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Original poster

Amelia to go dairy free!!

21 replies

Dingle · 26/04/2006 10:57

Had the BIBIC nutritionalist call today and we have been advised to go completely dairy free with Amelia. I am so naive- I didn't realise dairy products were in sooo many foods!!!Sad

They have also recommended various vitamins and minerals , which will be suppplemented by "dino chews!" and introducing flax seed oil into her diet!!!

I feel my time is going to be spent looking at lables in the supermarket for some time. How long does it take to get used to it all?

OP posts:
heartinthecountry · 26/04/2006 11:32

Hi Dingle - dd has been dairy free for about 3 years now. It takes a little while but you fairly quickly get used to what kinds of things are likely to have milk in them. I'm sure BiBic have told you this but things you need to look for (other than the obvious) in ingredients lists are:

Casein, lactose, whey powder. I'm sure there are others but that's off the top of my head.

Also be aware that most vegetable fats/margarines have milk in them, so unless the product says it is suitable for vegans then she probably can't eat it if it has either of these in.

Lots of crisp flavourings have milk powder in them.

You do end up looking at labels the whole time but as most supermarkets are now pretty good at putting an 'Allergy advice' box at the end of the list of ingredients at least you don't have to trawl through the whole list. Also, unless you have a child with a super varied diet you tend to buy the same things a lot anyway and soon get used to what you can and can't buy.

Good Luck!

Original poster
Dingle · 26/04/2006 12:20

Thanks HITC- how are things with you anyway? Been so busy lately not had time for anything!Sad Amelia is due to start school in September and the school seem to think it's very unlikely we will get a statement for her- but that's another story.

We have already discovered the crisp thing!Shock I am in the habit of carrying a packet of her fav. pom bears around with me- good to use for blackmailing when things get difficult IFKWIM. Just got a box of 48 packets from Mackro!!!

OP posts:
FioFio · 26/04/2006 12:28

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Hausfrau · 26/04/2006 12:37

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Original poster
Dingle · 26/04/2006 12:51

Thank HF! will do.Grin

Fio, the SENCO is suspecting that because they are meeting her needs in the nursery and Year R is a very similar set up , the LEA are unlikely to do anything about it. I will put in a written request but have been advise not to expect too much ATM.

They are taking her out of the nursery setting for therapies 3 times a week for about 20minutes. That covers SALT, OT and physio while I am doing her new sensory program from BIBIC at home.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 26/04/2006 14:30

Dingle,

Amelia has not got a Statement and school think is unlikely to get one?. Personally I'd ignore the school's gloomy prediction (school does not make this decision anyhow) and go all out to obtain such a document for Amelia.

You must, must appeal their crass decision if the LEA say no to your request to assess. Get IPSEA on board also. The nursery may well be meeting her needs at present (this is good) but there is no guarantee whatsoever that the same will happen in reception or as she proceeds through her schooling.

www.ipsea.org.uk

Peachyclair · 26/04/2006 15:05

Hi Dingle

If you have any questions, Me, and 2 of the ds's have been dairy free for years and you have y e-mail I think (if not it's on the A&C swap thread.

Grab lots of the Swedish Glace ice cream- it's fab and even DH prefers it to normal ice-cream. Also, sainsburys free from marge is the best I have found yet, and Tesco do a soya milk that tastes acceptable (the only one I have found), it's their own brand one but the one in the fridge- all others are imo yuck.

Almond milk makes a good rice pudding.

lots of things do ahev dairy it's true but you can adjust quite quickly- ds1 is dairy and salycylate free now and I though I'd be reading labels forever, but I managed a quick internet shop for the week yesterday after just a few weeks, funny how quick you get into it.

XX

heartinthecountry · 26/04/2006 15:12

Hi Dingle (and Fio Wink). Things are pretty good. Dd is doing so well at her nursery. They are so good. I feel like I've actually stopped being her therapist and become her Mum, which is lovely.

Sounds like the LEA/School are being a little sneaky re: the statement. If Amelia has additional needs, which clearly she does, she should be statemented, regardless of whether or not they are currently being met. You are right to push for one.

Bethron · 26/04/2006 15:12

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heartinthecountry · 26/04/2006 15:17

That's true - I have to do a kind of rotation of Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Asda (with occasional Waitrose when I can afford it) to stock up on each particular Supermarket's speciality. S'bury's do some good sausages, fish fingers and chicken nuggets in their freezer section for those less healthy moments!

rummum · 26/04/2006 15:58

good luck... my son has a dairy allergy and like you say dairy is in everything... even the pom bears has dairy in (thats the red and blue packs). Things do get easier...
if you need any help with foods just shout..

FioFio · 27/04/2006 08:08

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Pixiefish · 27/04/2006 08:12

Dingle- dd and I went dairy free because of her eczema. If I can help in any way just email me. Lots of foods have dairy in them but also lots of foods don't have dairy in them depending on the brand. An important one is Jaffa cakes- most brands have milk in them BUT the co-op ones are dairy free. The co-op have a list of dairy free foods on their web site, the first few weeks will be hard to shop but you'll soon get to know what has dairy and what doesn't. All the best with it

Original poster
Dingle · 27/04/2006 16:01

Thanks everyone- I am sure it will be OK in a couple of weeks- it will become second nature. But now it seems rather daunting.

OP posts:
sphil · 27/04/2006 21:38

Yep - Rich Tea biscuits are the same - McVities have milk in but Tescos/Sainsburys own brands don't!
DS2 drinks rice milk - the calcium fortified one - much more palatable than soya imo.

Peachyclair · 28/04/2006 11:44

always worth checkings avers varieties: they add less to make them cheaper. EG, the chocolate- dark choc- last time I looked it was dairy free (they do revise these things though) AND it was delicious

bettythebuilder · 28/04/2006 12:29

If you get in touch with Waitrose head office they will send you out a full list of all own brand products that are dairy free. It means you can go through stuff at home rather than spend hours at the supermarket!
I think other supermarkets may do the same (someone told me Asda do, but I haven't checked them out yet).

Original poster
Dingle · 29/04/2006 08:50

Just getting ready to embark on our first real "dairy free shopping trip!" Not prepared at all for it, nbut I have the basic info and the rest we will have to play by ear as we go.

Got to buy some flax seed oil too.

Wish me luck..going to need it!Wink

OP posts:
geekgrrl · 29/04/2006 09:20

hiya dingle - just being nosey here, why did the nutritionist say you should go dairy free?

Original poster
Dingle · 29/04/2006 14:27

Hiya geekgrrl- how is everything? (well apart from the car incident I read very quickly Sad)

Excuse my ignorance, still waiting for some more literature to come through from BIBIC, but I had a quick look online and saw this \link{http://www.beannachar.co.uk/ds/tni.htm\here}that may give you some idea.

I have heard several times before that children ( and adults) may benefit from a diary free diet.

OP posts:
geekgrrl · 30/04/2006 08:29

all is well dingle (still pains me to see my poor car though :( ) - we got a puppy yesterday (golden retriever) and dd2 is a bit scared of it unfortunately. It's a really sweet and gentle thing, too, hopefully she'll come round. Everybody else loves him. :)
OTher than that everything is great with dd2. She had hearing aid implant surgery for a BAHA a while ago (you might have read about BAHAs in the DSA journal?) and has healed really well. She'll be able to use the implant properly in June, can't wait. :)

How's Amelia? Will she be starting school this year?

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