Having lived a long time being unable to digest dairy products, I’ve discovered a lot of work-arounds and ways to enjoy the taste of my favorite foods again, without the pain and problems. I’ve also learned the hard way about some foods I hadn’t ever suspected that I’d end up having to avoid.
First, we’ll start with some basics and some helpful facts.
- Lactose-intolerant people CAN have yogurt, as long as it doesn’t have any milk added (such as in a yogurt beverage). Yes, it goes against all logic, but it’s true.
- We can also have ALL varieties of cheeses and other products that are made from GOAT’S milk.
- From my and other people’s experiences, brand name Kellogg’s Pop Tarts ARE lactose-free, but the generic ones are not. Go figure.
- Most hot cocoa mixes are NOT lactose free, even when mixed with water only. Some time ago, Hershey made one that was lactose-free, but they took it off the market. I have a stockpile of it, but haven’t seen it for sale again since I bought my supply, a long time ago.
- In the frozen pot pie section, Marie Callender's HONEY Chicken Pot Pie is definitely lactose-free, even though they don’t say it on the package. (NOTE that it’s the HONEY variety, NOT the regular chicken pot pie!) My daughter and I have enjoyed it before, with no negative repercussions. This is also not always available and not at all stores, and not all the time, so check around. If you find it and then can’t find it again, ask your store to make sure they keep carrying it, then keep checking back. I haven't seen it on the shelves in awhile, but you might still find it out there somewhere.
Here are some lactose-free products, and where to find them in the Chicago suburbs. Check with online sites for other stores, or with the manufacturers’ websites, if you still can’t find them.
Lactaid Milk – Available almost everywhere.
Lactaid Brand Ice Cream – Sold at most Meijer stores, but NOT at Jewel or Dominicks (also called "Safeway" in other parts of the USA). The chocolate ice cream is actually rather delicious, but isn’t always in stock. The other flavors are Vanilla (good, not great) and Butter Brickle (who’d have guessed… it’s supposedly the 3rd most popular ice cream flavor in the USA!).
Beemster Vlaskaas Cheese – Usually in stock at a few Jewel stores, but always in the gourmet cheese area. Also available online at iGourmet.com and other online vendors, and arrives in perfectly fresh condition. Not cheap, at about $7-$8 per 8oz piece. All of the Beemster brand cheeses are lactose-free, but the Vlaskaas tastes most like the yellow cheese we grew up with, except that it’s just a bit drier in texture than Velveeta. Eat it within the first week, or it tends to get too dry. It tastes great by itself or sliced thin on sandwiches. It does melt in a grilled cheese, but just doesn’t taste the same as a Velveeta grilled cheese. It IS made from actual cow’s milk, but has never even irritated my stomach once in all the many times I’ve enjoyed lots of it.
Cablanca – (Everybody say “PIZZA!”) Also usually in stock a few Jewel stores, but always in the gourmet cheese area. Also available online at iGourmet.com and other online vendors, from which it arrives in perfectly fresh condition. And... also not cheap, at about $8 per 7oz piece. This is a goat’s milk cheese, but unlike so many other goat cheeses, this one has the perfect texture and an excellent taste for homemade pizza (yay!). Shred it directly onto the pizza, as it makes for the best consistency that way. The flavor is just a bit different than mozzarella, but a very little bit of shredded Beemster cheese on top makes for a great pizza flavor. You might want to cut off a small bit of the wedge's sideedge (under the wrapper piece) before eating it, since that edge is a bit harder and more dry.
Cabot Vermont Cheeses – Only sometimes available at Jewel, BUT do NOT look for it in the gourmet cheese section, instead it’s in the dairy section with the normal cheeses. You can also order some of these online at iGourmet.com and other online retailers. Many of Cabot’s cheese products are lactose-free, even though they’re made with real cow’s milk. So far, I haven’t had any problems with the sharp cheddar, but then I’ve been eating it in only small amounts. A lactose-intolerant gentleman I met at the Jewel near me recommended this brand. Here’s the company’s website, so you can look over their products. They also have some lactose-free recipes posted, if you “Select by category” on the left side of the page.http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/our_products/product.php?catID=37&id=6
I hope to post a blog in the future which will include a few recipes for the more common foods that we lactose-intolerant people miss, as well as some other advice.
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