Jamba Juice's Dairy-free Options

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

My brother and I took a trip to our local beach town the other day and with the sunny sky and the slight hint of spring, nothing sounded better than a smoothie. BUUUUUT so many smoothies rely on milk, ice cream, or frozen yogurt to give them that smooth texture. Thankfully, Jamba Juice has created a line of "All-Fruit" smoothies that are a healthier option...and great for those with dairy allergies! They have four flavors. We tried Strawberry Whirl and Peach Perfection. The Strawberry Whirl really tasted like your regular Jamba Juice. The Peach Perfection was a little more tart (one reason why I looooved it). Both had a slightly different texture. After taking a sip, you could feel a little remnants of the piece of fruit...but I don't consider that a bad thing! Trust me- these are a great option. Check out the flavors and ingredients below.

Peach Perfection: Peach juice blend, frozen mangoes, frozen peaches, apple-strawberry juice blend, frozen strawberries, ice.

Strawberry Whirl: Apple-strawberry juice blend, frozen strawberries, frozen bananas, ice.

Pomegranate Paradise: Pomegranate juice blend, frozen strawberries, frozen mangoes, frozen peaches, ice.

Mega Mango: Orange juice, pineapple juice blend, frozen mangoes, frozen strawberries, ice.

Amy's Gluten-free Dairy-Free Spinach Pizza

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

In the hopes of finding a replacement for my intense love of pizza, I picked up Amy's spinach pizza made with rice crust and soy cheese. Bake it in the oven for 10-12 minutes, then broil for 2-3 to melt the cheese on top. I actually enjoyed it! The crust does NOT get extremely crispy, for those of you who like a crunchy pizza. It's softer and has a different texture than the typical doughy crust. The cheese does taste quite good and the spinach flavor really makes up for the lack in taste. Overall, I'd say this is a pretty good option for lunch or dinner but buy one and check it out. I have a feeling this is one of those hit-or-miss items...it's all up to personal taste.

Trader Joe's Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I started eating these delicious little cookies waaaay before I knew I was allergic to dairy! You can buy them from any Trader Joe's and I can gaurantee you and your family will love them! In fact, they're my dad's favorites! Now, I have to be careful, as they are not gluten-free, but those of you lucky ducks without gluten sensitivities can eat as many as your heart desires! Careful though...each cookie comes at the price of 170 calories! So watch your portions or binge every once in awhile. Trust me, they are worth it!

It's made with WHAT?

Need a translator for your ingredient labels? These are a few key words all dairy allergics should know by heart. Big thanks to the Los Gatos Chiropractic and Wellness Center for providing me this list when I was diagnosed with my food allergies.

DAIRY/CASEIN

Always contain dairy/casein: Casein, Caseinates, De-lactosed whey, Lactalbumins, Lactoglobulins, Lactose, Nougat, Rennet, Whey, Whey powder, Whey protein concentrate, Anything labeled with a "D"

May contain dairy/casein: Artificial butter flavor, Caramel Color or Flavor, Natural or artificial flavorings

Common sources: Baby food, Baked goods, Breaded foods, Candy, Canned fish, Dressings, Mayonnaise, Margarine, "Non-Dairy" substitutes, Processed meat, Pudding and custard, Sauces, Soy cheese, Sherbert

EGGS

Always contain eggs: Albumin/albumen, Globulin, Livetins, Lysozyme, Ovalbumin, Ovamucin, Ovamucoid, Ovoglobulin, Ovovitellin, Simplesse, Vitellin, Yolk

May contain egg: Binder, Coagulant, Emulsifier, Lecithin

Common sources: Baby Food, Baked goods, Bouillon/consomme, Candy, Ice cream, Mayonnaise, Meringue, Pasta, Processed meat, Salad dressings (ceasar), Sauces (hollandaise, bearnaise, newburg), Specialty coffee, White wine

Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-free Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cherrybrook Kitchen is another great company to keep an eye out for. Their products are always peanut free, dairy free, egg free, and nut free. In addition, they have an entire line of gluten-free mixes for cookies, pancakes, cakes, and brownies. I recently tried out the mix for Chocolate Chip cookies. Made with rice flower and non-dairy chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, dextrose, cocoa butter- don't be fooled, its not dairy- soy lecithin, and vanilla extract), this mix is combined with dairy-free margarine (I recommend Nucoa), water, and vanilla to make 20 delicious cookies. Now, these cookies don't taste exactly like regular chocolate chip cookies. Instead, they have a little bit more of a granulated texture with a salty crunch on the outside. I couldn't keep my family away. My brother, mom, AND dad wouldn't stop grabbing them off the cooling rack! Another bonus- the dough is YUMMY and since it contains no raw eggs, it's safe to lick the bowl! Check out their website

A Must Have Cookbook for the Dairy Allergic!

You'd never guess how many people in the world have issues with dairy. It wasn't until recently that I found out that my hair stylist, who has been doing my hair for over 8 years now, can't stomach dairy just like me! Luckily, she recommended this cookbook- The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Jo Stepaniak. It has amazing recipes, not to mention important information, about life for cheese lovers who are dairy intolerant. I'm ordering mine on Amazon tonight...it has 4.5 stars! Not to mention, my hair stylist is awesome and I completely trust her opinion. Check this book out NOW or buy it as a gift for your dairy-free friends! Click here to order

Dairy-free, Gluten-free Chicken Veggie Stir-fry Quesadillas

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

These are a healthy and FILLING choice for lunch or dinner! I now live off them. You can make them in a snap- a must have for Mexican food lovers and kids!

Ingredients:
2 white corn tortillas
3 mini sweet peppers (try Disney Garden brand)
1 chicken breast tender
2 handfuls of shredded cheddar veggie cheese (in the produce aisle of Safeway)
1 tsp olive oil (or flavored olive oil)

1. Heat up oil in a small wok or pan. Cut chicken tender into small strips (1 in long, ½ in wide) and place in pan on medium heat.

2. Once one side of chicken has cooked, turn strips over. Cut sweet peppers into similar sized strips and scatter over chicken. Stir-fry on medium heat. When veggies are tender and chicken is full cooked, leave on low heat. (Want to spice it up? Throw in other veggies like hot peppers or onions)

3. Place two tortillas on a plate and scatter half of each with a handful of veggie cheese. Microwave for 1 minute to melt. Don’t cook any longer or cheese will become too tough.

4. Scatter veggies and chicken on top of cheese and fold tortillas in half. Using the remaining oil in the pan, place quesadillas on pan at medium heat for a minute each side (or more, until tortillas are slightly crispy). Enjoy with fresh guacamole, salsa, or vegan sour cream.

To make this meal even faster to prepare, cook several chicken breasts and veggies, and store leftovers in the fridge. Next day? Pop them in the microwave to reheat and continue from step 3!

Dairy-free Ice Cream Sandwiches that You'll LOVE

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Looking for a low-cal after dinner dessert? I recently wrote a review for Purely Decadent soy ice creams made by Turtle Mountain. Another great find by the company? 90 calorie So Delicious Minis...dairy free ice cream sandwiches that come in Vanilla, Chocolate, Neapolitan, Pomegranate and Mint. They are incredibly tasty- like a REAL ice cream sandwich! They also come in full size bars, as well as in an organic option. Here is the one thing: get them in the freezer! I bought two boxes at Safeway today and after the car ride home, they were a little warm and didn't taste as great as when they came fresh from the freezer. When they are really cold, I swear you will be hooked INSTANTANEOUSLY! As this is my SECOND five ♥ review for the Turtle Mountain company, they are the first to be placed on the "Udderly Amazing" list- your guide to companies that consistently provide the best in dairy-free foods!

Tofutti's Dairy-free Sour Supreme

Rating: ♥


Some people like to dip everything in ranch dressing...I myself am a fan of sour cream. When I found out I couldn't have a dollop of Daisy with every meal, I was crushed. As a picky eater, I used sour cream to hide the flavors of foods I didn't like or make a spicy dish a little more mild. So I was stoked when I found a dairy-free sour cream substitute- Tofutti's Sour Supreme. But don't get TOO excited, reader. My enthusiasm was brought to a screeching halt when I opened the tub. The consistency was rubbery, kind of like what you would expect a dried-out can of paint to look like. And taste wasn't much better. My baked potato and margarine was much better without this addition. I'd say do one of two things: cut out your sour cream consumption completely or keep looking for another alternative. Trust me, I've been searching but even "sour cream substitutes" like IMO have dairy in them. If you are not hugely allergic to dairy and just have a strong sensitivity, cut out dairy full time and allow yourself a small dollop (1 Tbsp) of a light sour cream (you'll avoid the richness that can often create an upset stomach) on special occasions. If you must avoid dairy at all costs, look at other products that can be used instead of creamy condiments. For example, to tone down spicy Mexican food, use some fresh guacamole. For a yummy baked potato, remove insides from skin after baking and mix with rice milk, margarine, and a dash of salt. Spoon it back into its skin and sprinkle with bacon bits, chives, or shredded veggie cheese. You'll find a way to get your sour cream fix, but trust me...Sour Supreme isn't it!

All About "Margarine"

Have you noticed that so many of the "margarine" products on our shelves actually contain dairy ingredients? Though people may be cutting calories a bit, I feel like these margarines that are half dairy are kind of like ordering a Diet Coke with your Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese- what's the point?! For those of us with dairy issues, it's essential to find a margarine that is vegan. Here are popular margarines that are dairy free:

*Earth Balance (also available in soy free)
*Pure Soya
*Pure Sunflower
*Smart Balance LITE
*Nucoa (for cooking)

CAUTION: I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Smart Balance Regular, Imperial Margarine, Promise, and Sheds Spread are a few that are NOT dairy free!


Margarine that includes any of the following is NOT dairy-free:

Artificial butter flavor, Butter, Butter fat, Buttermilk, Butter oil, Casein, Caseinates, Cheese, Cottage cheese, Cream, Curds, Custard, Ghee, Goat’s milk, Half & Half, Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, why protein), Kefir, Koumiss, Lactalbumin, Lactalbumin phosphate, Lactoglobulin, Lactose, Lactulose, Milk, Milkfat, Nougat, Paneer, Pudding, Rennet casein, Sour Cream, Sour cream solids, Sour milk solids, Whey, Yogurt

Here is my favorite....Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

In my opinion, this margarine has the most "buttery" taste. It's not soft and soupy like the margarine I grew up on (Imperial Margarine...NOT dairy free) and feels more like the consistency of a normal tub of butter. It also melts very well, making my dairy- and gluten-free waffles much more enjoyable in the morning. This spread comes in several varieties including Original, Original Whipped (my favorite), Soy Garden (extra soy for increased health benefits), Soy Free, Original made with Olive Oil, and buttery sticks and shortening for baking. Other products by Earth Balance include natural vegan crunchy Peanut Butter and natural vegan creamy Almond Butter. Check out their website for details and recipes.

ALSO check back in a few weeks! I will be doing a blind taste test with 10 people to find the (objective) best-tasting vegan margarine on the market. Let's see if my favorite holds out or if I'll find a new buttery spread love.

Purely Decadent Soy Ice Cream

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


DELICIOUS ALERT! Were you dairy allergics so bummed when you realized no more ice cream? I know I was! I still remember those summer nights as Baskin Robins...what a treat! But don't fret- I found your solution! Purely Decadent Soy Ice Cream by Turtle Mountain is a dairy-free ice cream that will knock your socks off!!! I picked up a carton of Peanut Butter Zig Zag at Safeway tonight and was shocked by how yummy it was- it could have been Haagen Daz! Turtle Mountain is dedicated to bringing non-dairy options to those of us who have issues with lactose. Their products range from soy ice creams, milks and yogurts to coconut milk products for those who have soy sensitivities. And the best part of it all- they have a HUGE selection of flavors! No "beggars can't be choosers" mind frame here! I hate when the dairy free products give you so few choices. Here are the amazing flavors that the soy ice cream comes in:

* Belgian Chocolate
* Blueberry Cheesecake
* Cherry Nirvana
* Chocolate Brownie Almond
* Chocolate Obsession
* Chunky Mint Madness
* Coconut Craze
* Cookie Avalanche
* Cookie Dough
* Dulce de Leche
* Key Lime Pie
* Mint Chocolate Chip
* Mocha Almond Fudge
* Peanut Butter Zig Zag
* Pomegranate Chip
* Praline Pecan
* Purely Vanilla
* Rocky Road
* Snickerdoodle
* So Very Strawberry
* Turtle Trails

Want more details on Turtle Mountain products? See their website!

Glutino Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars

Rating: ♥

I'm always one for a quick breakfast on the go. It's great to have "go to" items for those mornings you accidentally slept in or forgot you had an appointment first thing. I used to reach for cereal bars or, my favorite, the NutriGrain bar. When I found out about my dairy and gluten allergies, I couldn't find my quick breakfast solution. I was hopeful when I picked up Glutino's Breakfast Bars...but (I hoped I'd never have to write this) I was very disappointed. Made with chick pea flour, corn flour, and tapioca starch, these bars are too chewy and lack any taste. My vote- keep searching for your breakfast-on-the-go. Mine is currently my new staple item, LARABARS in Peanut Butter cookie. Got a better solution? Let me know!!!