Soy/dairy free in Disney World?

Pelusa214

Hi Ladies,

My youngest is now 20 months, but my long story is that DD#1 had a milk protein allergy until age 3, and DD#2 had a milk and (likely) soy allergy.  I wasn't able to make it past 3 months with either between the extreme colic, near-starvation from being unable to function enough on 1-2 hours of sleep a night and 6-8 hours of crying during the day to research what I COULD eat on a DF/SF diet, major nipple trauma due to inverted nipple, etc.  They both wound up on Alimentum, and we all survived, but the 20 month old still acts colicky quite often, and the 5 year old suffers from psoriasis.  Nothing we can put our finger on, but I always suspect food intolerances to contribute to these vague maladies.

Anyway, about 3 months ago, I very suddenly was completely unable to tolerate milk products at all.  This happened practically overnight, and taking Lactaid pills did nothing to help the situation.  In fact, if I had even small amounts of dairy 2-3 days in a row, I would get fairly ill, to the point where several times I thought I had a stomach virus.  Terrible stomach pain and diarrhea for days.

Now that I've pinpointed dairy and eliminated it, I still find myself having digestive problems, although not as severe.  It's almost as if I've eaten some hidden dairy, but I can't figure out what.  After having done DF twice already, I think I'm pretty good at not having hidden dairy, so I'm starting to think it's soy, too.  Yikes.

So, on top of feeling terribly guilty (because I feel like I was the cause of my childrens' misery as babies), I have no idea what to eat.  I'm already having trouble finding things I like to eat.  The DF ice creams and yogurts are awful.  I drink my coffee black now rather than put some grainy, pasty "creamer" in it.  I often just skip meals altogether because I just can't find something to eat and after feeding 2 kids and cleaning up after them, who has time to spend an hour fixing a meal for themselves?

But my MAJOR problem is that we are going to Disney in 2 weeks with my entire family, and I'm afraid I'm going to spend the entire week with diarrhea!  We are staying outside the park and will have a fridge, so I can buy food and bring it with me, but A)I don't even know what to buy & pack now that I suspect soy, too, and I'm sure we will have to eat SOME meals in restaurants.

ANY suggestions would be super-appreciated!

LSU628

Disney is FANTASTIC with food allergies. If you make reseravations you can indicate in your reservation that there is someone in your party with a food allergy. Or, when you get to the restaurant notify the hostess/waitress that you have a food allergy. The manager or chef will come out, ask about the allergy, and either show you things on the menu that you can eat- or will create something you can eat. I almost cried at the Chef Mickey breakfast when the chef went in the back and whipped up a dairy-free Mickey shaped waffle for my DD so she could have the experience like my nephews.

LSU628

Check out this website too, it's very helpful for planning your trip
https://www.allergyeats.com/disney/

PipSqueak0313

An idea for you for eating at home since I have no experience with WDW. I am gluten intolerant and for a quick bite I heat up frozen veggies in the microwave. Now that I have to cut dairy for LO, I toss with a little bit of coconut or olive oil and some of the salt free 17 seasoning from Lawrys. Works great with a veggie blend that includes kidney, white, and garbonzo type beans for protein. You can also do them without the oil.

shotzie

Get some Applegate Farms cold cuts and bakery bread for sandwiches. Add avocado for some good, healthy fat. My go to breakfast is oatmeal with brown sugar and I add strawberries, you could add walnuts too. Eggs would be another easy breakfast option. Fruits and veggies are an easy, quick snack. Apples and peanut butter or sunbutter...

Grilled chicken and roasted/steamed veggies, or salad with grilled chicken are good options at restaurants. Just tell them your restrictions and make sure they don't use butter.

Have you talked to your doctor about this? Have they ruled out your gallbladder?