QuestionI have had to take soy, milk, wheat, egg, and nuts out of my 19 month old's diet. Do you have any advice for making sure he still gets enoygh fat, calcium and protein?
AnswerDear Summer,
I wonder if you mean by milk, all dairy products including yoghurt, cottage cheese, and curds (sour products sometimes do not give the same allergic reactions). If you can handle goat and sheep products you will hardly have a problem at all, once the alternative taste is acquired (Greek feta can be creamy or spicy, while Halumi goat's or sheep cheese is mild and unimposing). Otherwise try ricemilk or oatmilk.
I also don't know whether you are a vegetarian, otherwise meat and fish would ensure your protein levels stay unaffected. But grains and pulses have plenty of proteins of their own. Generally, plants can give one all they need if their system is robust enough to break down the cellulose into man friendly protein. A super food is oats, a solid staple is rice and especially quinoa and amaranth are comparatively high in protein.
As regards fats, I can't imagine you going short on that. Sesame and sunflower paste are full of fat and the former is a great source of calcium. Stirfry or saute veg and potatoes in a good olive or sunflower oil, and use margarine to spread on bread/crackers. I am not pro peanutbutter, but I can remind you it is not a nut, and rich in fat and protein.
There is a massive list of green leafy veg and berries and citrus fruits which are richer in calcium than most dairy servings! check it out on http://www.carrotcafe.com/f/calevel.html
Most toddlers will eat and can digest well, the lighter pulses (baked beans, lentil soup, split pea mousse etc): a serving a day will give you all the protein you need, if you combine them with a carbohydrate (millet cakes, rice, non-wheat pastas, rye, corn or barley bread). Possibly you can choose spelt and kamut as wheat alternatives for bread and pasta. They are original grains,of a superior quality to the more "degenerate" wheat and sometimes cause no allergic reaction where wheat does.
It is highly unlikely you will go short on fats, calcium and protein on a diet which must exclude the products you mentioned. But if you can't eat oily fish or butter, however, make sure you get plenty of (moderate) sunlight to help absorb calcium and its best friend phosphor (they need the Vit. D for this process. Vit D is found in sunshine or animal fats). Some margarines are fortified with D, too.
If you can learn to prepare seaweed in a way your child would like or could get used to (sushi type snacks, or Kombu in soup, arame or hiziki spring rolls) I could highly recommend you choose this protein frequently and benefit from its general health boosting (trace) minerals.
If you shop around diligently you may find several vegetarian burgers which do not contain soy or egg or cheese, or seitan (a fermented wheat product). For example,the ones made from a fungus type of plant that makes for a tasty and nutritious alternative (Quorn is a brand name known to us in Europe. But double check for egg powder or casein if your child is hyper allergic!).
So, as long as you eat as variedly as possible and don't undermine the mineral and vitamin levels by using white sugar and heavily refined and over-processed products your toddler should thrive on good, honest, tasty food prepared with love. Try always to keep it fresh and be inventive with the essential basic bulk and building block ingredients.
Finally, most Western type healthfood shops can help you get some new recipe ideas or encourage you to try new products/ingredients, since they are well aware of the 101 allergies going around.
Lots of happy meals to you and your 19 month year old!
Love Evelyn.
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