intolerance and thats hard enough, full blown allergies I'd lose my mind

 

[spedteacher30]

I bought some sunflower based veggie burgers when I was dealing with those same allergies in my son while trying to maintain my 20 years as a vegetarian. I thought they were pretty gross, but I do like sunflower seed butter. You won't like my answer, but I ended up going back to eating chicken and fish for 3 years while nursing him, and have gone back to being a vegetarian in the last 3-6 months.<br><br>
My son has outgrown his milk, egg and corn allergies, still has peanut and soy allergies, but we can't get him to stop eating chicken. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">

 

[Namaste Amma]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>spedteacher30</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15003668"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I bought some sunflower based veggie burgers when I was dealing with those same allergies in my son while trying to maintain my 20 years as a vegetarian. I thought they were pretty gross, but I do like sunflower seed butter. You won't like my answer, but I ended up going back to eating chicken and fish for 3 years while nursing him, and have gone back to being a vegetarian in the last 3-6 months.<br><br>
My son has outgrown his milk, egg and corn allergies, still has peanut and soy allergies, but we can't get him to stop eating chicken. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked"></div>
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My husband has been encouraging me to go back to eating chicken and fish, but DD wants to eat everything I eat, and neither of us want her eating meat. Sigh. This is a lot of work. I'm a newer vegetarian, so being committed to keeping myself and DD vegetarian was going to be enough work. It's so much worse without dairy, soy, eggs or nuts! Oh well. I've been losing weight, and my migraines have almost entirely disappeared, so that's a nice reward! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">