What to Feed My 15 Month Old with Possible Milk Allergy...

Avocado and flax meal are great for fatty acids! Tofu is also wonderful for protein and calcium you can get from all sorts of leafy greens as well. Good luck! We never had an out-right allergy here. Just an intolerance.

I drink rice milk. It contains calcium and vitamins c and d. There is also rice ice cream. Sorbet also is made without milk. When I was on a rice only diet I found a rice pudding at Fred Meyers. Very delicious but very, very sweet. You can use rice milk in place of cows milk for cooking and baking.

I had the same issue w/my daughter when she was little, however it was not an allergy it was a sensitivity (as I've seen others mention). I nursed til she was 2, and gave her rice milk, goats milk and goat cheese (there are lot's of varieties & Trader Joes has good deals). She still only drinks rice-milk, or has it on cereal, I even cook w/it, but she has grown out of her sensitivity to dairy. She now eats regular cheese, yogurt and butter with no problem. I think their little bodies just aren't prepared to be bombarded by all the dairy we're taught to give them.

My 17 month old has a milk sensitivity so we have to watch his intake. I give him a sippy cup of rice milk every morning to cover calcium and Vitamin D. Otherwise, he loves turkey meatloaf (or meat balls), ravioli filled with meat instead of cheese, fish sticks (Trader Joe's has some lower fat ones that are quite healthy), and bread with hummus. All of which have fat in them. Snacks like fresh and dried fruit, Pirate's Booty, rice cakes, and whole wheat crackers are all healthy and don't have any dairy...

soy is not always tolerated well by babies. RIce milk is great, try to get "unsweetened", lots of the milk subs add sweeteners that she doesn't need. Trader joes has good deals on these. All are ususally fortfies, so no need to worry, but there are other ways to get her enough fat, I like to give my son coconut milk or olive oil & add it to his food. Also avocados. But make sure she gets tested by a naturopath. Your child could be "sensitve" to milk but not show up as an "allergy". Since you've taken her off milk for awhile, watch to see if what wasbothering her goes away & there you have it. If the allergist still tells you that she doesn't have an allergy but se seems healthier, she probably has a sensitivity which stil means you should probably keep her off it. My son has the same problem. Allergy tests showed he did n't have an allergy, but once I took him off it, his skin problems went away. Good luck.

If she is tested for food allergies while you are not giving her milk, it won't show as an allergy, because the allergens and the antibodies against them won't be present.

Any chance you could still breastfeed? In the old days, they breast fed up to 3 years!

After the child is weaned, milk is not really necessary. I suggest get a good calcium supplement, and don't worry about the milk. It's really not as good for you as some people say. Asian cultures don't use milk, and they are healthy.

I can't have dairy either, but I found that it really doesn't matter. I take a good calcium supplement. For children it's the same. For recipes that call for milk, you can use soy, rice or almond milk. For butter, you can use margarine. There are so many options. There is also soy cheese, but it's disgusting.

If nuts are not a problem (ie, no history of nut allergies in the family), you could always make nut milk. It's really easy. Just soak nuts (ratio 1:3 nuts to water) in a bit of water, then blend with about half the water (to get a finer blend) for about 2 minutes, then add the rest of the water, a bit of sweetener (I use honey, but anything will work), salt (probably 1/8 - 1/4 tsp), and a 1/2 tsp of vanilla if you want. Strain it through a cloth (get some cheap remnant of 100% cotton, like muslin, at the fabric store; I have several squares cut maybe 15" x 15" and wash them after each use), and serve. This milk goes bad very fast, so it needs to be drunk within an hour. If you cook it (probably boil it for a couple of minutes), it will last a few days in the fridge. Nuts are a good source of milk. I usually use 1/2 almonds and half whatever other nuts I feel like. Walnuts are high in Omega 3 oils. Cashews are full of good fats, too. This will go well on cereal.

We have no history of nut allergies in our family, so we use nut milk frequently. But if anyone in your family has an allergy to nuts, you might want to test her on a little bit to make sure she isn't (unless you already know one way or the other). If she's fine, nuts are a good source of healthy fat.

Oh, you could also use very small amounts of coconut oil. It's got very good fats and also helps work as a mild laxative (which is why you shouldn't use lots of it!). We use it in cooking because it doesn't alter at normal cooking temperatures.

I am also allergic to dairy and I use rice and coconut milk. Trader Joes has a canned coconut milk that doesn't have preservatives. I add a little salt to it and it tastes almost like milk, and it high in good fat. Since I have a food allergy I tend to feed my daughter like I eat myself. My daughter and I also love to munch on fresh coconut. I use coconut oil in place of butter, and if you can, avoid soy products. Soy is high in estrogen and also the largest genetically modified crop, so unless it says organic, it is probably GM. My daughter likes soft cereals like oatmeal and rice cereal with coconut oil and raisons and a little bit of syrup to sweeten it slightly. Keep trying the veggies, they are rich in calcium in fact you get much more from them from milk. Nuts are a great snack my daughter loves.

Believe it or not you are ALOT better avoiding pre packaged foods anyhow, despite the hidden milk sources in them. My advice it to make everything from scratch. You will all be healthier for it anyhow. It is a little more work eat like this, but she is far healthier for it.

Pasteurized milk is more of an allergen than a nutritional food. It is lucky you discovered it now for her. I am now a type one diabetic albeit recovered because I discovered that a wheat and dairy allergy is what caused it. In fact I found out that it is the leading cause of type one diabetes because when you eat something you are allergic to it attacks your pancreatic cells first. So by raising her with the correct diet for her, you are saving her from a much worse fate. As long as I avoid wheat and dairy, my pancreas works, but I still eat only meat and vegetables like all diabetics should, just in case. You may consider having her tested for gluten as well as for dairy, they are the two most common and often go together. I just use rice products when I have to, and coconut products in place of dairy. Good luck and good health to you.

My 15 month old does not have any allergies, but one of his favorite things ever is what I call "Rowan's Ultimate Bean Cakes". Basically, I take a cup of dried beans (cranberry beans are great), soak, cook and drain them. I put two handfuls of walnuts in a food processor and process them. Then I start adding veggies. I'll add whatever I have on hand, but generally I always add about 2 cups of carrots, 1 bell pepper (usually red), 1 small zucchini, yellow squash, 1/2 or 1/4 onion, sometimes a clove of garlic, 2 handfuls dried julienned sun-dried tomatoes (dried - not reconstituted), either fresh crimini mushrooms or a cup of dried reconstituted wild mushrooms, greens (about 2 quart size bags of baby spinach or kale or whatever you have on hand), and about 2 tsps of flaxseed oil.

Lately, I've been using the leftover grilled veggies I've made from the night before. I've also added sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli...honestly, whatever I have on hand. It never seems to matter what combination of veggies I use, he always seems to love them. Also, I don't cook any of the veggies before doing this, unless I'm using leftover grilled items. I process all of that into a paste and then start adding the cooked, drained beans. The mixture will become very thick.

Preheat the oven to 350, spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil, and use a TBSP cookie scoop to drop balls of the batter on to the sheet. They will not spread, so you can put them close together. I cook them for 10 minutes, flatten them, turn them over and put them back in the oven for 10 minutes.

These make little flat cakes that are perfect for baby hands. They freeze very well and you can also just keep the batter in the fridge and make a batch in the morning. My son eats them cold or warm from the oven. It sounds like a lot of work, but really isn't.

My son can't get enough of them and I feel as if he's getting a powerhouse of nutrition in each bite. I like to snack on them, as well.

We also eats a great deal of hummus, on just about everything.

Two great sources of fats that your daughter really will do well with are cod liver oil (Carlsson's makes one with a "great lemon flavor" that my daughter takes quite easily) and coconut oil. I add the coconut oil to our oatmeal, and it's quite delicious. Also, your daughter may be able to tolerate butter, which doesn't actually have that much proteins or lactose in it, even if she does have a dairy allergy.
For more ideas, check out www.westonaprice.org.

It is challenging.. my kids have the same milk/dairy restriction, plus eggs, plus all forms/amounts of corn, one is allergic to bananas and one tomatoes.

It took awhile, but I gradually found recipes that I could make from scratch without any dairy. The most helpful cookbooks were ones that "mom" organizations had created from their members. (I had one from MOPS and one from WIC.)

Also helpful are vegan recipes as they do not contain anything from dairy (and I'd add meat to them... LOL).

There are a couple brands of bread out there. I like to go to Fred Meyer (aka Krogers in some states). They actually have a bread that my kids can eat that is less than $2 per loaf. You have to read every label to figure out what your daughter can/cannot eat. If you start making a "good items" list with brand names, it will help. Surprisingly, two brands of the same "item" may have totally different ingredients and your child may be able to eat one but not the other.

BTW, I've learned that most "soy cheeses" and "margarine" contain dairy. For margarine, we use "smart balance". Most of the Smart balances have dairy, but there is one that is labeled vegan. That one has no dairy. Look for a vegan soy cheese too. Those are usually the hardest to melt, but will at least give you an alternative. Usually we pre-melt it on the stove before adding it to a recipe. Soy milk will help your daughter get enough calcium and many other nutrients, sometimes more than milk contains. She will be fine for a bit until you can see your doctor - and then bring up the nutrition issues like fat content. It sounds like you do pretty good in the nutrition area already and the soy products will take care of most of the nutrition she'd otherwise get from milk, but I don't know about the fat content issue.

Fred Meyers is a good source for "alternative" foods, you may have a co-op nearby that has good foods, trader joes is good to look at. Once you find a brand that works for you (for non-perishables) check for it on amazon.com. Sometimes you can find these foods in bulk online and get it cheaper.

I have a recipe for bread and cinnamon rolls that have no dairy. They aren't quite the same, but they are good.. if you would like it send me a message and I'll forward them to you, rather than post them here and make my long message longer. LOL

Jenn

Hi,

I feel for you. I once had to cut all diary out of my own diet while I was breast feeding. Its hard! BTW the is a difference betwee lactose intollerance and a true allergy. If she is allergy to the protein part of the milk - casein then it gets complicated. Talk to your doc about it. Try some of the soy and rice products. And if you can afford it, goat milk and cheese is awesome! I noticed that you give her girl peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. From what I understand we should avoid nuts expecially peanuts and cashwes the first three years of life. You might want to look into that. A peanut allergy is much worse then a milk allergy. Good luck! S.

Hi B.,

I have a son with a life threatening peanut allergy and a minor egg allergy. I understand how overwhelming it can be, especially at first to make sure foods are safe.

I'd like to suggest a group called Washington FEAST (Food Allergy, Eczema, Asthma Support Team) at http://www.wafeast.org/. They have been absolutely invaluable to me navigating food allergy. Your question is a perfect one to post there. There are many milk allergic families who could share their ideas.

Recently I've done a food sensitivity test and had to cut dairy. There are many alternatives. There are many products now made with soy, including milk, ice cream, cheeses, tofu, yogurt, etc. I did a lot of goat's and sheep milk cheeses and yogurt. Rice milk. Food allergies require a lot more home cooking and a lot less processed foods. There are a lot of "whole" foods without milk. Various beans, veggies, fruits, meat, grains.

Food allergies can be complex. If you get that diagnosis, definitely search out groups like FEAST (mentioned above), FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network - www.foodallergy.org), Allergy Moms (www.allergymoms.com), Eating with Food Allergies (www.eatingwithfoodallergies.com), Kids with Food Allergies (www.kidswithfoodallergies.org).

Good luck! Food allergies are daunting at first, but you will learn to manage it.

C.

When my son was about 3 months old he began showing signs of a milk sensitivity. He was exclusively breastfed, so that meant I was the one who had to stay off dairy. I found a great list of dairy ingredients that hide in prepared foods. You're right, it is in everything! http://www.godairyfree.org/Food-to-Eat/Food-Label-Info/Da...

I ate a lot of hummus and veges. The avocado suggestion is a great one! Once my son began eating solid foods he also ate a lot of hummus with bread or crackers. Dark greens and tofu are a great source of calcium, as well as rice milk. But if she does in fact have a dairy allergy I'm sure her allergist will be able to get you both on a good path to eating dairy free.

You can also check out wholesomebabyfoods.com. There are some great food ideas there!

I wouldn't worry about too much estrogen in soymilk (or soy formula) as long as your daughter is drinking less than a gallon a day. Growth hormones are a more prevalent problem because even small amounts build up in children's bodies over time.

Breads are a big area that you will have a hard time avoiding milk in - milk extends the shelf life of bread. You will need to read labels carefully - watch for whey, lactose, buttermilk, dried milk solids, etc. Most fast food restaurants use buns that contain milk, so be careful if you go out to Burger King and think you can get your daughter a burger to be safe.

Also be wary of sauces and salad dressings, even if they don't look like they have cheese or milk in them. Even some flavors of ramen noodles contain dairy!

Someone suggested hot dogs - they can also be a source of hidden milk. Look for Kosher hot dogs - they are not only all beef, but they don't have added milk.

I agree with eggs as a regular source of well balanced fats. just be sure to vary the way you prepare them so your daughter doesn't get sick of hard boiled eggs.

If your daughter doesn't eat at least a cup of green veggies PER MEAL, she won't get enough calcium that way. Someone suggested salmon - canned salmon with soft bones is an EXCELLENT source of calcium. These days orange juice is also fortified with calcium - but make sure your daughter rinses her mouth with water after drinking OJ or it can erode the enamel on her young teeth.

You'll have to get creative with butter substitutes - lots of margarine brands contain WHEY (a milk product) to make them taste more "buttery". Try Nucoa margarine as an inexpensive alternative. My brother used to spread mashed avocado on his toast in the morning instead of butter. Your daughter might do better with peanut butter (or some other nut butter) on her toast for added protein, but only because she's old enough for you to know she doesn't have a nut allergy.

You might try to find a bread that has sunflower seeds, or offer seeds separately as a snack as a way to boost fat intake (and the seeds are less of a likely allergen than nuts).

avacados are an incredible source of healthy fat. My daughter didn't want them at first, but after a few tries (getting over the green), she now loves them.

I also thought you might ask your doctor about supplementing with cod liver oil. There are lemon and orange flavored oils that will give your daughter an amazing source of super healthy fat that is excellent for her growing brain and body.

Have you tried salmon? My daughter loved it really early, but I don't remember the age recommendations for fish. I do think salmon is safe, but you could look it up. Also perhaps peanut butter on dairy free crackers (more often than just a sandwich). We really love the Kashi crackers, which have a lot more nutritional punch than the standard cracker choices.

I think the eggs are an excellent idea. I think most kids really love scrambled eggs. Adding a pinch of sea salt will liven up the flavor a bit and add extra minerals.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

It's tough but do-able I PROMISE. ( my now-38 year old daughter has struggled ( as has her mommy and chef!!!!!) since she was 14 months- and her now-8 year old son has severe milk intolerance.)

So- to keep her ''fat'' intake up ( and you are exactly correct- that's really important - both for her brain development and for her feeling 'full') -- --- increase her meat ''offerings''' -:
you can offer small hamburger patties that you make ahead and freeze with breakfast ;
-- you can buy a good high-quality hot dog like Nathans' and offer slices of that with any meal at all--;
eggs ( with their yoik) are great; also there are excellent margarine and ice cream and even ''yogurt''' versions that are non-dairy.

You can do it - B.- I promise

Blessings,
Old Mom
aka- J.

One guaranteed milk-free food is scrambled egg. We usually add a bunch of veggies and a little tomato soup or salsa and my daughter gobbles it up! Sometimes we make it an omlette, but usually just scrambled. Here's what I put in the most recent one that she's eating over the course of 2 days since it made a TON!

2 eggs
8 baby carrots, chopped
handful of frozen corn
handful of frozen peas
handful of frozen edemame
handful of frozen mushrooms, chopped
large handful of fresh spinach, chopped
teaspoon (or so) of olive oil, so the egg doesn't stick
3 tablespoons salsa
splash of carrot juice
stick of string cheese (leave that out or use soy)

Grand total, the uncooked veggies were about a cereal bowl full. When it was all done, it made about 2.5 cups.

Amy's soups are also really great! They are vegan, so no milk, and are a great source of veggies and protein. Costco carries a combined minestrone/lentil mix. It does have a bit of sodium as all canned soups do, but it doesn't actually taste salty. We just make sure to give water with soup.

My son was diagnosed with food allergies at about the same age as your daughter. I have to read every single food label to make sure that their is no milk or soy. Be VERY CAUTIOUS replacing milk products with soy products as we found out that my son was allergic to soy the hard way. I feed him a variety of meats, fruits and vegetables, crackers, bread, hummus (good source of protein, and my son loves this), natural peanut butter (READ LABELS as most contain milk and or casein which is a milk derivative), and anything else that I can locate that is free of dairy. There is a new yogurt product made from coconut milk and it is very yummy. Depending on what part of the dairy she is allergic to she may be able to eat goat or sheep's milk cheese. Good luck! I got a lot of pamphlets from the doctors office with foods that are dairy free and good nutritious foods for young children. Hope that this has helped you out a little bit.

A friend of mines 18 month old and her nephew the same age are both allergic to milk. I know they can eat crackers, bread and what not, but cant eat anything heavy with milk, like mac n cheese. I guess it depends how sensitive she is. Both the boys are still on formula, just a couple times a day, talk to her Dr, I am sure her specialist will have some ideas too.

One thing that I have done for my daughter who was born one ounce shy of 7 pounds and is 13 months old and only 17.8 pounds, is saute up some high fat ground beef and add some ground pork sausage and a little olive oil. THEN I add tomatoe or spaghetti sauce of some sort. I then blend it in the food processor until the meat is all ground up together. In the meantime, I make noodles (which you can get without wheat or milk in them from Manna Mills or Whole Foods or probably Fred Meyer or PCC or somewhere.) Then I add the noodles into the meat/sauce mixture and put them into a muffin tin that I've sprayed with pam and freeze them. She loves pasta so I just heat one up out of the frozen muffin tin and she has an instant meal with plenty of fat. She LOVES them. Hope that helps. YOu can make any kind of meals and freeze them in a muffin tin. The sillpat kind work really well when the meal is frozen, for just pushing it out and putting them all in a ziplock bag in the freezer.