I have always wanted a red headed little boy. So imagine my joy when he came out with red hair! But one thing I did not think of, was that red heads are sensitive to so many things. I'm suppose to be on a no dairy diet to help with little man's belly problems, to help avoid tummy aches. But trying to go without dairy is like trying to live with out air ;)( Bryan Regan skit) So I'll have to remember next time, be careful what you wish for. Does anyone have any suggestions? Because this is so hard! Everything I make regularly has milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, or some other dairy product.
Dear Katy,
ReplyDeleteHello. I'm just catching up on Blogs and noticed a couple of your entries. I have been on and off dairy for around 20 years now and can offer some suggestions. :)
Sharp cheeses have been aged and are often kinder on the belly because in the aging, the lactose and other enzymes are used up by the cheese and disappear. (Cracker Barrel has some good varieties, Tillamonk--get stronger than or medium cheddar). Also, you can use less cheese (thus less fat and calories) for great flavor in recipes! I have to avoid soft cheeses like cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. You might try a health food store as they offer alternatives (and some do not taste as "healthy" as you might expect--if you know what I mean.) I also sub in Greek Yogurt for sour cream (like in enchiladas and picky husband doesn't seem to mind). I make my own white sauces and use either water, rice, soy, or almond milk (unsweetened) as thickeners and they turn out quite well. You can also make (and it is fun) your own "yogurt cheese" (think cream cheese from greek yogurt or Keffir by removing the whey in a cheese cloth. This is creamy and can be beaten with sugar or used in savory dishes like cream cheese and is sometimes tolerated by little tummies. There are many tutorials online that show you how to make this. You can save the whey and soak steel cut oats or put it in oatmeal and it ups the nutrition (with a sweetner like honey). Also, I took to Dove Dark chocolate (try the raspberry and dark squares--if you are new to "dark") when milk had to be cut from my diet. Google Dove and you will find that it is not as bitter, gives more energy, and has a very high level of anti-oxidents in their chocolate (as compared to others like Ghiradelli and Hershey's Special Dark--which I cannot tolerate). You may wish to keep a food journal and see if you can track down whatever is causing your baby's tummy upset. It is true that many fair haired babies struggle with dairy and have eczema and other signs of this. If you are prayerful and open minded--it doesn't seem the torture it can be! (My fav food prior to 1990 where pizza and cheese cake!) Sub IN healthy yummy foods like pomegranate seeds (cheaper this time of year)so you don't feel deprived and try new recipes so that your family does not have to alter family favorites with milk alternatives (like chicken taco soup--no milk except a little sharp cheese on top, BBQ chicken over rice, crock pot meals without dairy, soups and stews with alternate milks to thicken, etc. Hope this helps and good luck! :)