I’ve shared before how Doodle’s food sensitivities to dairy and corn have been one of the toughest things I’ve dealt with as a mommy. And I thought Doodle’s dairy sensitivity was getting better. He tolerated cheese a few times and even some yogurt. But butter seems to still do him in, even when in small amounts such as in home-baked cookies. And sometimes certain cheeses will upset his system though it’s hit or miss and I’ve yet to figure out which ones.
I’m still very careful at home and try to keep him away from all dairy products. I’ve loosened up when we go out, though, and just avoid things that I know contain cheese, milk/cream or other obvious dairy products. But he has still been getting his share of unexpected nasty, nasty diapers and I can’t help but figure it’s linked back to the small bits of dairy he’s getting.
And since breastfeeding ended many months ago and my freezer stock is dwindling (in preparation of re-stocking with the new baby!) I have found some hope for not only giving him the little bit of dietary goodness of “real” milk but also the experience of getting the same things the rest of us get to enjoy. And that is by giving him goat products.
My mommy brought up the idea months ago and I picked up a carton, then I put it back down because it was a little leaky and the smell nearly made me lose whatever I had just eaten. But a few weeks later we were wandering Trader Joe’s and I spotted it: Goat’s Milk Yogurt. I’d been disappointed that Stonyfield Farms discontinued their soy yogurt line for babies and I can usually only find the blueberry flavor where I shop which has corn starch (another thing we have loosened up on but I still try to avoid whenever possible). So the giant tub of Goat’s Milk Yogurt was like a sign and we had to try it.
And it worked! No upset stomach, no nasty diapers, just a giant bowl of yogurt with granola for breakfast and happy boy. I’ve also started giving him goat cheese in place of regular cheese in things we eat at home and am even able to order him so salads and such out that have goat cheese.
And he loves it, he formed a small cheese obsession during the few days we were trying it and so is always excited when I pull out his cheese and put it on whatever he’s getting to eat. I sprinkle it on salads, throw it in hot dishes to help make it creamy when something calls for milk or just let him have it with crackers.
A family favorite has become Mac ‘n’ Goat Cheese which is so ridiculously easy to make and even the girls love it!
All you need is:
- Cooked pasta, retain some of the cooking water
- Veggie of choice (I usually use frozen peas)
- Goat cheese, crumbled up into small pieces
- Toss together the hot pasta and veggie (the cold veggies will cool down the pasta and the hot pasta will warm up the veggies without having to heat separately!)
- Add a little of the pasta water and goat cheese and stir. The starchy pasta water helps to keep the cheesy sauce thickened and the goat cheese melts beautifully!
And you’re done: Mac ‘n’ Goat Cheese, sure to please any little tummy! (But not my big one, goat cheese is still not my thing!)
