Allergen-free eating looks different for everybody, and there is really no such thing as an allergen-free food because people can be allergic to almost any food. Today, we are going to look at some of the top allergens and how to avoid them by using substitutions.
Dairy
With dairy products like milk, cheese, butter, margarine, yogurt, or ice cream, there are many alternatives available on your nearest grocery store shelf. Some options include soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, and my personal favorite, almond milk.
What are you supposed to do when you follow a recipe that requires a dairy product?
If your recipe asks for margarine or butter, you can substitute with a vegan margarine, or you can use coconut oil. Canola oil is also an alternative for butter or margarine; however, you will likely need less canola oil if you choose to substitute it. For example, if a recipe calls for a cup of butter, use 3/4s of a cup of canola oil instead!
Cow’s milk can easily be substituted easily for a soy milk or other vegan milk; however, be sure not to use a flavored milk (like vanilla) in place of a regular dairy milk, unless you’re making something sweet!
Egg
Baking or cooking with an egg allergy comes with some challenges, but it is possible to make your favorite desserts and dishes without eggs. Egg replacement powders can be purchased and used in place of eggs in baking dishes or casseroles; egg replacement powder helps hold the baked dish together- as an egg would. You would not, unfortunately, want to make an omelet or egg dish (like scrambled eggs) with this powder, as this egg powder has a different taste and consistency than an egg would.
In baking dishes you could also use 1.5 tablespoons of oil, 1.5 tablespoons of warm water, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder in place of a single egg. Whisk ingredients together until its foamy and there you have your egg replacement for your favorite baking dish!
Soy
Managing a soy allergy can be difficult; however, knowing different ways to substitute soy when cooking is important for someone with a soy allergy. Note that many soy substitutes often contain coconut (a tree nut) or dairy, so be sure that those are safe options for you. Soy-free substitutions can be found at your local grocery store. Things like soy free margarine and shortening can be really useful in baking and cooking for a soy-free diet. Coconut Aminos are also a great option for substituting soy sauce. Depending on the brand of Coconut amino, you may need more or less of it to substitute for soy sauce in recipes.
Wheat
While many baking recipes call for flour or another type of wheat, it is something that can always be substituted! These substitutions are also gluten free, for those who need to avoid gluten.
Substituting wheat flour with just a single type of substitution flour may make your dish look or taste a bit funny. To substitute baking flour with wheat free options, use this recipe:
4-½ cups white rice flour
1-½ cups potato starch (not potato flour)
¾ cup tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
If you are having trouble finding any of the above ingredients, you can buy 1-1 baking flour that is gluten-free at a grocery store. I have seen this in a lot of bigger grocery stores, but you many need to look around different grocers to find it!
As for pasta or wheat-free snacks, just look for rice pasta (quinoa and corn pastas are available too). Often, grocery stores have a gluten-free section for necessities and snacks, some even have a frozen gluten-free section! That is a great place to look for snacks and other substitutions in your gluten-free diet. Be open to trying new things, while some gluten-free items are well…not great; some are even better than the wheat option. My favorite are gluten-free pretzels!