Cows' Milk Allergies - Dairy-Free Alternatives Are Available
By Colleen Finn
Living in the UK in this day and age it is difficult to imagine daily life without a cup of tea with milk, the occasional chocolate, or a simple ham and cheese sandwich. But not so long ago life was quite difficult for people who were allergic to cows' milk. There were not many alternatives available on the market, so simple treats that we take for granted today were hard to come by, and those that could be found were small in range and often out of stock.
My husband, Simon, found out that he was allergic to cows' milk seventeen years ago when he was just eleven years old. Imagine his disappointment when he could not eat chocolate eggs at Easter like his friends, or drink a milkshake. What used to be a quick trip to the supermarket for the weekly shop soon turned into an arduous experience of checking the ingredients of each packet of food just to ensure that it did not contain cows' milk, lactose, butter, cream, cheese or buttermilk. Restaurants and cafés were a minefield of butter and cream based menus, plus there was a general lack of knowledge regarding allergies in general.
How things have changed for the better these days! Now we are treated to a broad range of delicious alternatives to cows' milk, cheese, cream, butter, yoghurt, ice cream and chocolate. From goats' milk to sheeps' cheese, soya ice cream and dairy-free chocolates, there is an abundant variety of products on the market - and if you're feeling adventurous why not try buffalo mozzarella! Best of all, most of the produce available is now sourced locally - which helps not only with reducing the 'food miles' and therefore carbon emissions but also benefits your local farming community.
Today Simon is free to enjoy all the foods he used to like as a child simply by choosing an alternative which tastes not only 'just as good' but better than the mainstream cows' milk option. Going out for a meal on a special occasion is also a lot easier now, with many eateries offering clear menus helpfully explained by well trained staff. An allergy to cows' milk does not always have to be a negative experience - so keep your eyes open and you may discover a whole world of delectable dairy-free delights.
For more information on cows milk free products visit our website.
Colleen Finn
Moo No More Dairy Free Directory
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Finn http://EzineArticles.com/?Cows-Milk-Allergies---Dairy-Free-Alternatives-Are-Available&id=2236269
