Steve
19-10-2005, 02:40 PM
Whatever reasons you may have for avoiding certain foods in your diet, it is essential that different foods in the same food group are eaten to replace them. The reason for this is to give variety to the diet so that it is balanced and contains all the nutrients the body requires. Cows Milk & Dairy Products Milk is a staple food in the British diet. If milk and it's products are avoided, the diet is likely to be nutritionally deficient.
Dairy foods are usually the main source of calcium in the diet. This nutrient is essential for the development for strong bones and teeth, normal blood clotting, nerve function and brain activity. It is especially important in the years of growth but even after that it is an essential nutrient. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, requirements are particularly high, it is also thought that adequate calcium in early life may protect against osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) later on.
To ensure an adequate calcium intake, use should be made of replacement food and other foods available. Other foods that are rich in calcium should also be eaten such as: bread, dark dried fruit and muesli. Many commercial products are fortified with calcium (smoking and excess alcohol reduce it). Protein is another important nutrient found in milk and dairy foods and it can be replaced by making use of substitute foods such as the soya milks, cheeses, yoghurts etc. Alternatively, meat, fish, eggs, pulses and nuts can be used instead.
You can also take calcium supplements, which can be obtained from health shops. Ask the assistant to check whether or not they are dairy-free. Most shops should have a book with ingredients of products. Please see our Non Dairy Foods section for other alternatives.
Eggs are a good source of protein, iron and B vitamins. Replacing the protein in eggs is straightforward if they are eaten as the main part of the meal (scrambled, fried, boiled, omelette) because it is possible to eat other protein foods instead. More difficult is the fact that eggs are used as an ingredient in prepared foods because of their versatility and range of properties, such as binding and rising (quiche, egg noodles, cakes, mayonnaise, pancakes and meringues). They are also used widely as a glaze wash for breads, buns and pies.
Depending on the foods that usually eaten in the diet and their balance, avoiding eggs may or may not mean a big change to what is eaten and hence to the nutrition to the overall diet. Egg-replacers can be prescribed by a GP or purchased from a health food shop. Finding Alternative Foods Alternative foods and replacement ingredients can be obtained from various sources and include: Supermarkets Healthfood Shops Mail Order Yourself Supermarkets
Read the ingredients label and be aware of derivatives of the food you are trying to avoid. Look out for special diet labelling on packets. Sainsbury's are pretty good on this, but only with certain products. Look out for wellbeing and organic ranges, you may spot a few dairy-free products.
Ask for the Free-Form list - this is available on request from most supermarkets. Sainsbury's only has a milk free product list available at the minute (this excludes allergies other than dairy). Speak to the staff on the customer advice desk and ask them how to obtain one. They will give you the relevant details. Tescos has certain lists, but you have to read them at the customer advice desk and cannot have a copy for yourself.
Many supermarkets now stock special dietary products. This may be in a separate section of the shop or with the usual products. Healthfood Shops Healthfood shops stock a wide variety of special products and replacement ingredients. They will often order products on request. Mail Order You can buy some special products through a distributor, by mail order or through the internet. Yourself Adapt your usual recipes by using substitute ingredients such as egg-replacer, rice, cheese, oat milk as well as corn bread.
Try new recipes by experimenting at home and adapting new recipes, buying a special diet cookbook, (shop around for these as prices can vary) or by using recipes that are often provided with a new product.
Additional information can be found by contacting or joining a support group such as the British Allergy Foundation and the Vegan Society. (See product section) Nutritional Supplements Nutritional supplements are no substitute for a balanced nutritionally complete diet. Before taking these, it's suggested that all possible measures are taken to ensure that the diet is as nutritionally adequate as possible by using the above ideas. Achieving this will depend on the number of dietary restrictions that are in place.
If a decision is made to take nutritional supplements, it's essential to ensure that the correct amount is taken. For example vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat-soluble so they are stored in the liver; large amounts can cause liver damage. Whereas too little of other essential nutrients can cause some deficiency. Yourself It is important that foods are not being avoided unnecessarily in the diet.
If there is any doubt about a food intolerance or allergy then a GP should be consulted for further investigation. This may involve a referral to a specialist allergy clinic or a dietician. Whichever foods are being avoided in the diet for whatever reason, it's still important to eat a wide and varied diet. With the increasing selection of replacement ingredients and special foods available and accessible, everyone on a restricted diet should be able to enjoy a balanced diet to meet all the nutritional requirements.
Information Taken from Living Allergy Free (http://www.absoluteallergy.com/) Magazine
Dairy foods are usually the main source of calcium in the diet. This nutrient is essential for the development for strong bones and teeth, normal blood clotting, nerve function and brain activity. It is especially important in the years of growth but even after that it is an essential nutrient. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, requirements are particularly high, it is also thought that adequate calcium in early life may protect against osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) later on.
To ensure an adequate calcium intake, use should be made of replacement food and other foods available. Other foods that are rich in calcium should also be eaten such as: bread, dark dried fruit and muesli. Many commercial products are fortified with calcium (smoking and excess alcohol reduce it). Protein is another important nutrient found in milk and dairy foods and it can be replaced by making use of substitute foods such as the soya milks, cheeses, yoghurts etc. Alternatively, meat, fish, eggs, pulses and nuts can be used instead.
You can also take calcium supplements, which can be obtained from health shops. Ask the assistant to check whether or not they are dairy-free. Most shops should have a book with ingredients of products. Please see our Non Dairy Foods section for other alternatives.
Eggs are a good source of protein, iron and B vitamins. Replacing the protein in eggs is straightforward if they are eaten as the main part of the meal (scrambled, fried, boiled, omelette) because it is possible to eat other protein foods instead. More difficult is the fact that eggs are used as an ingredient in prepared foods because of their versatility and range of properties, such as binding and rising (quiche, egg noodles, cakes, mayonnaise, pancakes and meringues). They are also used widely as a glaze wash for breads, buns and pies.
Depending on the foods that usually eaten in the diet and their balance, avoiding eggs may or may not mean a big change to what is eaten and hence to the nutrition to the overall diet. Egg-replacers can be prescribed by a GP or purchased from a health food shop. Finding Alternative Foods Alternative foods and replacement ingredients can be obtained from various sources and include: Supermarkets Healthfood Shops Mail Order Yourself Supermarkets
Read the ingredients label and be aware of derivatives of the food you are trying to avoid. Look out for special diet labelling on packets. Sainsbury's are pretty good on this, but only with certain products. Look out for wellbeing and organic ranges, you may spot a few dairy-free products.
Ask for the Free-Form list - this is available on request from most supermarkets. Sainsbury's only has a milk free product list available at the minute (this excludes allergies other than dairy). Speak to the staff on the customer advice desk and ask them how to obtain one. They will give you the relevant details. Tescos has certain lists, but you have to read them at the customer advice desk and cannot have a copy for yourself.
Many supermarkets now stock special dietary products. This may be in a separate section of the shop or with the usual products. Healthfood Shops Healthfood shops stock a wide variety of special products and replacement ingredients. They will often order products on request. Mail Order You can buy some special products through a distributor, by mail order or through the internet. Yourself Adapt your usual recipes by using substitute ingredients such as egg-replacer, rice, cheese, oat milk as well as corn bread.
Try new recipes by experimenting at home and adapting new recipes, buying a special diet cookbook, (shop around for these as prices can vary) or by using recipes that are often provided with a new product.
Additional information can be found by contacting or joining a support group such as the British Allergy Foundation and the Vegan Society. (See product section) Nutritional Supplements Nutritional supplements are no substitute for a balanced nutritionally complete diet. Before taking these, it's suggested that all possible measures are taken to ensure that the diet is as nutritionally adequate as possible by using the above ideas. Achieving this will depend on the number of dietary restrictions that are in place.
If a decision is made to take nutritional supplements, it's essential to ensure that the correct amount is taken. For example vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat-soluble so they are stored in the liver; large amounts can cause liver damage. Whereas too little of other essential nutrients can cause some deficiency. Yourself It is important that foods are not being avoided unnecessarily in the diet.
If there is any doubt about a food intolerance or allergy then a GP should be consulted for further investigation. This may involve a referral to a specialist allergy clinic or a dietician. Whichever foods are being avoided in the diet for whatever reason, it's still important to eat a wide and varied diet. With the increasing selection of replacement ingredients and special foods available and accessible, everyone on a restricted diet should be able to enjoy a balanced diet to meet all the nutritional requirements.
Information Taken from Living Allergy Free (http://www.absoluteallergy.com/) Magazine