Preservative free, lactose free/ soy cheese and yogurt?
Dd1 was lactose intolerant she was throwing up from birth on both breastmilk and formula, it was only once she went onto lactose free formula at eight months that it stopped. She could eat cheese although she didn't like it and very small amounts of yoghurt to get some calcium and her formula had it too. It's a tricky thing to confirm, we were told she was just had reflux but looking back at photos she looked very sick and pale until we changed her diet.
I'm vegan. Unfortunately Cheese substitutes are mostly for taste only and don't have a fabulous amount of calcium in there. I get mine from fortified soy milk, sesame seeds and/or tahini (tablespoon of one of them, daily) leafy greens, almonds, broccoli, white beans. I also take a supplement just to be on the safe side. It all seems to work because I had a bad bike accident last year, and nobody could believe I didn't break any bones.
BUT for those times when you just can't live without cheese... Cheezly (health food shops, crueltyfreeshop online only) is great, comes in several styles - mozzarella, edam, a few others (I only ever buy the mozzarella style though!) Kingland do a Soy Cheese (in the sausage style packet) available at Coles, good for putting "in" things, like I do a Broccoli and Cheddar tart with it, but it has a very powdery texture and strong flavour. Whatever that other brand of Soy Cheese is that you get at Coles actually has milk protein in it, so probably no good for you.
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (some Coles, most Woolies) is the real hero. It's lower in fat and so good! I use it as a base for dips, and also for my un-cheese white sauce, to have with vegies, in lasagne etc.
I'd definitely be going to see a nutritionist for mroe suggestions, or, like you're doing, keep reading up on it.
Thanks for the input everyone. MantaRay, I think I might see a dietician with her. When I put her on the lactose free milk she eats tonnes compared to when i put a little milk on her brekky. This whole thing is confusing and yes stressful. all the foods in my house are now made from scratch and shopping is a nightmare. Hope I can find a dietician here, I really don't want to travel to perth.
Black rose- we were also told DD had reflux but she's never been a GREAT sleeper even with the reflux medication so I stopped it after a month. although she did have nasty battery acid vomit that burnt.
Audax- thanks for the suggestions. I might look around more or see a nutritionist. a trip to the doctor may be in order to find out about
lol, post was sitting a while because DD needed me. Rang local hospital to enquire about a dietician and need a referral so heading to dr's mon.
Really appreciate the nudge people. I think sometimes you want to feel you know what's best for your child but need and extra push to seek outside help!
Dairy free living is a hard road. Making stuff from scratch is just how you have to roll, unfortunately. Puff pastry is dairy free (although there's palm oil in most) and I think it's Nanna's brand of apple pies? One of them, anyway. Black and Gold cake mixes are dairy free, as well as some of the Green's varieties, but not all, so check. Chocolate and strawberry ice cream toppings are good. Oreos and McVities Digestives biscuits, as well as *I think* the pink ones with sprinkles.
Good luck at the Drs!
CL, if you go to the dietician association website - Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) : Find an APD - and select allergy/food sensitivity in the area of practice, you might find a dietician near you who specialises in this. I know of one really good one in WA but she is probably in Perth.
black_rose, did you read the article I linked to? It might be helpful for you to know that your DD's problems were not caused by lactose intolerance. If she had been lactose intolerant she would not have survived for 8 months - I mean literally would not have grown at all and would have needed severe medical intervention to stay alive. This is very, very rare. Most likely your DD had either reflux or food allergy/intolerance (not lactose though!). Do you know of any food sensitivities that she has now?
My DD's are both allergic to cow milk protein, DD2 is reactive to soy, and DD1 oats. Both had issues with bananas and anything high in salcilytes. I put them on an elimination diet and we found alot of what they reacted through. We also saw an allergist whilst doing all of this. I followed the Fail Safe diet at first to rule out preservative reactions. I remember the first few weeks spending hours in the shops reading labels. It was very daunting.
We have not had dairy, cheese, anything in over 3 years now. We eat heaps of broccoli, spinach, sesame seeds (extremely high in calcium but also a high allergen food), and use multivitamens to help with calcium intake. Magnesium is very important when ruling out dairy, as it is what the body uses to absorb calcium and no matter what the foods calcium value is, without magnesium its not worth it.
My DD's both had reflux symptoms as well, my DD2 was 9 weeks old when I saw a Lactation Consultant who helped with going on an elimination diet and stopping dairy in my diet in order to breastfeed her. When she was 6 months and starting solids, we became very serious about the elimination diets and seeing an allergist. I suggest going through an allergist or dietician as MantaRay said. Its a hard journey, but much worth it!
It's odd though. I don't think it's cow's milk protien allergy because she was fine on her formula. the "reflux" symptoms settled at 5 months old or so and only seem to appear when she's teething. Maybe she was actually allergic to something in my milk that i ate for the 4 month period I breastfed. I have eliminated ALL preservatives and her behaviour improved. She seemed to have an incredibly distressing "come down" as whatever was in her system wore off. Was really heartbreaking to see and as a result i eliminated every number in her diet. She has only had one since and that was after eating a cracker a child gave her at a birthday party. I didn't even realise it wasn't one of the ones I brought with us until she was onto the last bite.
Also baffling is the fact that when she's on the lactose free milk her digestive system appear normal. No runny poo and no farty pants. it's only when i give her normal milk, cheese or yoghurt. unless it's something else removed in the lactose removal process?
Unfortunately I only know of one dietician within town and it's through the local hospital. none others are listed in directory. they might have an "allergist" I can be referred to within the hospital somewhere along the line though so fingers crossed.
I really appreciate everyone's input. the whole situation is quite baffling and new to me so any advice is appreciated!
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Preservative free, lactose free/ soy cheese and yogurt?
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