Trying to give up dairy- need suggestions

[luv2eatinva]

Hi, I have lurked here for over a year and have been greatly inspired to move toward a high raw diet. One of my greatest areas of struggle concerns eggs, cheese and yogurt. Although I eat them rarely I do enjoy them. TODAY I AM READY To give them up! I just watched "fork over knives" and realized that dairy is not good for me.

Please help with some real suggestions about how to transition away from dairy - especially in terms of kid- friendly options. For example my boys and I love fresh fruit, organic yogurt and raw (homemade) granola for breakfast. What do I use instead of the yogurt?

Thanks ---- this community has meant so much to me as I move toward a healthier diet and way of living.

[Saria]

You might try some smoothies or raw ice creams? They have a similar texture to yogurt and might satisfy the desire for that kind of food...there are nut milks you can make and even use cacoa powder I believe to make them chocolate...I don't ever have that but you could look into it

[speltrong]

I always struggled with giving up dairy too, until I read The China Study. That was the thing that pushed me into giving it up. Suggestions for raw substitutions? You can do a lot with almond milk. I think you can even make yogurt from it. You can make raw cheeses with cashews and macadamias. Although keep in mind that most nuts are not truly raw even if they are labeled as such. I try to buy mine directly from the farmers at farmers markets and I ask them if they've been heated or not.

[Saria]

Another thing that might help you stop dairy, lol, it has been possibly linked with alzhiemer's because it may cause mucus in the brain. In my personal opinion, it's just not good stuff. I used to really really love ice cream but I don't think it compares with some of the really good raw foods.

[qwerty988]

My dad always had fruit and dairy for breakfast..... now I've got him hooked on creamy chia pudding every morning instead! It's like tapioca pudding, you can add cinnamon and agave and sliced bananas.... YUM!

Someone else suggested green smoothies..... that's what I love in the mornings. Sweet, creamy, delicious! Kid-friendly, too.

I just started buying raw cashews in bulk after trying a few creamy soups and nacho-cheez type recipes using them.... they're soooo good and cheese-like! Once I started experimenting with them, I knew I could happily stay raw forever.

Best of luck on your journey! :heart:

[qwerty988]

Oh I forgot!

Another great one for dairy cravings: freeze some bananas, then whir them up in the food processor with a little cinnamon and water.... YUM! The richest most delish soft-serve style banana ice cream....... even my son loves it, and he hates everything!

Best of all, it's so healthy you can have it for breakfast.

[luv2eatinva]

Thanks for the suggestions- I do enjoy my green smoothies, almond milk and butter- but I also have those dairy gravings. Thanks for the ideas and I am gonna explore more creative ways to use almond milk recipes.

I put Chia seeds in my water every day- its my fav way to drink water. Have not really tried Chia pudding but that's another good option to explore.

[michigan roman]

people are making yogurt with the little electric yogurt makers out of i think almond mylk

i'll try to find link to women i saw making a video on it

but almond mylk on own to drink , or poured over soaked buckwheat seeds with nuts / dry or fresh fruit / cinnamon etc makes great breaky cereal

[michigan roman]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=raw+vegan+yogurt&oq=vegan+yogurt&aq=2m&aqi=g1g-m2&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=67l5639l0l13330l5l5l0l3l0l0l184l336l0.2l2l0

[michigan roman]

great raw vegan chef making cashew mylk : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqr-0dBrG0

[michigan roman]

ani making a breakfast cereal meal : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW-hxdN3Hi8

[streetsurfer]

For dairy cravings it might be the calcium your body wants. There are websites that tell which craves can be fed with which replacement foods and what component of the craved food you might be in need of. Dark leafy greens are high in calcium. Chia aeeds give 7% rda calcium per T. Almonds are high too I think at 6% for 1 oz. or about 22 almonds. Sesame, tritical, corn, amaranth likely, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, sunflower sprouts, spinach, mint, parsley, leeks, kale, green beans, turnip greens, all good sources of calcium, if it is that which your body desires.

[qwerty988]

but almond mylk on own to drink , or poured over soaked buckwheat seeds with nuts / dry or fresh fruit / cinnamon etc makes great breaky cereal

YUM! Definitely trying this. How long do you soak the buckwheat seeds?

[michigan roman]

the buckwheat is like you dont want to soak too long or it gets sort of too soft , i guess like 6 hours / overnite is good

then rinse like over 5 times to get off the gelatinous seed coating

at www.sproutpeople.com if never seen is ALL the awesome sprouting info ever

and after soaking buckies you can just let sit in a strainer with open air circulating
and rinse a couple times per day to have around for more meals , but within a few
days theyll start sprouting green and taste will change away from breakfast type to a more green / grass type taste

[seodouble07]

My suggestion would be to try freezing all your fruits and then using a Masticating (http://www.thebestjuiceextractorreviews.com/juiceextractors/omega/) or a Triturating juicer (http://www.thebestjuiceextractorreviews.com/juiceextractors/omega/) and make your own fresh yogurt without the additives and preservatives.

This will be as organic as you can possibly can get. But it's quite delicious and invigorating for both your mind and body. Not to mention the healing power.

[ZombieDawn]

My biggest issues, I think, are breads, pasta, and cheese. Try this one. I had it for dinner last night. On a spiralizer, make some noodles from zucchini. Then make an alfredo with soaked cashews. I added fresh basil, garlic, salt and nutritional yeast and let her rip in a bullet type blender. I also put the noodles in the dehydrator for a bit to diminish excess moisture. It was eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-the-head good!

[PunkRotten]

I make a raw yogurt. I take the pulp from the young coconuts and blend it all up. Add a little squeeze of lemon juice, then add a teaspoon of probiotics. I let this sit 24-48 hours in the fridge. It taste like plain yogurt so you can flavor it if you want.

[luv2eatinva]

Wow wow - so many amazing suggestions!!!!!! Going to try making some of them and the links are just what I needed.

[luv2eatinva]

I have been unsure about "making" yogurt using probiotic but you make it sound crazy easy. I am going to try because if I am successful it can be one of my "go to" recipes for breakfast.

[PunkRotten]

It really is easy. I make it almost every time I get young Coconuts. I eat it plain but sometimes I throw nuts/seeds and/or berries in it.

[qwerty988]

My biggest issues, I think, are breads, pasta, and cheese. Try this one. I had it for dinner last night. On a spiralizer, make some noodles from zucchini. Then make an alfredo with soaked cashews. I added fresh basil, garlic, salt and nutritional yeast and let her rip in a bullet type blender. I also put the noodles in the dehydrator for a bit to diminish excess moisture. It was eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-the-head good!

I am soooooooooooo having this for lunch today! Got some marinated mushrooms I might throw in there as well.....

[qwerty988]

I put Chia seeds in my water every day- its my fav way to drink water. Have not really tried Chia pudding but that's another good option to explore.

Chia pudding is super easy. Just add some chia seeds to some fresh almond mylk (I use 1/2 cup chia to 4 cups mylk), along with some agave, cinammon and a bit of vanilla. Stir it up and let it set overnight..... in the morning you've got a lovely creamy pudding all ready! This amount makes 4 big servings. It's great with sliced banana mixed in, too.

[michigan roman]

totally trying this chia pudding , that prep simplicity with packed raw plant nutrition is how we should be eating

[ZombieDawn]

Did you try the alfredo qwerty? I love the stuff!

[Saria]

ZombieDawn, you make me really want a food dehydrator! My mom has one so I'm going to make some stuff when I'm home for the holidays at her house!

[qwerty988]

Did you try the alfredo qwerty? I love the stuff!

OMG -- seriously, yum. I didn't have any fresh basil, though, so I had to improvise. I went more cheddar-y and added red pepper, onion, nutritional yeast, tumeric and miso and then tossed it all with my marinated mushrooms..... SO GOOOOOD!

Hahahhaa, raw is really fun isn't it?

Next time I'm getting the fresh basil and going PURE alfredo, though :eat

[ZombieDawn]

Saria, my raw world totally opened up after I got the dehydrator! I don't regret the purchase even a little bit!
Qwerty, that nut cheese is super versatile, huh? I was thinking of a that red and white sauce, I think it's called a vodka sauce. Only of course I wouldn't use vodka but add in some sun dried tomatoes.... ugh, yum!

:drool:

[Saria]

Yeah...I'm going to be trying my hand at my mom's dehydrator next week. I found some raw flax crackers and sweet potato chips at Whole Foods today and they were on sale so I thought I'd give them a try. They should keep me satisfied until then ;)

[Traceyraw]

Chia seeds. They are magic little seeds. So creamy and yummy. I make pudding with them. 1/4 cup of cashew butter or Almond. 1 tsp vanilla. 2 tlbs of Agave. 1/2 Cup seeds 1 cup of water. Blend. It turns creamy and will cut your dairy craving. You can add chocolate. You can make it lemon. Try and see what you like but I love these things.

[luv2eatinva]

I am making my chia pudding tonight - can not wait until breakfast!!!!! I am gonna try sweetening it with dates instead of stevia
and I'll let you know how it goes. Right now I am addicted to dates - luv them stuffed with almond butter. My guess is chia-almond-date pudding should be good too.

[therawmichelle]

I would say opting for nut milks and smoothies is the way to go if you want to give up dairy. These raw vegan foods usually have similar texture and can be used much the same way that you use dairy products. Also, you can try making your home-made nut cheeses and coconut kefirs to replace some of the dairy products you are eating now.

Russell James has an awesome little booklet that teaches you how to make amazing raw nut cheeses at home.

Also, i am not sure that giving up dairy entirely is a good idea for little kids, because i believe children may need animal fat for peak brain development. That also depends, however, on the age of your children.

Good luck!

[qwerty988]

Qwerty, that nut cheese is super versatile, huh? I was thinking of a that red and white sauce, I think it's called a vodka sauce. Only of course I wouldn't use vodka but add in some sun dried tomatoes.... ugh, yum!

:drool:

Yum -- definitely trying it with sundried tomatoes next time!

I've been just whipping up a batch of the stuff in the blender and adding broccoli to make cheezy soup..... but now I'm loving it on zucchini noodles too!!! Filling, fast and delish.... I love raw.

[Traceyraw]

I am making my chia pudding tonight - can not wait until breakfast!!!!! I am gonna try sweetening it with dates instead of stevia
and I'll let you know how it goes. Right now I am addicted to dates - luv them stuffed with almond butter. My guess is chia-almond-date pudding should be good too. Yummy sounds delicious.

[Traceyraw]

I would say opting for nut milks and smoothies is the way to go if you want to give up dairy. These raw vegan foods usually have similar texture and can be used much the same way that you use dairy products. Also, you can try making your home-made nut cheeses and coconut kefirs to replace some of the dairy products you are eating now.

Russell James has an awesome little booklet that teaches you how to make amazing raw nut cheeses at home.

Also, i am not sure that giving up dairy entirely is a good idea for little kids, because i believe children may need animal fat for peak brain development. That also depends, however, on the age of your children.

Good luck!

Sorry to say my kids never had dairy from a cow. My daughter is 9 and she is the gifted program. I give them vitamins with Omega's. put flax in cookies and smoothies. Chia pudding. There are many things you can do to supplement. Humans are the only mammal to drink milk from another Mammal.

[luv2eatinva]

Wow - I had not given much thought to any negative implications of cutting the dairy out of my boys diet (6 & 10). They will drink cow milk but prefer almond and soy milk. They love the little bit of dairy they get and those items will be hard for them to give up - although they tend to be weekend only items. I think the best thing for them is the gradual transition. I think I can wean them off slowly and setting a good example is likely the best thing I can do. Their pediatrician does give me a hard time about them getting enough calcium but i told her about chia and flax. She was clueless. She is the same doctor that questioned why i was still nursing 2 year old boys.