Apparently the most common cause of baby eczema is a dairy allergy. While you can treat eczema for years using countless creams, as a breastfed infant Ray was completely cured of eczema by me cutting dairy out of my diet. And I’m trying it again with Chase.
Going dairy-free looks different for different people. You can spend a small fortune on alternative milks (almond, coconut, hemp, rice), coconut oil, and soy cheeses. But with rising food prices and a growing family I’m trying really hard not to raise our grocery budget over this.
So for me, I’ll be making super cheap almond milk, using mostly olive oil and some coconut oil sparingly, and tweaking favorite comfort food recipes to be more allergy-free. Last week I was almost giddy when I made an alternative to pizza that was almost as delicious as the real thing. Planning to share it soon.
On the Menu:
Breakfast
- Homemade Yogurt & Fruit (yogurt for Ray, not me of course)
- Soaked Oatmeal Porridge
- Toast & Assorted Spreads
Lunch
- Leftovers
- PB&J/Honey/Raisins (with homemade overnight whole wheat bread and natural peanut butter)
- Salad-For-a-Meal (with veggies, fruit and a little bit of meat), Bread
Dinner
- Whole Grain Waffles & Orange Juice
- Homemade Tomato Soup (dairy-free) & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Homemade Pizza & Dairy-Free Pizza Roll (or whatever I decide to call it)
- Asian Chicken Salad
- Homemade Soup & Bread
- Leftovers
Snacks
- Sliced Pears, Oranges & Apples
- No-Bake Chocolate Energy Bites
- Cheese & Crackers
Prepare
- 2 Loaves Soaked Whole Wheat Bread
- 1-2 Quarts Brainless Homemade Yogurt
- 2-4 Quarts Chicken Stock
- Homemade Almond Milk
- Soak 1 Pound Lentils 24-72 Hours to Cook & Freeze
- Soak & Dry 1 Pound Walnuts (removes bitter taste!)
Last week when the nasty virus hit us upside the head we had an impromptu eat-from-the-freezer week. My freezer’s about half as full as it was before, and I’m excited about eating more fresh fruits and vegetables now, haha. Some of the best deals I found were pears and oranges for $.50/lb.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever gone dairy-free? Got any tips?
Cheers,
P.S. For more menu inspiration, check out Menu Plan Monday!
5 comments
Athena
01/10/2012 at 7:38 AM (UTC -6)
I can’t get over how ADORABLE that picture is.
I’ve never gone dairy-free, but I did see a dish made on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives last night that looked delicious and just might fit the bill. The recipe looks like you could tweak it a little and it would still work. 
It looked delicous! It used homemade onion marmalade! Have you ever heard of onion marmalade!? I now have a great use/idea for all the onions I have from my farm basket. 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sausage-and-smoked-slaw-pizzette-recipe/index.html
Steph
01/10/2012 at 8:49 AM (UTC -6)
Aw thanks! He was just laying there looking all cute and awesome, so out came the camera. I’ve never heard of orange marmalade! Having a hard time even imagining what it would taste like. Thanks for the link!
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
01/10/2012 at 8:04 AM (UTC -6)
Ugh, I know how that goes! At least with Ray, it seems his allergy was relatively short-lived. Hopefully, it will be the same with this one!
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Steph
01/10/2012 at 8:47 AM (UTC -6)
Anne, I’m pretty impressed with how you manage to keep track of all the allergies at your house!
Lori @ Laurel of Leaves
01/10/2012 at 1:51 PM (UTC -6)
My husband and I are mostly dairy free, though butter and raw cheese are fine with us (and we know how good they are for us!) Most people with dairy allergies do fine with raw milk, but sometimes even then it can still present a problem.
We love to use full-fat canned coconut milk because of the healthy saturated fats and protein content. But, like you said, the price can be an issue sometimes. Coconut milk and almond milk are my cow milk substitutes of choice. I make sure to stay away from processed soy milk since it’s most likely genetically modified and it contains phytoestrogens. There are enough hormone disrupting foods and chemicals in my world for me to add another one to the mix!
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