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Share your tips for living with food intolerance with a2 milk - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

189 replies

JustineBMumsnet · 22/11/2016 09:30

Whether you have experience of living with your own food intolerance or your child’s, it can be a difficult and confusing experience that you’ve probably now learned a lot from, and a2 milk would like to hear the tips you now have for living with a food intolerance. Maybe you’ve found foods which are surprisingly okay for you? Or sneaky foods which you thought would be fine but weren’t? Perhaps you know about places to eat out which are especially accommodating? Whatever your tips for living with food intolerance, share them with a2 milk below.

Here’s what a2 milk have to say: “If cows’ milk doesn’t agree with you, you might be astonished to learn that not all cows’ milk is the same. a2 Milk™ is healthy cows’ milk with a difference. Gentle on tiny tummies, easy to digest and less likely to trigger symptoms of milk intolerance. Our milk looks the same and tastes the same but there is one important difference - it is naturally free-from the A1 protein found in regular cows’ milk that can cause problems from bloating to indigestion to wind and even eczema. It’s 100% natural, delicious and nutritious that’s why we say ordinary on the outside – extraordinary on the inside!”

All those who share a tip for living with food intolerance with a2 milk below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher from the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

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Share your tips for living with food intolerance with a2 milk - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
voyager50 · 23/11/2016 08:52

I am vegetarian but I struggle with eating mushrooms as they make my lips swell up and tingle for about an hour after I've eaten it.

There are so many restaurants that have mushrooms as the main part of a veggie meal - sometimes it feels like that's all they think we eat. I have sometimes had to just have side orders if there are no suitable alternative main meals .

Mushroom are also popular for airline meals - many a time I have boarded a plane and smelt the familiar mushroom strongonoff aroma and known I would have a hungry flight!

sharond101 · 23/11/2016 12:29

My daughter has a dairy allergy and it's surprising where you find dairy! Salt and vinegar crisps, stock cubes, wine!!! Some really good finds have been vitality spread, bourbon biscuits, angel cake and tesco free from yogurts.

Gerjuice · 23/11/2016 12:32

Our now toddler was a very fussy baby, woke very regularly to feed until 8 months and had constant reflux. I knew something did not feel right for many reasons but couldn't put finger on it, at 12 weeks realised it was dairy intolerance through research. Once I'd cut most dairy, he improved, but weaning was complex. Saw specialist and advised us on weaning process. Carried on b.f as he hated nutremigen, so we muddled through, learning what can be substituted - making rice pudding and custard using Oatley for example. By 12 months, he could take small amounts of dairy without symptoms (gases/reflux) and by 18 months he was able to eat dairy in good quantities. He now loves cheese, milk and yoghurt, so all well!

Sammyislost · 23/11/2016 13:24

I used to think my son was dairy intolerant due to various reasons (bloating , indigestion to wind and even eczema!) so for a while we took milk out of his diet, but it was so hard when his favourite foods were cereal, cheese and yogurt! I wish I had a2 milk for him back then.

At the moment, my husband doesn't drink regular milk as he think it upsets his stomach, but he's not been to the GP about it. I think he should try a2 milk.

I'd recommend keeping a food diary, and remove suspect foods for a week at a time, and see if there are any changes.

CathodeRayTube · 23/11/2016 13:30

I managed to sort out my son's dairy intelerance within a few week by giving him yakult and muller vitality probiotic drinks on alternate days for three weeks. The intolerance came back after scarlet fever but I managed to sort it out the same way again.

For wheat intolerance I just cook from scratch a lot.

Ds is also intolerant to lots of things with added vitamins, but he can manage rice krispies and readybrek so I include those ever day to get his iron needs covered.

I do an incredible amount of cooking from scratch because I have a different exclusion diet from ds. Dh batch cooks for himself of has pre-made things from the supermarket.

I'm finding M&S great for gluten-free at the moment as they have fish fingers and fish cakes that works well. Ds also love the new Genius toasty bread.

We buy a lot of oat-based biscuits too and Prewitt ones. Shopping at several supermarkets rather than just one helps.

leanneth · 23/11/2016 14:25

Oreos are dairy free? Clearly forums like this are the place to find tips!
Also, I've been using the internet to find recipes that the whole family an enjoy.

As a side point- we use the a2 milk and it's fab! Don't get the sickly feeling you sometimes get from normal cows milk!

chrismse · 23/11/2016 14:52

My tip would be don`t bother trying to explain to people if your visiting/out for the day with friends etc. Just take your own things with you its just easier that way.

HannahLI · 23/11/2016 15:56

Since switching to A2 my life has been transformed. Living with a milk intolerancy is really tricky. My tip would be try different kinds of milk and the avoid them for example i am fine with hard cheeses but not with soft, I also don't do very well with milk powder or yoghurt. I make a lot of stuff from scratch and use A2 in my cooking which now means I can make white sauces and eat cakes! Once I figured out each thing individually it has made it much easier to manage!

fitzbilly · 23/11/2016 16:23

Being dairy free due to milk protein intolerance, there are so many bought for that are simply not allowed, so i always read the label on everything, and make almost everything from scratch.

The hardest thing is that there is never anything suitable on the pudding menu in restaurants, so I can never have pudding when eating out, which is sad.

I don't like soya milk either, especially in cereal, and really miss milk and cheese.

Value garlic bread from track is dairy free at the moment though, as are oreos ( the normal ones only) so that's good!!

Also, home bargains sell some amazing chocolate topped waffles that are dairy free, so I have a pack of those in the cupboard

Mbalm8 · 23/11/2016 16:58

My son had an egg allergy and I had to get used to asking every time we ate out to double check ingredients but also make sure something like coleslaw didn't come on the side. I've been caught out by Mr Whippy's ice cream, bread and yoghurt. So always ask and check the labels even if you don't think it could possibly be in the ingredients!

purplepandas · 23/11/2016 21:21

I am only repeating I think here but rechecking ingredients is key. Complacency is dangerous given the whims of manufacturers!

verytiredmummy1 · 24/11/2016 05:07

Facebook support groups are a lifesaver. You can get tips, advice and ideas. Wouldn't be without the cows milk allergy support groups!

Dec1314mummy · 24/11/2016 05:17

My child has 20 different food allergiesthat range from anaphylaxis (milk and egg) to severe rash and stomach cramps. The fear and guilt of accident my giving him something is always there.
My biggest tip would be to research, I have found some amazingly wired but wonderful recipes that you would never have thought possible. I'm always trying to find some new recipes but with ingridients I know are ok. Raising awareness of the severity can be difficult at time; however, most people are very understanding and helpful. The amount of products, especially baby foods, that add milk in or milk powder is crazy. Reading labels has become an every day or even hourly occurance around our house.

Dec1314mummy · 24/11/2016 05:17

Sorry for the typos!!!

StuntNun · 24/11/2016 09:30

I went dairy-free while breastfeeding my DS4 and was shocked to find out that I was dairy-intolerant too. I had been diagnosed with perennial rhinitis but it turned out to be due to dairy. My DS2 has since stopped drinking milk and his unexplained night-time stomach aches have stopped.

It makes me suspect that a lot more people have dairy intolerance than we realise but are living with low level symptoms.

Belmo · 24/11/2016 10:43

My daughter was allergic to cows milk, so we got very good at label reading - I found Oatly to be the best replacement milk, but nothing replaces cheese imo.
Now she's grown out of it, thank goodness, and we've just got a nut allergy to contend with (don't get me started on may contains!!)

herebehippos · 24/11/2016 10:48

My advice is to ask- I recently discovered that a cafe a friend wanted to go to had gluten free food as it was actually run by someone with coeliacs- there was nothing on the website at all so I was able to enjoy more than a coffee after all!

MissSynful · 24/11/2016 13:13

internet and double checking everything. have my mobile on me all the time so i can check things out e.g. at the supermarket etc.

PurpleGoose · 24/11/2016 13:41

When eating out at an independent restaurant is pre-planned, often if you ring and speak to the kitchen in advance they'll often be able to make a dish that you can eat, even if there appears to be nothing suitable on the menu.

TheDuchessOfKidderminster · 24/11/2016 13:51

My DS1 suffered from horrendous nappy rash. It took me ages to realise that he was reacting to tomatoes and things were a lot better when I cut them from his diet. I never really connected what he was eating with his sensitive skin. I have found the best nappy cream to use when sore is Medihoney, which works wonders.

I also now have some Piriton syrup as an essential part of my medicine box after DS2 came out in a rash after eating some prepackaged pasta salad (not sure what that was, I'm assuming some sort of additive or preservative).

10emptybottles · 24/11/2016 21:07

I've only recently been diagnosed lactose intolerant (after several months of expermentation). I find butter fine but I don't have it every day and hard cheese like cheddar is also fine. Apparently high sugar content in cheese indicates high lactose content so low sugar, less lactose.
Milk wise I have tried soya, almond and coconut. Almond was too thin, soya was fine but a lot of soya is GM. I have stuck with Alpro coconut as the added rice makes it creamier.
I really missed milk chocolate but have now discovered dark chocolate with orange (most supermarkets have a version) this is doing it for me right now

nikkiwg · 24/11/2016 21:32

My son has cow milk protein allergy and peanut allergy. It is really surprising what does and doesn't contain dairy...I gave my son some ham on holiday and that had milk protein in, but there are various "chocolate" items which don't; bourbon biscuits, oreos etc. Tesco even do a Nutella style Bourbon spread which goes down well as a treat in our house!

juggler4 · 24/11/2016 21:35

My daughter was diagnosed as coeliac at age 2. We never ever leave the house for a daytrip without plenty of food for her (chewy bars, cheese sticks, boiled egg, rice cakes) so we know that there is something she can eat and we won't have to start looking for gluten free items.
Also, if she goes to a friend's birthday party I feed her well before she goes so she isn't hungry. I keep a batch of frozen cupcakes and she takes one with her to eat when the other kids are eating birthday cake. I don't expect the hostess mum to remember to have something special for her, they have plenty of other things to worry about. But over the year have been very nicely surprised by the efforts that some will go to to make sure that my daughter is included and has something to eat.

RosieBdy · 24/11/2016 22:02

My daughter is dairy intolerant.
I've learned to read and re-read the ingredients... even on well loved favourites, as manufacturers often change their ingredients. Yes, I'm most recently looking at you jammy dodgers!
I always have a few dairy free snacks in my bag for when we're out and about. Cafes are good at letting her eat those if they don't have anything on the menu.

Andbabymakesthree · 25/11/2016 04:49

I have a friend whose baby daughter has intolerances. She checks everything and we've had discussed about what contains milk powder. It's amazing what items have it! Her family haven't been very supportive and it'll onky get worse as child get older. I told her to stop explaining as they just don't get it.
It's makes eating away from home difficult.

My youngest child had reflux. I'm sure I should have cut out dairy in my diet but it was so overwhelming. However I think supermarkets have cottoned on to a market and starting to make things more affordable and accessible.