Advice on food/ diet

[moncur]

Im looking into changing certain things that I eat for health reasons. Mainly cutting out dairy products, caffeine and acidic foods.

Im going to try soya milk tonight but i know its disgusting so i need to some advice on how to make it taste less icky. any ideas?

Also, wheres the best place with most variety on caffeine free products?

PS I'm NOT looking for tips on how to lose weight. Anyone who knows me will know that I can be mistaken for a clothes pole most days!

Thanks

[cuddlepop]

Moncur,Soya milk is honestly not to bad.Tried a dairy free diet myself for a few months it didn't help me but it wasn't too bad.Caffeine free products are usually found in the supermarkets or specialists shops.You may have to start reading labels.
Best of luck with the diet,hope it helps.:D

[bigjjuk]

Breakfast:
egg, bacon, fried slice, and some bubble and squeak

Dinner:
Big Steak and chips dinner and 4 pints followed by fudge cake pudding

Supper
Anythin fatty :)

But really good luck on your diet, damn they are hard, caffeine free tea bags can be bought now too.

[Naefearjustbeer]

I think the only carffeine in my diet is the odd cup of tea at someone elses house, or the odd tin of red bull to give a kick when I need it. I find caffeine gives me a buzz every time I take it as I am not a regular user. There are lots of green teas on the go that are caffeine free. Or if you use a normal tea bag to make 2 cups of tea the first cup gets about 95% of the caffeine. Take it out and put it into your second cup and there you have a very low caffeine drink. I have also started taking my tea with out milk. Not because I want to cut out dairy but to stop the theiving so and sos at work from using it. However Most of the time I have fancy teas. Roibosch sp? etc I am on gunpowder tea at the moment and it is good none of these teas suit milk anaway. If I want to sweeten it a wee drop of local honey is good.

[mccaugm]

I went dairy free a few years ago..."SO Good" is great as is "Yoyo". Both varieties have desserts etc...try the health food section in the Co-Op. Soya milk is not that bad if its slightly sweetened. Green and Blacks chocolate is great for dairy free..and taste yummy.

Depending on why your going dairy free, cows and goats milk/cheese is quite good too.

Hope these suggestions help.

[Naefearjustbeer]

Depending on why your going dairy free, cows and goats milk/cheese is quite good too.

Hope these suggestions help.

Does "dairy" only mean from cows or is it all milk products be it goat sheep or whatever animal you choose to milk? Genuine question I have never really thought about it before. I do know that cows milk is bad for folk with lactose intolerance.

[Ricco]

Hi, Moncur

There are many alternatives. Different brands of soya have differing tastes. You could try rice milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk. Try decaffinated versions of tea and coffee - they are quite good these days. Instead of wheat you could try spelt bread (bannocks are made from it), rye, barleycorn flour for bread (Doves brand is very good). I would avoid gluten free - usually disgusting.

A neighbour of mine is heavily into holstic lifestyle and swears by diet coordination to blood group. There are books available. Her husband thinks there is a lot in it. It may be worth seeing if you can get a book through the library.

[Lolabelle]

I was dairy free for most of my life, and it is a pain, do you need to do it (intolerances) or are you choosing to cut down or out.
I was so sensitive to dairy that I had to request that my restaurant food and take away food was cooked seperately so as not to be contaminated by any butter or margerine that may have been put onto a grill plate. There are traces of dairy and lactose nearly everywhere and you really have no choice but to read labels. So you may as well get used to doing this, it makes shopping a lot longer job, but once you work out what is ok for you, it gets easier. I have heaps of dairy free recipes. Soy is awful, so I just went without it in tea etc. as for cooking I used it and there are dairy free margerines and cheeses. I used to make white sauces with heaps of herbs and garlic in it to disguise the soy milk taste. Biscuits and even potato crisps are a mine field. I can only recommend that you read the labels and ask questions when eating out. I have asked if there is dairy in a product and been told that " no, no dairy but its got ricotta." or "yogurt" so if you have a problem with dairy, you have to be really on the ball.
Now I am doing the same with flour, I am gluten intolerant. And that is easier than dairy.

Something else I did, was to have muesli or cereal with tinned fruit in juice rather than soy milk. Now I couldn't put milk on cereal if you paid me, well not and eat it aswell.

[moncur]

I was dairy free for most of my life, and it is a pain, do you need to do it (intolerances) or are you choosing to cut down or out.


Its more to do with intolerances rather than just choosing to cut down. If anyone wants they can PM me any recipes that they may have. cheers

[_Ju_]

Moncur, have you gone to your Doc to see if you can get a nutritionist to accompany and help you?? They usually give very good advice.

[Whitewater]

I have never been on a diet, perhaps I should, I guess I'm slightly overweight, but perhaps I eat too much at times. I enjoy all foods, have not felt the need to cut out anything, and from what I have read regarding diet etc. a good balanced diet containing a little of every thing is best for you. If you eat pleanty of fruit & veg, along with your dairy products and meat you will be OK. (I think I probably overindulge in the dairy products, I eat too much cheese, love Stilton and Brie). I don't add salt to food, there is enough in it already. Too much salt and sugar do you no good at all and are better left in the packet.

I feel really sorry for anybody who may have an intolerance to certain foods, it must be very difficult when you go out for a meal and see all your friends tucking into stuff which you are not allowed.

[Lolabelle]

I feel really sorry for anybody who may have an intolerance to certain foods, it must be very difficult when you go out for a meal and see all your friends tucking into stuff which you are not allowed.

It isn't great fun going out when you are limited, but we have found some really good restaurants and cafes that are wonderful. I keep myself on track by remembering that nothing tastes as good, in comparison with how lowsy I feel when I eat the wrong food for me.

[Rheghead]

I would also advise not to get conned into the 'Antioxidant' issue surrounding foods and supplements. There is evidence that pills which are high in antioxidants have no benefits whatsoever.

[moncur]

I would also advise not to get conned into the 'Antioxidant' issue surrounding foods and supplements. There is evidence that pills which are high in antioxidants have no benefits whatsoever.

Thanks for that advice but i wouldn't go down that route anyway. I should point out again that the purpose of me asking for advice isn't to lose weight but for tips on how to substitute for products that i CANNOT eat due to a recent health condition.

[Bobinovich]

You could try rice milk

I have to agree - I was on rice milk for a while and found it quite palatable. Local health food shop kept a good supply.

Good luck!