Substitutions~ Dairy Free

Starting down a path of changing food you eat is painful.  Especially at first.  I am not gonna lie to you.  The first time I went shopping, I was equipped with the simple knowledge that dairy (casein) and wheat (gluten) were my nemesis.  I went alone (hallelujah!) and it took me two and a half hours of walking through the store to find a bag of chips.  I literally went isle by isle picking up items and reading the ingredients, only to put it back on the shelf.  I walked out in tears.

Now, please realise this was a few, ahem, years ago.  I now can read labels better, labels ARE better, and stores carry more variety.  I also now know of three stores and a Super Target which carry almost all foods I need to buy.  Although I do grocery shop 4-5 stores.

I don't mean this to discourage you.  However, I mean it to encourage you.  But rereading what I've typed, I think I need to be more clear.

Choices in stores are better.
Major stores now carry allergen free food.
Labels are getting better and easier to read.

There, do you feel better?

Anyhooooo.... I wanted to share my dairy-free substitution ideas with you.  I have shared them in a few informal and now a formal setting.  I hope they help!

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Dairy free

For butter:

• Earth Balance Soy free (red label)
• Applesauce (when baking)
• Earth Balance Coconut Spread

For shortening:

• Spectrum Organic Shortening

Milk:

• Dry powder~ DariFree (potato based) comes in chocolate and white,
• So Delicious Coconut milk (my personal first choice)
• Nut milks (Almond milk/Hazelnut/Hemp/Sunflower)
• Rice milk**

Coffee Creamers

• So Delicious
• DariFree
• Mimic Creme

Ice Cream:

• make with DariFree… yum!
• So Delicious makes a  great ice cream as well
•  

Yogurt:

• So Delicious
•  Ricera
• Almond

Cheese:

•  Diaya cheese (mozzeralla, cheddar and pepperjack flavors),
• Follow Your Heart (soy based)
• Almond cheese
• Rice cheese

Sour Cream and Cream Cheese~

 If you can tolerate Soy there is Tofutti Brand 

Chocolate Chips and Candy bars~

Enjoy Life  

**rice is my least favorite.  High chance of barley (gluten) contamination plus possible high arsenic levels. 

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What are your favorite substitutions for dairy???