My youngest daughter, who is turning one next week, is both allergic to dairy and has Celiac disease, so her options for eating are fairly limited. I'll also add that she JUST started getting her first two teeth (on the top!)
She is still nursing, and I'm not sure I see an end in sight because I cannot get her to drink any milk substitutes. I've tried every one except almond, because my husband is allergic. I'm trying to drink a bunch of coconut milk to up her calcium, because she's really lacking in nutrients right now thanks to undiagnosed Celiac for several months. Also, will be asking the Dr. for a good vitamin for her.
However, my huge concern is that there is no fat in her diet. She eats lean lean cuts of deli meat (turkey, chicken) and fruits and veggies, brown rice, and Chex...and that's it. I would LOVE some ideas on creative things to try with her that would be high in good fats and other vitamins. Snacks, meals, etc...I need ideas. The only fatty food she eats right now are potato chips...um...ahem...I would've never given my first baby potato chips, but there seems to be so little for this baby! (She is still in the 98% at one year, even though she hasn't gained any weight or grown in four months. So...used to be a chunk, now she isn't.)
**Just a quick addition...she DOES have a true allergy to cow's milk protein. I did too, as a child, and didn't outgrow it until I was much older...and I am still lactose intolerant.
Is the pediatrician worried? If not, just keep going the way you are. If she's not "underweight", then let her eat the healthy food she enjoys.
just curious if your dr has set you up with a dietitian? they should be able to give you good ideas and insurance may cover it.
avocados (guacomole), beans (does she like refried beans (get the fat-full kind), tacos with beans and hamburger meat. can you find taco shells that are safe?), high fat smoothies made with coconut milk, ice, fruit, etc. Eggs, omelets, scrambled, hard boiled. Quinoa hot breakfast porridge (recipe on the quinoa bag)with peanut butter, brown sugar, and coconut milk? Good luck!
She can really eat anything you can eat. You can give her beef, chicken, pork, or any other type of meat. I'm not terribly familiar with Celiacs disease, but I would think most vegetables and fruits would be just fine. I know avocados were recommended to help both of my girls gain weight.
There is a common misconception that kids can't eat table foods until they have teeth. It just simply isn't true. The front teeth are only used for biting, not chewing. Even after they get teeth, they still gum everything until their molars come in. Just make sure that you cut pieces up small enough that she won't choke.
To help her transition, you can try to mix the mild substitute with expressed breastmilk.
You should also contact a dietitian. They'll be able to help you plan menus for your little one.
Good for you for still nursing- that's the best thing to keep her well nourished and heal her gut!
At that age, my boys loved to dip stuff- veggies in hummus, fruit in peanut butter, corn chips in guacamole, etc. Avocadoes and egg yolks are great sources of healthy fats, and so are tuna and salmon. Think outside the box!
I have a number of good friends whose children have celiac, and I have many friends whose kids were diagnosed with dairy allergies. Those dairy "allergies" aren't true allergies - they are reactions to trigger foods that you child cannot digest because she is MISSING something. You can add nutrients in that will help to eliminate that, and eventually you won't be eliminating foods. So much easier! PM and I'll help you with more info.
Breakfast ideas:
scrambled eggs, can mix in all sorts of veggies like spinach, tomatoes, herbs, even ham or turkey pieces
microwave a sweet potato, mash it up a bit, add some cinnamon and honey on top
oatmeal with cut up bananas, strawberries or blueberries- add in some breast milk if needed
brown rice cereal (grind up brown rice in coffee grinder, mix with water, simmer till water is absorbed)- add fruit
Lunch and dinner ideas:
spaghetti squash "pasta" or gluten free pasta (I roast a spaghetti squash, break it up with a fork and freeze it in individual sized bags. Then just microwave it and add spaghetti sauce or veggies like eggplant, zuchinni, tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper. You could add a meat sauce to make it higher fat)
grilled chicken pieces, steamed broccoli, brown rice
add in olive oil to pasta to add a healthy fat. You could also add peanut butter to oatmeal or rice cereal or on top of bananas, serve fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines), serve pieces of avacado; these all have healthy fats.
put olive oil or real butter on veggies and rice!
I have a food-allergic child, too. I write a blog with recipes that are free of the top 8 allergens, are gluten-free and are vegan. There are recipes for snack cakes, muffins, rice pudding and cookies, in addition to soups, entrees, snacks, etc. I hope that some of these recipes help you. www.welcomingkitchen.com. Avocados, healthy oils (like olive and canola), Earth Balance spread, and coconut can all be helpful. You can also use sunflower seed butter, which is nut free, in cooking or baking as a peanut butter substitute, if you're afraid of introducing peanut butter to your allergic child. We use Daiya dairy-free cheese, too, and my kids love it.
