How can I safely figure out which gluten free foods upset my GI tract when people react to so many different foods?

[elle's mom 0]

Recently I tackled gluten-free-not THAT big of a deal with all the great products out there. Now I am trying to do dairy free also, and am having a terrible time. I keep accidentally consuming it-my poor little 3 month old DD is dairy sensitive and I'm nursing her and she lets me know-then I feel so bad!! So, if anyone has suggestions for good substitutes (include brand names & where you get them please)... I need butter, ice cream, & cheese! I'm not a big yogurt eater.

So far I like the soy milk with my honey nut chex & the Enjoy Life chocolate chips!

[Mother of Jibril 5]

I was in the same boat as you... my breastfed son had TERRIBLE reactions to dairy products. And I grew up in Wisconsin. How can a cheesehead give up cheese? Anyway, here are some pointers:

- Hummus makes a good dip and "creamy" filling for sandwiches

- Coconut milk is a great substitute for dairy in smoothies... the most satisfying alternative to ice cream that I've had since I went dairy-free

- Tofutti sour cream is pretty good (and casein-free) if you're really craving dairy

- Soy yogurt mixed with fruit, honey, and sliced almonds is so good I don't miss the "real" stuff

- Out of all the alternative milks, almond is my favorite... chocolate soy milk is yummy too

- Fruits and vegetables make great snacks... it pays to explore

- IMO, it's much easier (and tastier) to find new favorites than to substitute... my current favorites are bananas, cherries, hard boiled eggs, and pre-packaged Indian sauces with rice... all of these are very easy for lunch on the go

- If you really need a substitute for butter you could explore some of the margerines (I haven't) or use coconut oil... it works surprisingly well because it's a solid at room temperature. There's also Earth Balance (a vegan butter), but personally I think it has an odd taste.

- Being a cheese snob, I haven't explored the alternative cheeses... plus a lot of them have some kind of dairy and/or corn by-product (grrrr)

There are sooooo many good things to eat that are Gluten-free Casein-free. You just need to get creative and explore the grocery store a little more

[AMQmom 0]

I enjoy the Good Karma rice milks and ice creams - my daughter is VERY sensitive and she does not react to this brand. If you can have soy, the Key Lime ice cream ("Rice" cream is a MUST!!!) They can be purchased at Whole Foods (best flavor variety) and Kroger near us.

[g1gg1e 0]

I need butter, ice cream, & cheese

Earth Balance is dairy and gluten free also tastes great.

Ice cream - so delicious all of theirs are diary free and mostly gluten free...just read the label really well I think they are all gluten free ingredients.

Cheese - that is a hard one...we "like toffuti brand cheese , sour cream and cream cheese...though its not like the real thing...not sure about gluten free so again read the label...all other brands taste like feet and not in the good blue cheese sort of way

[missy'smom 79]

Turtle Mountain icecreams are yummy!

Vegan Gourmet cheese works well.

Drained crumbled tofu can be substituted for ricotta in lasagne filling. Then use the Vegan Gourmet cheese on top.

[Pattymom 0]

Been there, I like Earth Balance for butter, we use soy milk for smoothies-Silk, chocolate is great. I use rice milk for cooking-West Soy plain. Soy milk seems to stop baked goods from browning right, weird looking pancakes, so we use rice milk in stuff that needs to brown. Also coconut milk is yummy in baked goods and smoothies.

Ice Cream we like Simply Decadent--turtle flavor is so yummy. Yogurt we like So Delicious, they also make good cie cream. I haven't found a cheese that is worth the extra money yet. Alas, that is what I missed the most when I was nursing DD. She is 5,so I can have cheese again, though she still can't. We also eat a lot of sorbet-yummy. Frozen peaches or bananas in the food procesor, yummy frozen treats.

We have a super potato soup recipe from a friend that uses purreed cashews-so cream

As much as I missed cheese, I am so glad I was able to do what I did for my baby. Especially now, hearing about how sick some kids were I, I know made her early years safe and healthy. good Job Mom!

Patty