Big Bro, Du-Jay, who is fine with dairy, said he would happily switch to LACTAID® if it meant Dad & little sister could enjoy dairy too!
Half of my family is lactose intolerant. My son and I not only tolerate dairy but adore it! My husband deals with his dodgy digestion by avoiding most dairy, but that wasn't the best option when my daughter inherited his fussy stomach.
It's been tough to see a bowl of cereal double my daughter over with stomach cramps, and organic chocolate milk make her queasy. We've tried soy and almond milk, but she hated the taste and texture. Her current solution is to eat things like chicken nuggets for breakfast, because they don't make her empty stomach feel ill, like dairy does.
When we were offered the chance to partner up with LACTAID® in a promotion over the next few months, we were elated! We ran out and got a gallon ASAP, and were pleasantly surprised. Sage likes it because it tastes like milk. That's because it IS real milk, with a handy extra enzyme to counteract lactose intolerance. It's slightly sweeter, but very similar, and our whole family thought it was pretty tasty.
LACTAID® is great for baking with, and a pretty delicious chaser for that baking, as well!
I just took part in an informative LACTAID® briefing session with celebrity chef Melissa d'Arabian and registered dietitian Michelle Harrington. Before the session, I had no idea that lactose intolerance is the worst on an empty stomach, which explains why dairy breakfasts can be brutal for my husband and daughter, but they can both sometimes handle some dairy later in the day, with little ill effect. It also never made sense to me that they can both chow down on sharp cheddar and yogurt just fine for lunch, till I learned aged cheese and Greek yogurt are low in lactose. The session was truly an AH-HA moment for me! If you want to learn even more, we've included further details at the bottom of this post.
If you have dairy sensitivities among your family and friends check out our giveaway below and some sweet recipes, too.
Melissa will be back on the TODAY Show again on June 25
Try LACTAID® out for yourself and your family. Then check back with ChiIL Mama over the next few months for more cool updates on LACTAID® including recipes, and more info on celeb chef and LACTAID® proponent, Melissa d'Arabian.
Mooove Over Milk... LACTAID® Is In The House
ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and a cool coupon so you can check out LACTAID® FREE
Just click on the Rafflecopter link below and enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
We'll send one of our readers a coupon for free LACTAID® Product (your choice) to try. Enter through midnight 5/28 and we'll announce a name on Winning Wednesday 5/29. You could even choose from 5 flavors of LACTAID® ice cream. How ChiIL is that?!
More LACTAID® briefing session Info:
Presenters:
Melissa d’ Arabian, LACTAID Brand Spokesperson
Mom of four girls
Author of NY Times best selling cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners
Celebrity Chef & Television Host
Was on live segments on the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda
April 15 – Breakfast recipes
June 25 – Entrée recipe
Michelle Harrington , R.D. and LACTAID® Regulatory and Nutritional Affairs Manager
- Pediatric Dietitian at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia
- Passionate about helping families find nutrition solutions in today’s complex world
What is Lactose?
- Lactose is the major carbohydrate in milk and other dairy foods
- Lactose (milk sugar) consists of two simple sugars – glucose and galactose
- Lactose must be broken down into glucose and galactose by the intestinal enzyme lactase before it can be absorbed by the body
What does it mean to be Lactose Intolerant?
- Most people produce that natural enzyme, lactase, which breaks down lactose (sugar in milk). The amount of lactase your body produces will determine how much lactose your body can break down
- Everyone has different levels of lactose intolerance
- It is common for lactose intolerance to be progressive; many people develop a lactose intolerance later in life
What is LACTAID?
- LACTAID® Products can help people who have a lactose sensitivity to digest dairy products without stomach discomfort so they can enjoy the creamy, delicious taste of dairy that they love
- LACTAID provides the lactase that the body can’t produce enough of, which helps you break down lactose
- LACTAID® Dairy Products are 100% real dairy, just with a natural yeast-derived enzyme added called lactase
- LACTAID® Lactose-Free Products include Milks, Cottage Cheese, Ice Cream and Eggnog
- LACTAID® is the nation’s #1 lactose-free dairy brand.
About LACTAID Milk
- LACTAID is real milk – 100% lactose free – with the same nutrient profile
- The lactase enzyme is added to the milk to break down the lactose, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste
- LACTAID is ultra pasteurized and lasts longer under proper refrigeration – once open it should be consumed within 1 week
- LACTAID products are calcium enriched
- We need about 1000 mg of calcium each day
- o LACTAID provides 500 mg of calcium in each 8 oz glass― you only need two glasses of LACTAID to get your day’s worth of calcium requirements
- o A regular 8 oz glass of milk has 300 mg of calcium
LACTAID® Ice Cream
Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Butter Pecan
- All flavors of ice cream except for Cookies & Cream are gluten free
- Half-cup of chocolate ice cream is 160 calories and 8 grams of fat
- LACTAID suggests to eat half a cup with fruit
Tips for eating with Lactose Intolerance:
- Important note: if someone who is lactose intolerant consumes products containing lactose on an empty stomach, they will be more prone not to tolerate it. Eating lactose with other food will help you digest it more easily
- Many lactose-intolerant people find that yogurt doesn’t bother them
- o Yogurt has live and active cultures in it that help digest the lactose
- o Greek yogurt has double the protein and fewer carbs, which means less lactose and easier to digest
- o If tolerated, yogurt is a great way to get nutrients and calcium needed in an everyday diet!
- Rule of thumb for eating cheese: the harder the cheese, the less moisture or whey in it―as a result, the less lactose in it
- o Always choose the aged cheeses, as they are lower in lactose
- o Aged Cheddar, Gruyère, Pecorino and Swiss cheeses will have less lactose in them
- o Melissa suggests introducing these aged cheeses back into your family’s diets in small amounts to see how much they and/or you are able to tolerate
- LACTAID cottage cheese is a flexible dairy product; since it’s a neutral cheese, you can go savory or sweet:
- o Savory: add veggies or pesto to it; use in enchiladas or lasagna
- o Sweet: add applesauce, peaches or other fruit to it
- o Melissa likes to blend it up in the food processor with an egg to taste just like ricotta
- People often don’t know that butter is low in lactose - no need to cut it out of your diet (unless you are doing it for health reasons!)
Cooking with LACTAID:
- LACTAID does have a slightly sweeter taste, but typically no one notices when adding it in a recipe
o Melissa likes to put in in her coffee instead of flavored creamer or sugar
o Melissa finds that her kids prefer smoothies with LACTAID compared other milks, probably due to the slight sweetness
- Melissa says she simply swaps LACTAID for regular milk in recipes, cup for cup
- When substituting LACTAID for cream in recipes, work in a teaspoon of corn starch (this would be the same for any milk)
- Substitute lactose-free milk for buttermilk by adding vinegar
Disclosure: Thanks to LACTAID® for sponsoring this post.
