Gluten and dairy free suggestions

[JaceLancs]

I went gluten free about 10 years ago due to my IBS I’ve not had a coeliac test as won’t start eating gluten again for test but more recently have been diagnosed with an unspecified connective tissue disorder
As well as stomach and bowel issues I have long term bladder problems, and a lot of joint pain which they now think may be connected rather than just arthritic wear and tear (I’m 59)
Due to recent issues a few people have suggested I might be dairy intolerant too so am going to cut out and see if it helps
I am also dieting so tend not to use many gluten free substitutes
Any suggestions for best substitutes for things like yoghurt, crème fraiche, soft cheeses etc which I use to liven up a lot of recipes
Best frozen pizza or ready meal as every now and again I don’t feel like cooking from scratch
I don’t want to go vegan and get very bored with nearly everything having to be tomato based
Dessert wise - nicest dairy free ice cream or other suggestions please

Can't really help with suggestions of dairy substitutes sorry. I'm DF but tend to use herbs and spices for flavour as I'm not particularly fond of dairy anyway.

I could share a couple of DF & GF recipes that you could have a go at batch cooking?

Do you need to cut out dairy or lactose? I have gone lactose free and tbh just buy Sainsburys own brand lacto free milk and soft cheese.

Cannot remember what the brand of cheddar is. I have bought some craime fraiche but not used yet.

I buy alpro fruity yoghurts but trying to work out what plain one to buy as I have tried a couple and didn't like them (they were vanilla not just natural greek)

I tend to have oat milk when out for a coffee.

I think Violife cheese alternatives are generally excellent. They do one of the best cream cheese dupes and have recently brought out a Camembert. The only disappointments have been their feta and cheddar alternatives, although nothing with beat Applewood smoked vegan cheese and Nurishh plant-based greek cheese! Also look out for Philadelphia plant based and Nush. I get them instead of Violife if they’re on offer.
The best dairy free yogurt for cooking will depend on what you are cooking. Soy yogurt is richer and creamier than almond yogurt. I tend to use Alpro.

Thank you
Recipe suggestions or links would be good especially if not tomatoes

No tomatoes at all @JaceLancs?

Dairy alternatives are pretty easy to come by these days. Alpro yogurts are lovely and Tesco do nice fromage frais style yogurts. Most super markets do their own make soft cheeses, plain or garlic and herb, and there's a dairy free Philadelphia as well. Elmlea double cream is amazing!

Kirsty's does dairy and gluten free pizza's and other ready meals. Most of the main supermarkets sell it. You can also get Kirsty's frozen deserts like apple pie and chocolate brownie.

There are loads of ice cream options. Ben &Jerry's have a few dairy free ice-creams, Swedish glaze is lovely and if you're lucky you can sometimes get some on Lidl that's Ben & Jerry style. Vegan magnums, cornettos, twisters are vegan now too.

You can also get vegan gluten free gu puddings.

Have you tried the plantbased cathedral city yet?

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto
no I don’t actually mind tomatoes it’s just that I don’t want them every day! So many diet non dairy recipes involve them
Tonight I’m having a chicken tray bake which involves tomatoes peppers and mushrooms
Tomorrow doing either chilli or pasta bolognaise (with pea or lentil pasta)
Sunday is easy - roast chicken with new potatoes, carrots, broccoli, green beans and gluten free gravy - other diners can have butter with their potatoes 😉

Flora plantbutter block tastes just like dairy butter if you want to butter your potatoes too. The entire flora range is vegan.

My favourite non-dairy yoghurt is the coconut collaborative gut health one, which I dollop on my granola, in the morning, to liven it up a bit. It's nice with savoury stuff, too, but I've not tried cooking it into a sauce.

Ready meal wise, the chicken and the meat free mindful chef meals are quite pleasant - I often have one in the freezer - and quite low calorie. The minced beef ones are awful, though, gritty and full of bony bits. It's tomatoey but I do like the M&S spag bol. Some of their soups and some Yorkshire provender soups are labeled gluten free though you have to keep an eye out for random cream where you don't expect it.

Sainsbury's have GF and dairy free mince pies and even the bog standard ones are rather good. The pastry is nicer than their greasy muggle offering!