I am almost approved for my surgery and I am starting to think about food choices.

I am allergic to dairy products (not lactose intolerant) and it gives me hay fever like symptoms, itchy throat, plugged sinuses and ears, sinus infections and ear infections.

I cannot eat cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, butter, or drink milk. I use Silk in cooking, eat soy cheese & soy ice cream and use olive oil margarine. I have found a soy based Protein powder with no carbs or fat that is tolerable.

Does anyone else have this problem? Do you have any "tricks of the trade" to help me be successful?

I would love to hear from you!

Froggie D:rolleyes2:

Even though I am not allergic to dairy, I was playing around with being vegan for a little while. Some staple foods I ate during the time I gave up dairy....

Almond Breeze

Soy Yogurt

tons of Soups and broths

fresh fruit smoothies (made with fruit juice and ice)

mashed potatoes, thinned with broth and/or soy yogurt

bananas mashed with some almond butter or Peanut Butter

Go to a Whole Foods or health food store and check out dairy alternatives. Some are gross, but some are quite good. Also, check out vegan cookbooks (not vegetarian...vegan), since vegans don't use any dairy.

Thanks. I do shop at Whole Foods and eat a number of things that are dairy free. Even my grocery store stocks soy milk. I wish they had soy yogurt. The Silk stuff is really good, but high sugar for the fruit. I will probably buy the plain and add fresh fruit.

I agree with citygirl. . . Whole Foods or pick up a vegan cookbook. I am not allergic, but I eat vegan about 75% of the time. I think it makes me feel better, plus it helps with my weight loss! So I tend to use a lot of alternative products.

Even if you don't want to become vegan, a lot of the recipes for Beans, veggies, etc. are super healthy and band friendly!

Lisa