Advice on exclusion diets

[Klio]

Have been to see the consultant today as ds gets really bad eczema. However the consultant told me it is not "typical" eczema but rather flare ups related to a as yet unknown food trigger. I have to start food exclusions, a month at a time, and would love to hear from other mumsnetters who have had to go down this route.

Also I am starting with dairy and would be interested to know any ideas and advice for a dairy free diet. I am worried about ensuring ds gets enough calcium in his diet. I suppose I'm just feeling all a bit overwhelmed at the moment by it all and need some support and reassurance

Klio - many dairy-free foods are supplemented with calcium now but there are lots of non-dairy foods that contain calcium anyway. If you care to CAT me, I can send you an article I wrote on "Calcium: sources other than dairy" for a nutrition journal. Nuts such as almonds, brazils and hazelnuts are good sources of calcium, amongst many other vegetable sources; also eggs and oily fish, particularly canned ones (with bones).

HTH

Thanks for your help thumbwitch! I suppose I am just panicing and feeling like I've done something that has caused this food intolerance. I think it is in many ways a useful thing to get me out of a food rut and start experimenting a bit more!