allergic to dairy

[coco2303]

Hi, I started weaning my 6 month old DD last week, she was EBF but she is allergic to cows milk. Now there is a difference between allergic and intolerant to lactose.
Been advised not to give her dairy and also for me to not have dairy, but I am struggling to find thing that are dairy free as even things like cornmeal have bloody cows milk in.
And recipes I have are for lids who are already weaned. And living a life of being able to eat dairy I am stuck as to what I can eat myself.
So if anybody knows any good recipe books for dairy free or has any advice it would be GREATLY appreciated xx

[Runswithsquirrels]

Try the vegan society for tips. The first couple of weeks are the hardest but then it will become easier.

Is there anything specific you are struggling to replace?

[coco2303]

I will have a look thankyou :). And yes CHOCOLATE!!! Haha. And I suppose its just a whole lifestyle change. I have never had to check the contents of food whereas now I do and I am finding it very suprising some of the things that contain a form of cows milk.

My DD should be ok as she is only discovering tastes but I bought some dairy free alternatives ie; soya and free from cheese that I just don't like. That's why I wanted recipes to see what I can make.

I suppose most normal recipes I can replace milk with soya or coconut milk.so I think I'm probably just finding it daunting now because I only found out a couple of days ago.

I want to be able to let my DD try lots of different tastes and textures aswell and I'm just finding it difficult to plan meals for her. Xxx

[Runswithsquirrels]

Dairy free cheese is pretty vile - the only one I like is from Vegusto (mild aromatic).
Chocolate - the easiest way is to switch to dark but you still have to check labels.
With labels look straight at the allergy info as it will list dairy. If it says 'may contain' this is generally a legal opt out as it is made in the same factory.
Biscuits that you can eat include Jammie dodgers and most bourbons (not sainsbury ones).
Happy cow is a good website, it lists veggie restaurants but also gives you shops in your area that supply veggie and dairy free food. I know some good ones in London if that's any help?

[coco2303]

Aaaawwww thankyou so so much I'm going to have a try and also get some recipes from online. And jammy dodgers is good :D. How about bread?
And I live in birmingham but thankyou xxx

[SquidgersMummy]

Dairy free choc buttons at Tesco! My DD is allergic but not as severely - it really isn't hard but just takes a bit of getting used to. She is 17mths and is bf at night and then has Oatmilk (is where the uht milk is at Tesco). Lots of Soya stuff not great as oestrogen in it. We on Oatmilk (with added calcium and vitamin D) after seeing a paediatrician. We also had a consultation with a dietician - was really helpful. It will get easier xx

[Runswithsquirrels]

Almost all bread is fine. Just double check the allergy info. I found M&S bread unsuitable for me as they seem to add egg, but most other shops are fine.

[coco2303]

Squidgers I bought some oat milk today to try :).
And runswih I bought like 4 packets of jammy dodgers haha. I had a good look on labels aswell and I am now looking up recipes :).
Thankyou for all your help
Xxxxx

[Runswithsquirrels]

I follow savvy vegetarian on Facebook. She posts recipes. I'm making her quinoa chowder tonight...

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I've been DF for about 4 months now and I agree that the first couple of weeks are the hardest.

I've tried a few of the milk and I like almond milk on my cereal or to cook with. DS has made a lovely Victoria sponge tonight using almond milk and the stork 250g pack (oddly I think the 500g pack contains dairy but you might want to check that for yourself). I can eat eggs though so that was fine. Made some chocolate muffins the other day with dark chocolate chips and almond milk and they were good.

My dietician told me to have a handful of almonds every day for the calcium. She also said that 50/50 bread is DF and fortified with calcium and to make sure I eat green veg and fish with bones.

The thing I was really struggling with was fish pie oddly but came across a slimming world recipe that just has creme fraiche in the mash, so I just missed out that bit and it was yum.

What kind of things has she tried so far?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

coco we had this pie tonight, very easy to make and you can make it df too! Just swap the butter for some dairy free marg and use Jus Rol pastry, but check the packet first

[SquidgersMummy]

Forgot to say, there's a range of marg called Pure: not only is it dairy free it's the only marg you can buy that doesn't have horrid things in it. They have a website too of recipes. It depends on reactions of course but we were told to keep trying things every so often as it's likely tolerance will increase. We find butter and the odd square of cheese fine but yoghurt or choc is eaten in greater quantity so results in foul nappies. I hope you are getting some support from a dietician. Good luck xx

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Didn't know that about Pure myself, thanks sqidgy

OP if you are missing chocolate, have a look at Jus Rol Pain au Chocolat. Last time I checked they were dairy free and make a nice breakfast. We also sometimes have blueberry pancakes made with almond milk at the weekends.

[monstergoose]

We've been dairy and soy free for 10months now and it definitely gets easier with time. For butter pure is good, as is vitalite. For cooking butter I use cheap (own brand) block marg from tesco or aldi as I find the spreadable margaret things greasy. Milk I like coconut milk on cereal, for savoury cooking I use oatly cream ( in small cartons in the uht aisles of bigger supermarket or health for shops. Chocolate-definitely 2nd the dark choc, tesco finest is cheaper than green and black/montezuma and just as nice. Gravy I've learnt to make my own as can't find granules without milk/soy. Fruit shortcake biscuits(tesco and aldi) are ok. I make my own bread (bread maker) or use part baked rolls (tesco/aldi) but this is generally to avoid soy rather than dairy

I would take the time on a supermarket shop one day to read the labels of everything you buy look and look at all the different brands as some contain milk whereas others don't. It'll save you time when you need to then just do a quick shop as you'll know what to avoid!
I was given a script for calcium supplement as of you are BFing you have a really high daily requirement (I'd need to drink a whole carton of milk a day as I waant getting or in cheese/yoghurt etc) so worthwhile asking your dietician for this( and if you've not go one ask your GP for a referral)
Other ways to increase calcium are humus(the tahini in it has lots of calcium), bony fish, greens.

I wasn't sure from your post if it was lactose or cows milk protein your LO was intolerant to, if it's CMP be careful about substituting with lots of soya products as the protein structure is very similar so often you can be intolerant to both. Soya is the harder one to avoid though, as it's on everything!

[monstergoose]

Meant to say, there is no reason why you can't feed your LO exactly what you eat if she's 6m, either BLW or puréed depending on your preference. It makes it a lot easier if you are also dairy free as you won't have to cook separate meals (just make sure you buy the odd block of cheese to keep your other half happy!)

[Superworm]

I've been dairy and soy free for nearly two years as BFing & DS is allergic.

It takes a bit of getting used to but is easy once you're in the swing of. A few essentials we use..

Koro milk is my favourite substitute milk. DS loves oatly cream.

Tesco digestives are dairy free. You'll find loads of sweet stuff in the free from sections. Bread sticks , rice/corn cakes, Jacobs crackers all fine.

Hellmans full fat mayo is DF. Lots of coleslaw, cold meats, chicken etc are fine too.

We eat lots of jacket potatoes with bacon and avocado, beans, chilli, tuna mayo for lunch.

Custard powder is DF. Pure spread makes nice pastry, crumbles.

[Pancakeflipper]

Bourbon biccies and some jaffa cakes are ok for a chocolate fix (and party rings).

I think the own brand malt loaf at Alidi is ok.

It gets easier but as already been said, I would be cautious on soya. My 5yr old can handle some soya but too much and he is ill.

[CouthyMow]

Dairy Free Chocolate - Certain online shops (I buy from Allergy Essex) do rice milk chocolate called Zero Zebra. I can thoroughly recommend the one with freeze dried strawberries in, it's lush!

(Poor DS3 has no idea I occasionally filch his chocolate BAD Mummy)

[CouthyMow]

Block Stork (in the gold wrapper) is excellent to bake with.

[MagratGarlik]

We've been dairy free for 5 years now (since allergic ds2 was weaned). There are very few dishes we haven't found a way to make dairy (and egg) free - including pancakes!

The nicest dairy free cheese is tofutti, which is better when melted/cooked, but makes a respectable cheese on toast. The tofutti cream cheese is very nice and can be used as a substitute for Philadelphia in many recipes on the Philadelphia web-site (including their cheese cake).

Waitrose Nice biscuits are dairy free, as are Fox's party rings. Dove Farm do nice dairy free flapjack, or you can make your own using dairy free spread. Tesco value soft spread is dairy free too. Other sweet stuff - I make chocolate cornflake cakes with dark chocolate. Asda also do a nice dark chocolate spread which is dairy free.

I make pizza using tofutti soya cheese, cheese straws using tofutti soya cheese. Lasagne using oat milk to make the sauce and soya cheese on top.

I have an ice-cream maker, which I use to make ice-cream using pureed mango with coconut cream and a little sugar.

Korma can be made using coconut cream as a substitute for cream/nuts. Otherwise, shephards pie, fish pie are possible using oat milk for the mash and dairy free spread. My ds's also enjoy a roast dinner, which is easy dairy free.

[CouthyMow]

Just use Vitalite or Pure to mash potatoes. Vitalite is cheaper...

[CouthyMow]

Knorr gravy pots are dairy free.

[CouthyMow]

Magrat - ice cream is my next hurdle, been doing Dairy / soy free for 2.5 years. Could you post your recipe, please!

[CouthyMow]

White sauce can be made with block Stork, plain flour, and Oatly cream. I use this without totally rank dairy free cheese, just as is, and use it to make lasagne with.

[CouthyMow]

Carbonara can be done with Oatly cream, some Italian herbs and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Just leave it simmering to reduce down to thicken. Yum!

[MagratGarlik]

I use this recipe www.oatly.com/recipes/desserts/mango-icecream

but switch the oatly for coconut milk/cream because I feel it gives a nicer (more 'tropical') flavour.

Homemade ice-cream is really easy and always impresses guests too!