Living Without Milk: Tips and a Recipe for Milk-Allergy Sufferers

Milk allergies are not as uncommon as they once were, and it is not as difficult to find foods without milk ingredients as it once was. I found out I had a milk allergy when I was 14. For many years, I would state that I could not eat the wonderful chocolate pie, or share in the ice cream due to my milk allergy. Up until very recently, the most common reaction from others was, "Isn't there a pill you can take for that?" People are more understanding these days, and most realize that an intolerance to milk is not the same as an allergy to milk.

A person with a milk allergy is generally allergic to one, or many, of the proteins found in milk, usually casein. I would like to state that I am not a doctor, nor have I any medical training. I can only give my experiences and the information I have gathered. If you believe you or your child has an allergy to milk it is very important to see your doctor.

You may notice that I do not use the word suffer in regards to this allergy. With research and precaution it is possible to live well and eat well. Don't get me wrong, I would love to sit down to a plate of Pizza Rolls but I also know what would happen if I did and the consequences are not worth one moment of pleasure.

Besides learning the various terms hidden in ingredients that mean, "there is milk in here!", there is also a great deal of experimentation that must take place in order to find the substitute milk products that taste good to you or your child. Believe me, there are inferior brands! If you try one and do not care for it try another. It is easier with children who have not grown up eating and drinking milk products because they don't remember what it is supposed to taste like. Be aware that some brands work better in some foods than in others and just because you do not like a certain brand on your cereal does not mean it may not cook up better than another in potatoes.

Please understand that some people can tolerate some small amounts of milk while others cannot tolerate any amount. Some are able to use margarine while others cannot.