Going Cow Dairy Free

[MomWithOCDSon]

After much reading and consideration, and facing the worst allergy season of memory, we've decided to go cow's milk free in our house. DS LOVES, LOVES, LOVES cheese, so it won't be easy, but we're going to try and allow some goat and sheep's milk cheeses, at least initially and just stay way from anything bovine in that regard. We're hoping it'll help inflammation, gut issues and some of his congestion.

 

Milk is easy; DS drank rice milk his entire young life, and that's fine by him, especially since he really doesn't drink much of it anyway but we use it for cereal, recipes, etc.

 

Anyway, I've seen soy cheeses in the grocery (especially Trader Joe's and Whole Foods), but I have no idea how tasty (or not) any of them may be. We've tried the Stonyfield soy yogurt and found it to have a distinct after-taste that DS truly dislikes, and I don't want to buy a fully package of soy cheese only to run into the same issue.

 

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for brands and/or other cow milk product substitutes their kids like?

 

Thanks much!

[dut]

Hi - we were dairy free for a few years, altho' about 3 years ago now, so I might be a bit outdated but.. watch out for the soy cheese.. most of those you see have casein in them which is usually the allergic part for a lot of folks.. go figure.. could never work out who actually ate those but we couldn't. Perhaps there's some out there that don't but we couldn't find them at the time.

 

We did use Toffutti cream cheese which was about passable, if a little sweet. My dd loves the Toffutti cream cheese but I think it's gross. :-)

 

The trader joe's soy yoghurts aren't bad and you can buy them singly to try them. They have strawberry and peach, I think.

[smartyjones]

sorry to say mom - my son's been dairy-free for about 15 months and we don't really do cheese. i think he knew he was having trouble with dairy b/c once we got the test results back, i realized i had been putting his milk glass back in the refrigerator and then dumping it. go figure - not so smart of a mom, huh?

 

i myself am a bit leery of soy - i used to eat a bit of it but then was having thyroid trouble and do have to say i have some belief in the 'dark side of soy'. so we really didn't try many soy analogs but rather chose to forgo cheese. he does like the ian's frozen pizza that has soy cheese. i used to work at a heathly food store that had tastings and i think all the cheese subs all quite bad tasting. (although that was when i ate the 'real' thing so perspectives change).

 

so delicious is expanding their line of coconut milk products and i think they're quite good although expensive. my son likes the yogurt. i like the kefir but can't get him to have more than a sip. we also make a bread spread from coconut oil, honey and cinnamon that is really good.

 

so we don't really do cheese subs but rather are cheese-less. i do have to say i miss parmesan on dinner meals!

[Joan Pandas Mom]

We just went dairy free about 3 weeks ago too. I had to give it a few tries but I really like "We Can't Say It's Cheese", by Wayfare now. It is a Cheddar Style Spread. I like the Mexi-cheddar too. My son doesn't like it though. I'm going to try again. I have been buying the Glutino pretzels, dairy and wheat free. Let me know if you find anything, it tough!

[CandKRich]

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Edited August 12, 2013 by CandKRich

[MomWithOCDSon]

Mom,

 

We have "tried it all" in regards to dairy/casein free cheeses.... and the best, BY FAR, is Daiya!!! It is really good and it's soy free as well. It tastes (and melts) great!!! My local Earth Fare market just started carrying it. Before that, I was mail ordering it online from Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe. Most Whole Foods also carry it. I know that several restaurants have started using it, and Amy's frozen meals have started using Daiya for their mac & cheese meal. It comes in two kinds: Italian, and Cheddar. My son had not had pizza and grilled cheese in a LONG time.... and he is back in "kid food" heaven!!!

 

- Karen

Awesome! Thanks so much! I'm off to Whole Foods tomorrow to hunt it down!

[MomWithOCDSon]

For anyone else's family who just can't live without cheese, I found this on-line just now. Obviously, I'd be interested in whether or not anyone else has tried this, but I think I'm going to give it a shot, given this glowing recommendation:

 

Dr. Cow’s cheesemakers are turning out cultured, tree-nut ‘cheeses’ using the same techniques used to make natural milk-based cheeses. Since it’s the culturing that contributes so much of the flavor and texture to natural cheese, Dr. Cow’s variety of cheeses are an attempt to create a vegan cheese with an appearance, texture and flavor that make them respectable–and possibly delicious– substitutes for dairy cheeses. I visited the company’s website and was compelled enough by the flattering photos of their incredibly cheeselike products to run out and drop $6.99 for a teensy 2.5oz puck of the Aged Cashew and $8.99 for the Aged Cashew & Brazil Nut variety. Like fine aged cheeses, each came wrapped adorably in wax paper. My expectations were high. Now I’ll admit that when I opened up the first one, it was more of a putty color than the online photos suggested; and when we sliced into it, my husband remarked that it looked like a cross between a plastic explosive and Halvah. But when we placed some on a cracker and tasted it, it felt and tasted like a real, bona-fide natural cheese. Tang? Check. Salt? Check. Creaminess? Check. We each had several pieces of both varieties–very much on our own volition–and declared them to be worthy of the next vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, locavore wine-and-cheese party we throw.

[Johnsmom]

I 2nd that on the Daiya! Its awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Mom,

 

We have "tried it all" in regards to dairy/casein free cheeses.... and the best, BY FAR, is Daiya!!! It is really good and it's soy free as well. It tastes (and melts) great!!! My local Earth Fare market just started carrying it. Before that, I was mail ordering it online from Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe. Most Whole Foods also carry it. I know that several restaurants have started using it, and Amy's frozen meals have started using Daiya for their mac & cheese meal. It comes in two kinds: Italian, and Cheddar. My son had not had pizza and grilled cheese in a LONG time.... and he is back in "kid food" heaven!!!

 

- Karen

 

 

 

After much reading and consideration, and facing the worst allergy season of memory, we've decided to go cow's milk free in our house. DS LOVES, LOVES, LOVES cheese, so it won't be easy, but we're going to try and allow some goat and sheep's milk cheeses, at least initially and just stay way from anything bovine in that regard. We're hoping it'll help inflammation, gut issues and some of his congestion.

 

Milk is easy; DS drank rice milk his entire young life, and that's fine by him, especially since he really doesn't drink much of it anyway but we use it for cereal, recipes, etc.

 

Anyway, I've seen soy cheeses in the grocery (especially Trader Joe's and Whole Foods), but I have no idea how tasty (or not) any of them may be. We've tried the Stonyfield soy yogurt and found it to have a distinct after-taste that DS truly dislikes, and I don't want to buy a fully package of soy cheese only to run into the same issue.

 

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for brands and/or other cow milk product substitutes their kids like?

 

Thanks much!

[Suzan]

My kids liked the Toffuti cheese slices for grilled cheese sandwiches when we were dairy free. The SoySations shreaded soy cheese. DD7 liked sprinkled on her eggs. I don't care for goats cheese but if it's all I could have, I'd say it's better than the soy cheeses in general and I'd probably get used to it but I don't have any good suggestions on the brands.

 

Good luck, I think we'd benefit by doing dairy free again but while doing gluren free it's hard to do both.

 

Susan

[dcmom]

I have been a vegan for the last year or so (lately slipping back into vegetarianism with just not enough time to cook).

 

I am not a big cheese eater, and don't really like the "substitute foods". You have to watch, many of them DO contain animal or dairy ingredients and/or carageenan (which itself is a no no for intenstinal inflammation). I haven't found a substitute cheese "worth" eating.

 

I do LOVE so delicious chocolate covered coconut milk ice cream bars, though!

 

You CAN find lots of great vegan recipes today, though- and being near a whole foods is essential.

 

Keep us posted on how this goes- it HAS to be hard for kids!

[tpotter]

I'm a bit hesitant about soy, only because there can be problems from it (hormonal, and such.) Personally, I really like rice milk (I'm lactose intolerant) when I drink it. There are cheeses made from rice milk, also. Good luck with this. He will get used to it (my kids did, until my older son decided he didn't want to anymore...and of course there's no way to "police" a 15-year old, so I pick my battles.)

[bravo]

After much reading and consideration, and facing the worst allergy season of memory, we've decided to go cow's milk free in our house. DS LOVES, LOVES, LOVES cheese, so it won't be easy, but we're going to try and allow some goat and sheep's milk cheeses, at least initially and just stay way from anything bovine in that regard. We're hoping it'll help inflammation, gut issues and some of his congestion.

 

Milk is easy; DS drank rice milk his entire young life, and that's fine by him, especially since he really doesn't drink much of it anyway but we use it for cereal, recipes, etc.

 

Anyway, I've seen soy cheeses in the grocery (especially Trader Joe's and Whole Foods), but I have no idea how tasty (or not) any of them may be. We've tried the Stonyfield soy yogurt and found it to have a distinct after-taste that DS truly dislikes, and I don't want to buy a fully package of soy cheese only to run into the same issue.

 

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for brands and/or other cow milk product substitutes their kids like?

 

Thanks much!

[MomWithOCDSon]

Thanks to those of you with the Daiya recommendation! I picked some up this morning at Whole Paycheck, made DS a grilled cheese for lunch with it, and he LOVED it! I agree the taste is great, even if the unmelted texture and look is a little odd. What a great find!

 

Thanks again!

[peglem]

Whole Paycheck

HeeHeeHee!

[dcmom]

Whole Paycheck

HeeHeeHee!

 

 

"whole paycheck" that is really cute! I shop there weekly, and can't bear to price compare because I love it so!