Anyone on a dairy-free, gluten-free diet?
Good morning.
I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic condition that's requiring me to go on a dairy-free and wheat/gluten-free diet (allergic reaction to both, not celiac).
What are some of your go-to foods (store bought and recipes)? (If you suggest food products that you get at the grocery store, please let me know where you're located -- I'm in Canada and I can't always get the same stuff as other places)
How do you handle the grieving associated with a food change like this? I'm really struggling because I really like cheese, milk in my tea, chocolate, ice cream, real sour cream (the non-dairy one I found was disgusting), stopping at a fast food restaurant for a burger, and Friday night pizzas.
Thanks :)
@galfromaway Personally I'm a lactose intollerat and on a weight loss journey. I still have cheese but I have replaced yogurt and milk with oat milk or almond milk and that helps me a lot. There are many products labeled as gluten/lactose-free and you can also search online for inspiration! Thank you very much for sharing!
@galfromaway sorry to hear of your condition. I have a couple of questions though. Is it just wheat gluten that you are allergic to or all gluten, as gluten is also present in rye, and barley, and oats have a gluten-mimicking protein Avenin.
Secondly the enzyme that digests dairy ( lasctose) is called lactase and is produced on the tip of the villi which are targeted and damaged by the allergic reaction to glutens found in coeliac disease.
The reason I point these out is because they are often misunderstood or overlooked so you may need to clarify the information given to you, and also verify mine before taking any steps to limit your diet further.
Simple foods are best but ALWAYS check the ingredients. Even meat should be simple straightforwards and only one ingredient but often emulsifiers and sweeteners and fillers are added which could contain dairy or glutens. Steak and chips, plain beef or pork steak and chips made from sunflower oil salt and potatoes. Salad - all should be gluten free but not sprouting seeds as it seems 'wheatgrass' is a popular sprout , seed and juice.
Don't try and substitute at first as you will only be disappointed. Instead try new things, snacks can be hard though.
Good luck and don't be tempted, find something you can keep at hand and then don't stray.
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic thanks for your questions.
I've been told to stay away from wheat, but I may try barley. I can do oats as I haven't seen a reaction to that. (I put oat milk in my tea, for example). And can eat most gluten free products (as long as they have no dairy) although some stuff has a texture that causes a mild blockage in my esophagus.
And I was told to steer clear of all dairy. The disease I have isn't celiac disease -- it's something called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. So white blood cells collect in parts of my esophagus and cause inflammation, and the usual triggers are dairy and wheat. I'm on a medication for the inflammation, but also have to stay away from those two triggers (and I'm mindful of other triggers like soy and eggs).
Snacks are tough for sure but I'm looking at different recipes and ideas. And I've found a good butter substitute that tastes like butter, so that makes me happy.
I hope that clarifies. <3
In the same boat.
For grieving have tried a 'writing through the grief' workshop which was nice - was about stream of thought writing, being compassionate to the self, stuff like that.
Daily Om has a lot of courses on this kind of thing that might help - haha I have like ten I'm working through.
They're on a sliding scale and refundable no questions asked for a month.
Am trying to find the will to be more creative - sing and play guitar every day, be consistent in my creativity...even if it's just making the bed a new way or something.
Also have been listening to guided meditations.
I like the ones on letting go or acceptance or anger release or gut healing.
Morning and evening seem to work best for meditations because they kind of anchor the day and night.
Am also trying to grow my own food and make elaborate meals and enjoy the process.
I rush through everything these days onto the next thing instead of enjoying what comes, so I am taking a five day joy yoga challenge.
Also use the Finch app.
@galfromaway
@Dallady thank you. Those are great suggestions. I haven't been letting myself be creative like I usually am, or letting myself really feel the anger, frustration and sadness that goes along with this lifestyle choice.
I have the intention to make my own meals and explore food differently, but the grief seeps in and holds me back. But I need to move past that.
What's the Finch app?
Hello !
im sorry you have to live with that condition but I’m happy your diagnosed 💙 I have had coeliac disease for 5 years, their are a lot of groups on *** ! About having serve intolerances and autoimmune conditions, I found those helpful, most food shops have an allergy isle, where re-packaged foods can be found with the free from labels on the products !, are you familiar with the labels on the products ? If not some products have symbols/ written words if they are gluten, dairy etc free somewhere on their packaging, I’m not Canadian but here is a helpful website I found on Canadian allergies in associate with food. https://foodallergycanada.ca/
I hope everything goes well 💙💙 best of luck
-Azalea
@LightAzalea thank you <3 I've reached out to Food Allergy Canada but they don't have a lot of specific resources. Just general food allergy info, which doesn't entirely go along with my disorder (Eosinophilic Esophagitis). I've been looking at the speciality food aisles, and have found some good foods there. And I've found some EoE communities on other sites as well.
Just have to get my head out of my butt and move more toward accepting this.
- Did snortle about head in butt
- have mine in mine as well
- ear infection forcing me to eat dairy free when there's premium ice cream in my freezer 😭
- found vegan and gluten-free snacks today though
- @galfromaway
@galfromaway
I dont know if its a diet...But I've been lactoce intallarent for 4-5 years now, so i cant eat dairy at all.
@galfromaway
Since I am lactoce intallaent....Ive been doing the subsatutes for dairy... for 4-5 years
There is a ranch dressing its Hidden Valley brand, and its Plant powered...It taste the exact same!
I love this yogurt brand, thats also dairy free...its called "So Delicious...its coconut Milk, and its amazing, there are varities of flavors, it amazing...
Cheese is always hard to find... because most dairy free cheeses are grainy, and gross...But there are a few that are amazing...One of them is the same as the yogert, its the "So Delicious" brand..Theres another one that is good on pizza, pasta, and that melts nicely...is the brand called ViaLife, it is super good, and the techture is great....the last one is decent...not my favorite, but the brand is called Daiya, there are cheese options, and they also make frozen pizzas, that arnt so bad...
For ice cream...I get the "So delicious"Brand... its cocnut milk, they have so many options, and its amazing... theres another one thats called Cado...its decent....
For butter...i get the one called Earth Balance Original... i love it...they have one that is made with olive oil, i dont like it only because of the strong taste of it...
But I hope these were a little helpful!
@Rebekahplshelp that's a big help. Thank you <3
@galfromaway
Yes! I am dairy free and gluten free. It was really hard to get settled into that diet at first because I was missing so many of my favorite things, and going out to eat was an absolute nightmare.
But, I have been DF and GF for ... close to 10 years now? It gets much easier!
Basically, I knew I was doing this with my best health interests in mind. I desperately wanted to take care of my body in the best way I could. And (long story short) going DF and GF was in my best interest. I enjoy the things I eat and enjoy cooking for myself. Going out to eat is still a nightmare, as is trying to explain to certain other people who insist "oh, there's just a little bit of gluten in this recipe..." or who just don't have a clue, "Can you eat grapes? Do grapes have gluten?" Or who think I can just take out the crutons from the salad and everything's gonna be okay.
Anyway, it's defintely an adjustment, but if that's what your body needs, you know you're doing it for yourself.
I don't even bother with GF bread from the store. I eat rice, GF pasta, potatoes, and quinoa if I want something starchy. I eat lots of fruits and veggies. Soups, stirfries (use tamari instead of soy sauce), mexican/southwestern style foods are great (just omit the cheese, I find I don't even miss the cheese).
Good luck and enjoy finding new foods to love!