Seeking Non-Dairy Food Ideas

soy yogurt, rice milk, avacado instead of cheese

This is my advice to another mom about dairy allergies. Take what applies to you and ignore the rest. Good luck.

BIG TIP – Look at the bottom of the list of ingredients on packages. There is usually a brief list of allergens. If dairy is listed, you can quickly eliminate that product as a choice. BUT don’t rely on that. If it does NOT list dairy and egg, you still need to read all the ingredients, because some companies don’t consider dairy to be an allergen.

Milks –
I think soy is gross. I tried Rice milk but too starchy for me and doesn’t work well with baking (makes the food too crispy – seriously). I prefer Almond Milk (in the boxed milks on the dry goods aisle). Almond milk works great for cooking and doesn’t taste half bad in pinch if you are dying to eat cereal, though it’s a little sweet for my taste. I just use it in cooking.

Butter –
Earth Balance Original (yellow/tan/brown tub) – it’s really not bad – I add salt to it, though, when making toast or garlic bread with it. Double to check to make sure it has not eggs, though I can't think of why it would.

TIPS for Eating Out–
ask to speak to the manager – waiters get confused. Tell them you have a dairy and egg allergy and they will be very happy to help you. They have lists of ingredients and allergens and will often show you the list if necessary.

Make sure to ask that things are not cooked on the skillet with butter.

Chipotle has dairy in it – so don’t order anything with a chipotle spread

Salads – just use oil and balsamic vinegrette for dressing

I made a list on a little piece of paper and carry in my wallet in case I order fast food. You can look up a lot of restaraunt nutrition menus on line.

Be careful because dairy is present in the strangest foods - like hot dogs and french fries.

Good luck.

Almond milk is a great alternative to dairy milk and it tastes great in a glass or on cereal. Juice, tea, coffee, is great in addition to the water you're drinking. Trader Joes carries a very tasty butter/margarine alternative that works well for everything. Non dairy cheese is not the same as dairy cheese at all but it's out there if you still want cheese. Enjoy some lean protein with your fruits and veggies and don't forget about legumes. That helps make a well-rounded and filling meal without feeling like you're missing much. There is also non-dairy yogurt available out there. Good luck!

For a snack you could eat dairy free crackers (like "Mary's Gone Crackers" brand) and veggies with hummus dip or bean dip. Cheese is so filling bc it has protein and fat, so try to think of other alternatives. How about lots of avocados and tomatoes instead of cheese. You can make a pot of lentil stew for snacking...or black bean soup...Eat nuts and seeds as snacks to get protein or add them to your salads.

I'm curious to know if this is a weight loss experiment. The reason I ask is because my daughter who is allergic to dairy is skinny as a rail. I once read an article where someone speculated that cheese is the route of all evil when it comes to weight and diets. I started to wonder if there was some truth to that. So if this is the case, please update us/me how the challenge goes.

I was told to eliminate dairy from my diet and I did drop some in weight. I can't say I was ultravigilant though. I would still eat cheese. Maybe this will convince me to give it up all together!

a lot of the recipes on 5dollardinners.com ae either dairy free or have notes on how to make them dairy free....

One of my favorite things to eat is wild rice. I cook up a bunch of it and keep it in the fridge. In the morning I put some berries, honey, cinnamon, and nuts on it. It's one of my favorite breakfasts.