Hi

Our beautiful pixie is 21 months and is on a Dairy free diet due to severe constipations issues since we started weaning at 6 months. Due to drs not listening to us that there is a big family history of dairy intolerances she has only been on a dairy free diet for about 7 weeks now

Luckily she loves the Alpro soya 1+ milk so thats not a problem But keeping her diet varied and healthy is proving difficult at times.

Unfortunatly all of Izzabelles favourite foods were dairy based - cheese, yoghurts, soft cheese, custard etc......and she is not keen on the soya alternatives, cant say i blame her they taste pretty awful and chalky.

The dr and dietitian gave us a tiny booklet with what she cant eat - and i didnt realise just how much she cant have!

Im finding that i am giving her the same foods week in week out. and buying her new things is a nightmare as 80% of the toddler friendly foods have dairy or traces of dairy in them. Unfortunatly I have M.E and between me and the OH we work lates most of the week so making meals from scratch isnt always easy.

Things we have found that Izzi will eat are:
*Fruit - especially grapes, strawberries, apples and dried apricots/raisians
*breadsticks, some rivita biscuits, plain unsalted crisps,
*fruit pouches
*baked beans, asdas vegetable ravioli and spaghetti
*Toast with various toppings
*gingernuts, some borboun biscuits, rich tea and lotus biscuits
*Jelly, occasionally soya custard
*she will eat vegetables which is good but giving them plain to her all the time is a bit boring
*mummys home made dairy free cakes

We have found that she doesnt like eating food with alpro soya on it though so breakfast is tricky as she wont eat any cereal (unless we give it to her dry but then she wont eat much of it), pancakes, yoghurt etc.

and 'freezer food' is a problem too as things like fish fingers, breaded chicken portions, some sausages all have dairy in them. The dr told us to avaoid deli type food as you cant guarentee they are dairy free, she cant eat pastry so sausage rolls etc are out

if Izzi had her way she would live off of spaghetti, toast with vitalite on and soya milk! Even eating out is a pain, i either have to take food from home (which izzi gets grupy about as everyone else is eating something nicer) or she has baked beans and chips

Can anyone help with dairy free things they have found that toddlers will willingly eat to give them a change? without breaking the bank as it seems that although in some stores there are dairy free alternatives they are literally double the price of normal ones!!

The websites i have found so far are aimed more at adults - posh meals with fancy ingriedients izzi wouldnt like.

Thanks for reading
Charlie

Dd you try to use the soy milk or yogurt to prepare milk shakes & smoothies?

As for cooked meals, Omar loves simple stews. I fry meat cubes or chicken breasts cubes with 1 onion & 1 tbps of veggie oil & I add tomato paste & then I add water or stock. You can add whatever veggies you have in the fridge (I use frozen mixed veggies most of the time) & I serve it with rice. the stew freezes well.

Omar also loves baked cod fish I use Waterose (sp?) or Marks & Spenser fish fillet. He also likes chopped zucchinni, spinach or potatoes cooked with minced meat. If she likes eggs you can prepare omlettes with veggies & use olive oil instead of butter.

Soups like minestrone & lentil soup are dairy free. As for snacks Omar like homemade tortilla chips, baked fries, popcorns, & unsalted mixed nuts.

Most of our dishes are dairy free. Omar also likes weetabix mixed with fruits smoothie (I blend whatever fresh & frozen fruits we have), you can use some soy milk & disguise it's taste with the smoothie.

Hi Charlie, we have always been dairy free but it is something that is stressful at first but you find ways round it. My daughter loves the Alpro vanilla desserts that are just like custard and I think they taste good too! I also don't think the yoghurts are too bad but a little sweet to cover the taste.

As long as she is drinking the alpro +1 why don't you try a few different milks out for cooking and cereal, Alpro have just started doing almond milk which tastes nice. Also try Kara coconut milk, oat milk or rice milk (rice milk is not recommended as a main drink but is fine in small amounts). Freezer foods you do have to be careful with but most fish fingers and sausages, like birds eye, are fine, so just check the allergy advice.

Tesco, sainsbury etc do great dairy free chocolate buttons and choc cake in the free from section.

The only thing I have a problem with is cheese, they all taste disgusting!

I would just try and adapt your normal meals but leave out the cheese and use dairy free marg/milk etc. It does get easier! xx