You're invited to become part of the Dairy-Free, Soy-Free Solution!

This blog is being born out of frustration. Frustration over a lack of information. Frustration about the need for a simple solution to problems of diagnosed colic and persistent fussiness in our newborns. And frustration concerning a lack of consistent information being provided by pediatricians about possible milk and soy allergies in infants.

I am the mother of an eight-month-old who has a very mild milk-protein allergy. However, I am also the friend and family member of several moms who have struggled with milk and soy allergies that are passed through breastmilk to their infants. I am also the sister of a brother who endured -- needlessly -- an undiagnosed milk allergy for the first year of his life. This, coupled with the fact that I know of a half dozen women in the last year who have struggled with pass-through allergies of milk and soy, tells me that there is a problem that isn't being addressed by the medical community. 

Internet searches for milk- and soy-free products inevitably lead to links to casein- and gluten-free diets for autistic children that are complicated and, frankly, far more strict than simply eating dairy- and soy-free foods. New moms don't have time to take a shower most days, and they certainly don't have time to peruse the internet for recipes and hints that may be buried pages deep in a Google search. We definitely don't have time to leisurely browse the aisles of the grocery store, reading the backs of every label for an ingredients list, especially if our babies are screaming their little heads off! 

I thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a clearinghouse for easy recipes, helpful hints, and common grocery lists that would allow a new mom struggling with a diagnosed milk/soy allergy in her infant?" Or, and this is more often the case, I thought, "Isn't there any easier (and less expensive) way for a new mom to cut milk and soy out of her diet if she even suspects that milk and/or soy may be to blame for her baby's persistent crying, mild rash, bloody stools, and/or projectile vomiting and spitting up?"

It's amazing how many convenience items contain milk and/or soy that we never think about. Deli meats. Cereals. Hot dogs. Peanut butter. Muffin mixes and brownie batters. Bread crumbs (or breaded fish, or chicken nuggets, etc.). Marinara sauce. Salad dressing and marinades. Bread and rolls. The list goes on and on. There's scarcely an item in our pantries or refrigerators that doesn't contain milk or soy.

I'd like to invite moms who have successfully navigated a milk- and soy-free diet to post their suggestions under one of three categories:

- Easy Recipes (no more than 30 minutes of hands-on time!) 

- Stock-the-Pantry items (convenience products that will help you throw a dish together with, or without a recipe)

- Cheat Eats (foods and tips that help you get around the milk-free, soy-free diet) 

As more suggestions are added, I'll sort and organize them into categories. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack; pantry, fridge, freezer; you get the drift!

I'm looking forward to providing an interactive and educational forum that allows us to diagnose and treat the milk and soy allergies in our newborns earlier and more easily than ever before. And you're invited to take part!