Advice needed for cows-milk-free diet

[Nattie]

I've been advised that I should try eliminating all cows milk products from my 5 yo ds's diet - he's either had a chesty cough or an earache or a cold for the past two years. He's a big milk drinker and ice cream consumer. Any advice of alternative products. Will 5 year olds eat/drink goats milk and soya products? Are there alternative ice creams and chocolates? Is there a directory of suppliers/supermarkets which stock a good range of products?

All advice gratefully received.

thank you

In most big Sainbury's you can get dairy free ice cream. They do their own range, 'Free From', but I think its kinda rubbish. They also carry a brand called Swedish Glace, much better. Its also available in Holland and Barrett. If you can get near a good quality, usually independent, health food shop there is a range of ice cream called Tofutti. They are the Hagaan Daz of the dairy free ice cream world.

Provamel, stocked in most supermarkets, H&B and healthfood shops, do, I think that nicest soya milks. Following that So Good do a great chocolate soya milk. Whatever you do don't get Asda's soya milk it is truly gross.

Always get the sweetened form of soya milk, the unsweetened stuff is usually an acquired taste.

Provamel also do a range of chocolate with soya milk if your DS hates plain chocolate, though it is a bit cardboard tasting.

I was a vegan for 7 years and still find dairy too hard to tolerate.

As for a directory, I can't think of any off hand but will do some digging. I'll let you know of any more dairy free if I think of it!

HTH

Actually just found this , not sure how good it is though

And its Plamil with the soya chocolate not Provamel (they do nice custard)

Who advised it? Was it a proper doctor? I think you should make sure there is enough calcium in his diet if you do this. There are supplements available you could ask your dr about.

wow that site looks quite interesting pie thank you....will check it out later as i'm just about to bath dd(dd is dairy free and lactose intolerant-still)and has been since 3.5 months of age when we started introducing formula milk to top up my expressed b/m.sorry to hijack but thanks again

Swedish glace is delicious....... Yum. Plain chocolate is milk free as are whizzers- although I'm having trouble finding whizzers these days.

Provomel do yummy long life desserts ( various flavours) as well as very nice yoghurt which tastes normal - our Tesco sell them ( plus the Swedish glace which is yummy - as is toffuti cream cheese but you'd need to go to a health food shop for that. If Pam is around she's a bit of an expert.

message withdrawn

Thanks for all this.

No, it wasn't a doctor who advised it, Pie which is why I was interested in getting advice from mumsnetters with previous experience. I am concerned with calcium intake, too.

I'll look for the Swedish Glace - Tescos is my supermarket of choice.

What is/are whizzers?

whizzers are the dairy/lactose free version of smarties but not as brightly coloured

tesco sell-swedish glace ice cream in 3 flavours-strawberry/vanilla/choc
provamel yoghurts-one is in the organic section-red cherry and something? and one on the normal yoghurts -strawberry and peach
ready salted crisps and pringles are also fine and so are some bread sticks
for milk why not try WYSOY it is a baby formula milk but at least has all the enhanced vitamins and calcium(calcium is now in the yoghurts as well)just don't let your ds see you make it up-less chance of a negative reaction...
teas ready got to go will pop back later

tesco also sell-trufree brand biscuits same as custard creams and chocolate creams
for margarine try pure-there are 3 different we prefer pure sunflower(yellow carton)
sainsburys do free from crisps and they have different flavours, also cook in sauces but the only one we like is the indian(I know it's just as easy to make one of the sauces but it's handy to have in for busy days)
also available-milkshake drinks,carob choc ices, mini-milk style frozen lollies
don't be too worried the selection is improving(gradually)
can'think of any more for now lol xx

chatee if you ring the major supermarkets they will provide you with a list of milk free produce (or rather a list of items which contain milk). When we first went milk and gluten free with DS1 it was very helpful.

sorry Nattie not chattee!

And I agree with others- Sainsbury's is best for this sort of stuff. Ask for their "wellbeing aisle".

just an aside to all this - most bourbon biscuits are dairy free too - a good chocolate fix if you need it!

My brother was asthmatic (now 21!) and was on a dairy free diet for years. My mum cooked all sauces with soya milk for him, ie Macoroni cheese (without the cheese of course) fish pie, everyting and he piled in I think he was 3 when it was discovered. He used to drink it as well and that was in the days before fancy products. Soya sweetened with apple was a total revolution to him in his early teens.