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Jerry has been quoted for saying: “I’m lactose intolerant. I have no patience for lactose, and I won’t stand for it.”

I’m sure you have seen Jerry’s TV show Jerry Seinfeld- but did you notice that he always has cereal. This makes no sense since he lactose intolerant! Does he always put Lactaid milk in his cereal?

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Talk to your Pharmacist before taking supplements or prescription drugs.

Brace yourself for this one. Lactose is used as a filler in almost every prescription and over-the-counter drug (including birth control pills and calcium supplements) made by almost any pharmaceudical company!!! I can’t tell you how much email I’ve received about this. Although the amount of lactose used is sometimes so small that it isn’t even on the label–of course, making it difficult to detect–severely lactose intolerant individuals may feel the familiar effects of the lactose.

I’d like to tell you to read the label. But, often labels are covered with prescription labels, and sometimes ingredient lists exclude lactose because there’s not much in there. What you can do is talk to your pharmacist about your prescriptions and encourage him or her to call the specific company which makes your medication for ingredient information. Note that over-the-counter versions of some prescription medications may not have the same ingredients. Also, generic brands do not have exactly the same makeup as their brand-name counterparts.

So. . .call the drug manufacturer or have your pharmacist do it.

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Five years ago, two chocolate loving friends, one a dedicated vegan vegetarian and the other allergic to dairy, were unable to get really good tasting chocolate they would be willing to eat. They decided to do something about their problem and made their own chocolate!

After much research and experimentation, they came up with a really delicious chocolate with no dairy. Realizing that there were a lot of other people in the world like them, they decided to form a company to market and distribute their dairy-free chocolates.

To find out more about their chocolates, check out Chocolate Decadence or call 800-324-5018.

Dark Chocolate
Did you know dark chocolate doesn’t have lactose in it? Its SAFE to have if your lactose intolerant!

Kirsten

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Looking for an energy supplement or quick appetite fix without lactose? Clif Bars, natural energy bars, do not contain dairy products and are available at many grocery and health food stores, including Whole Foods Market.

Clif Bar also makes dairy-free Luna nutrition bars for women. Both Clif and Luna bars are available in many flavors. My favorite is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Clif Bar! Yum!

Unfortunately, many other “diet” or energy bars do contain lactose. Powerbar, maker of the most available energy bar, does not have a lactose-free version. (Hint: Hey Powerbar, maybe you should think about us? We’re great consumers with a lot of purchasing power!)

One disclaimer, you really should eat these before a workout, not just randomly, since they not only give you a lot of energy, but also are a source of extra calories you may not otherwise burn off. Yep, found that one out the hard way after eating one before a 2 hour plane trip–I just couldn’t sit still! Same goes for feeding them to your kids!

Kirsten

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Q: I know that it’s a good idea to add more soy to my diet, but I don’t like the taste of tofu. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Soymilk, TVP (textured vegetable protein), tempeh and miso are all fairly easy to find these days.

There are also products on the market that, if you weren’t told, you might never know were made of soy: frozen desserts that use tofu and natural thickeners to achieve an ice-creamy texture; barbecued and smoked tofu products that can taste like cuts of meat or smoked cheeses; soy “meats” that look like slices of bologna, hot dogs or ground beef; soy slices that are flavored like cheeses, and melt like them, too; even a sprinkleable soy “Parmesan”!

Some folks are put off by tofu’s taste, or rather by its lack of taste. But its blandness makes it a great backdrop for flavors imparted by herbs, spices, sauces and dressings. Long marinating helps impart flavor, and the way you slice or cube the tofu can help present as much surface area to the sauce or marinade as possible.

Other people have issues with its texture, but tofu is available in a wide range, from the custardy silken tofu to the toothy extra-firm. The softer the tofu, the smoother it will be in a purée; the firmer it is, the better it is for cutlets and sandwiches. Some recipes direct you to drain and press the tofu to get an even chewier feel. Breading and then frying or baking the tofu can also give it an appealing texture — crisp on the outside, but tender on the inside.

For some great soy recipes, check out The Whole Soy Cookbook, 175 delicious, nutritious, easy-to-prepare Recipes featuring tofu, tempeh, and various forms of nature’s healthiest Bean by Patricia Greenberg.

Kirsten

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Guess what? You can order lactose-free meals on airlines !!!

Traveling is always difficult because its harder to control what is available to eat. But, there is good news about airplane food. You can request DAIRY FREE meals!

Just make sure to confirm your meal preference when you make your reservation. It’s free, and the food is often fresher and better than the regular airplane food. Plus, it’s likely you’ll get your meal first.

Even though your meal will have your name and “No Lactose” written on it, don’t forget to read the labels on prepackaged items like desserts. I have yet to get a lactose-free dessert with my lactose-free meal! However, many of the regular desserts like pre-packaged sugar cookies are lactose-free. Hey, I don’t set the airfare prices either. Read the labels.

Don’t ask for a vegetarian meal. You’re likely to get substandard lasagna.

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