Need Soy and Dairy Free Ideas

I'm lactose intolerant and use rice milk in everything that calls for milk.

I've done an elimination diet twice. Both times I started with rice and lamb for 1-2 weeks. Sorry I can't remember how long. Probably because I got such a terrific headache both times that I quit. The idea from there was to add one new food/week and keep a diary of my body's reaction.

I started with rice/lamb because rice is rarely an allergen and lamb because I hadn't eaten very much of it. My doctor preferred that I start only with rice but my system does not do well without some protein.

I saw on another post a woman who was an over-producer of milk and it turned out she over-produced the lactose portion of her milk. I would recommend maybe also seeing a lactation specialist- I've noticed many pediatricians aren't quite up to snuff on all of the breastfeeding information a woman may need. Maybe check for a local LLLI. www.lalecheleagueinternational.org

I use a lot of coconut milk. I love it.

Best luck!

Hi L.,

I write a food blog with a dietitian, and all of our recipes are soy and dairy free. The web address is www.welcomingkitchen.blogspot.com. I hope it helps!

K.

I second the rice milk. I drink it all the time and it's yummy!

I've been soy, dairy, bread, and sugar free for 1.5 years a few years back. It's not easy, but it's better than being sick and/or having a sick child. I encourage you to keep working on it. Being soy and dairy free may not happen right away, because of the big shift. I myself haven't had dairy for about 11 years now, and just had to cut out soy because it was giving me hot flashes. Also, I read ingredients before I buy anything because my daughter is celiac and cannot have ANY wheat at all.

Eat more fruits and veggies, and rely on meats and beans (but not soy). That's what I do. It opens up a whole new world of healthy eating and can actually benefit you more in the long run. A lot of dairy has BST - a growth hormone in it, and lots of antibiotics - not good for baby. Almost ALL soy grown in the United States is Genetically Modified so it's best to avoid that as well. GMO products are really detrimental to children.

There is a whole wealth of information out there on how to avoid allergies and eat health that I never thought of until I became sick. Check out http://www.mercola.com/ for more information. This doctor colloborates with all kinds of high-level experts in the health field, so his information is reliable. You should also check out what he has to say about immunizations.

Wow, what great answers so far.

I just want to start out by saying I don't have this issue, though both of my babies react/ed if I eat soy so I don't. and I take kind of minimal dairy, just some milk in my tea, kefir, and a bit of cheese here and there.

My suggestion, if you want a general approach, is to look at Asian foods/recipes, just skip the tofu if it's in there and use fish or chicken or something. I talked with a public health risk analyst and he said not to worry too much about eating fish (I don't eat other meat), that the known benefits outweigh the possible risks. I know that goes against conventional advice, but it's what I've decided to do.

Like someone else suggested, coconut milk is great and it's good for lactation, and the fats are good for baby. You can use it as a base in curries that go over rice, or I make my rice with coconut milk instead of rice.

I make smoothies in the morning for breakfast with oat milk, almond milk, and Trader Joe's has a new multi-grain milk ( I put bunches of other stuff, but those are the base).

BEST WISHES! I hope baby's symptoms clear up soon!

I am also dairy and soy free while breastfeeding and vegetarian. I eat a ton of Field Roast brand veggie sausages and slices that are made from vital wheat gluten instead of soy. Other ideas:
Oat milk (Pacific foods brand) is my fav milk alternative for cereal and cooking. Hemp milk is also ok but nutty tasting. People love almond milk but I am allergic.
Hummus sandwiches or wraps
"chicken" salad made of crushed chickpeas
Tons of pasta
Tons of beans
Quinoa and other grains (amaranth, bulger) for cold summer salads or hot pilafs -- make tabbuloeh with mint, parsley and lemon/olive oil dressing, mushroom pilaf, or a cilantro/black bean/lime salad. In a rush, just add italian salad dressing and kidney beans out of a can.
For eating out, mexican is a good bet, get bean and veggie tacos or burritos without the cheese and sour cream.
Avocados are a good source of healthy fats. Sprinkle with a little salt and eat, mash for guac, slice and add to salad or sandwiches or add to smoothies
Smoothies with frozen fruit, coconut milk and rice protein powder (from whole foods). There are also some soy-free protein powders made from pea protein
Pizza without cheese and tons of veggies
Earth Balance has a "butter" spread that is dairy and soy free
For breakfast: steel cut oatmeal with brown sugar or dried cranberries, or roasted potatos and veggies, or english muffin/toast with apple or pumpkin butter

Good luck!

I am also on a dairy free diet. I use rice milk for drinking and cooking. There are several other dairy free milks out there, too, just find the one that you like. For butter, I substitute margarine - there are several dairy free options - just read the labels. I prefer Smart Balance Organic for cooking and eating. For sour cream, IMO is a fairly good substitute, and cool whip is dairy free. With summer here, try the coconut milk based ice creams. Purely Decadent and Coconut Bliss are yummy. There are coconut milk yogurts, too. All of these can be found at Fred Meyer in the organic section. Focus on what you can eat and read labels. Once you get your favorite substitutions in place, it's not so bad as it seems. You might even find some new favorite foods!