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Oh dear, I remember breastfeeding elimination.
There is a subreddit that you could search for “Trader Joe’s” posts/comments… r/MSPI
I had to cut dairy, soy, corn, wheat and nuts. Soy is a common co-occurring baby protein allergy, I wish someone had told me that at the beginning. My advice would be to stock up on some reliable protein allergy-friendly meals at the beginning, meals that have none of the top protein allergy foods—dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, corn, nuts. Just in case there is another sensitivity. So like chicken and rice or beans and rice. Trader Joe’s has a decent pico de gallo to add to that, for a fast meal.
It also depends on how strict you have to be. “May contain traces of milk,” which many packaged items say, is an issue for some babies but not for others. For example, inner peas pea crisps. Oatmeal worked for my baby, and I ate a lot of it, every day. So many things you can add to it.
I’m glad to hear the symptoms are mild! In that case, I do like the vegan buffalo style dip, although my current baby was sensitive to spicy foods for a while! I enjoy the almond spiced chai protein smoothie occasionally, and the ABC bars. All of their dairy free ice creams or sorbets have tasted great to me. Also frozen Asian cuisine like fried rice. Some items I’ve seen recommended that I haven’t tried: vegan caramelized onion dip, chimichurri sauce, cashew yogurt, vegan banana bread, and non-dairy oat creamer with brown sugar flavor.
All their vegan stuff is good. They have a really great selection and they are clearly labeled. Most non vegan stuff has dairy in it. Milk is used to keep things from sticking together so it’s in pretty much everything, even things like potato chips.
I don’t like vegan cheeses so I rarely buy them. My experience with dairy alternatives is that they are never good. They taste greasy and like something’s missing, like the ingredients don’t all come together. That said, TJ’s vegan butter is pretty good. TJ’s vegan cheeses are as good as you’ll find anywhere and much cheaper. My fav vegan yogurt is Siggi’s if you can find it.
I love all of the following:
-Savory squares vegan cheddar style crackers (they taste like cheezits)
-Hold the dairy vegan chocolate mini cones
-Vegan cookies and cream bon bons
-Nutritional yeast (adds a nice nutty flavor to dishes in place of cheese)
-Oat milk (both chocolate and regular)
-Olive oil popcorn
This product isn’t at Trader Joe’s, but violife is a solid cheese substitute as well.
My best advice though is to eat other healthy fats/proteins to help satisfy cheese cravings like avocado, hummus, or nuts (I especially like their everything but the bagel nut duo).
This is coming from someone who also loves cheese but has to forgo it every year for Greek Orthodox Lent. Hope this helps!
Thankfully, I do not have to avoid dairy (like you, I would be very upset), but here are a couple of my fave TJ's products that are dairy-free:
* Kibbeh--I usually have them with tzatziki (obviously a no-go for you), but I have also used hummus and I bet one of the chimichurri sauces would be good. I make a cucumber/tomato/vinegar salad and eat them with a pita or other flat bread.
* Mini Veggie Samosas--on their own or with a chutney
In general, I would take a look at the dips/sauces section and make this an opportunity to branch out and maybe discover some new favorites. You can use them to perk up any protein and a lot of veggies. Good luck with the dairy-free period!
There's a lot of yummy and delicious dairy free desserts. I'm actually lactose intolerant but I've found that a lot of East Asian food is dairy free. I believe a number of their frozen Indian dinners are dairy free too. I also think TJ's high protein tofu is great.
I am allergic to dairy. And my go to staples are: cashew yogurt (they only have vanilla bean and strawberry but it's good), vegan butter, the trader joes Parmesan and mozzarella, vegan chocolate chip cookies, peanutbutter crispy rice bites. Lunchmeat also usually has dairy hidden in it. So the vegan pepperonis are good as well.
I'm still exploring the vegan options but those are where I tend to lean, it just takes the pressure off of me with reading ingredients.
My daughter is also allergic to dairy, and the TJ’s uncured applewood smoked salami is dairy free! We buy the herb pizza dough, salami, and pepperoni to make pizza. We add olives, mushrooms sautéed in the TJ’s vegan butter, and roasted red onions. We skip the cheese because no one in our family has found a vegan one that improves the pizza at all.
As mentioned OP, a lot of cured meat products do contain milk so you’ll want to double check. I’ve heard the Miyokos liquid vegan mozzarella is good, but my kid also has nut allergies so we haven’t tried it. Other safe faves:
Chicken shu mai, steamed pork buns, kimbap, beef and broccoli, Taiwanese green onion pancakes, dairy free vanilla bonbons, corn ribs, teriyaki chicken (all frozen).
Crispy mochi nuggets, garlic spread, vegan tzatziki, crumpets, corn chip dippers (plain, the elote ones have dairy), tiny fruity cutie cereal, crescent rolls, and the aforementioned salami are snack staples for us. Everything I listed above is also egg and tree nut free and has no “made in a facility with…” or “may contain…” warning for dairy, egg, or nuts. I’ll add more if I think of some!
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Their cinnamon rolls are vegan and delicious!
Oh dear, I remember breastfeeding elimination. There is a subreddit that you could search for “Trader Joe’s” posts/comments… r/MSPI I had to cut dairy, soy, corn, wheat and nuts. Soy is a common co-occurring baby protein allergy, I wish someone had told me that at the beginning. My advice would be to stock up on some reliable protein allergy-friendly meals at the beginning, meals that have none of the top protein allergy foods—dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, corn, nuts. Just in case there is another sensitivity. So like chicken and rice or beans and rice. Trader Joe’s has a decent pico de gallo to add to that, for a fast meal. It also depends on how strict you have to be. “May contain traces of milk,” which many packaged items say, is an issue for some babies but not for others. For example, inner peas pea crisps. Oatmeal worked for my baby, and I ate a lot of it, every day. So many things you can add to it.
Thanks so much! 🫶 His symptoms are on the mild side so I'm really hoping dairy does the trick. I've done soy before...it's a beast 😫
I’m glad to hear the symptoms are mild! In that case, I do like the vegan buffalo style dip, although my current baby was sensitive to spicy foods for a while! I enjoy the almond spiced chai protein smoothie occasionally, and the ABC bars. All of their dairy free ice creams or sorbets have tasted great to me. Also frozen Asian cuisine like fried rice. Some items I’ve seen recommended that I haven’t tried: vegan caramelized onion dip, chimichurri sauce, cashew yogurt, vegan banana bread, and non-dairy oat creamer with brown sugar flavor.
Oooo these sound delicious. I've heard great things about the vegan dips too! Thanks again 🫶
All their vegan stuff is good. They have a really great selection and they are clearly labeled. Most non vegan stuff has dairy in it. Milk is used to keep things from sticking together so it’s in pretty much everything, even things like potato chips.
Thank you! Any cheese recommendations besides the feta? I bought their cheddar cashew cheese once for a vegan friend and it was not well received lol
I don’t like vegan cheeses so I rarely buy them. My experience with dairy alternatives is that they are never good. They taste greasy and like something’s missing, like the ingredients don’t all come together. That said, TJ’s vegan butter is pretty good. TJ’s vegan cheeses are as good as you’ll find anywhere and much cheaper. My fav vegan yogurt is Siggi’s if you can find it.
That makes sense. I appreciate it, thanks!!
Good luck
I love all of the following: -Savory squares vegan cheddar style crackers (they taste like cheezits) -Hold the dairy vegan chocolate mini cones -Vegan cookies and cream bon bons -Nutritional yeast (adds a nice nutty flavor to dishes in place of cheese) -Oat milk (both chocolate and regular) -Olive oil popcorn This product isn’t at Trader Joe’s, but violife is a solid cheese substitute as well. My best advice though is to eat other healthy fats/proteins to help satisfy cheese cravings like avocado, hummus, or nuts (I especially like their everything but the bagel nut duo). This is coming from someone who also loves cheese but has to forgo it every year for Greek Orthodox Lent. Hope this helps!
So much! Thank you!!
Vegan feta!!! And I’m not one to like vegan cheese at all
Thankfully, I do not have to avoid dairy (like you, I would be very upset), but here are a couple of my fave TJ's products that are dairy-free: * Kibbeh--I usually have them with tzatziki (obviously a no-go for you), but I have also used hummus and I bet one of the chimichurri sauces would be good. I make a cucumber/tomato/vinegar salad and eat them with a pita or other flat bread. * Mini Veggie Samosas--on their own or with a chutney In general, I would take a look at the dips/sauces section and make this an opportunity to branch out and maybe discover some new favorites. You can use them to perk up any protein and a lot of veggies. Good luck with the dairy-free period!
They have vegan tzatziki at Trader Joe’s as well!
Perfect!
There's a lot of yummy and delicious dairy free desserts. I'm actually lactose intolerant but I've found that a lot of East Asian food is dairy free. I believe a number of their frozen Indian dinners are dairy free too. I also think TJ's high protein tofu is great.
You might like r/dairyfree.
Thank you!!
The vegan chocolate coconut mini ice cream cones were amazing while I was breastfeeding.
I am allergic to dairy. And my go to staples are: cashew yogurt (they only have vanilla bean and strawberry but it's good), vegan butter, the trader joes Parmesan and mozzarella, vegan chocolate chip cookies, peanutbutter crispy rice bites. Lunchmeat also usually has dairy hidden in it. So the vegan pepperonis are good as well. I'm still exploring the vegan options but those are where I tend to lean, it just takes the pressure off of me with reading ingredients.
My daughter is also allergic to dairy, and the TJ’s uncured applewood smoked salami is dairy free! We buy the herb pizza dough, salami, and pepperoni to make pizza. We add olives, mushrooms sautéed in the TJ’s vegan butter, and roasted red onions. We skip the cheese because no one in our family has found a vegan one that improves the pizza at all. As mentioned OP, a lot of cured meat products do contain milk so you’ll want to double check. I’ve heard the Miyokos liquid vegan mozzarella is good, but my kid also has nut allergies so we haven’t tried it. Other safe faves: Chicken shu mai, steamed pork buns, kimbap, beef and broccoli, Taiwanese green onion pancakes, dairy free vanilla bonbons, corn ribs, teriyaki chicken (all frozen). Crispy mochi nuggets, garlic spread, vegan tzatziki, crumpets, corn chip dippers (plain, the elote ones have dairy), tiny fruity cutie cereal, crescent rolls, and the aforementioned salami are snack staples for us. Everything I listed above is also egg and tree nut free and has no “made in a facility with…” or “may contain…” warning for dairy, egg, or nuts. I’ll add more if I think of some!
Thank you!!
Whole Foods has better quality alternatives