Lactose Intolerance?

Question

My mum is the head cook at a local primary school, she has just found out that in the new school year (september), a child with lacose intolerance will be joining the school and will be requiring school meals.

Upon speaking to the local authority it has come to light that they have no contingency plan for when a situation like this occurs.

Therefor, id be very greatful for any information you could supply on suitable meals and recipes that are lactose/dairy free and suitable for school meals and a young child

Thanks in advance

G

Im in England
And the kid wont be popping pills he'll be getting proper meals.

Answer 1

My son has a milk allergy and currently there are 2 school meals each month he can/will actually eat - fish fingers and hot dogs! The rest of the time I make packed lunches for him.

Your mums best bet will be to check out some allergy sites to get recipes and information if she's not clued up about what foods to avoid. She should also have a chat with the childs parent(s) who will have a lot of knowledge because they've lived with it. It might mean changing some ingredients if the school makes food from scratch, but the taste change is minimal so I doubt if there would be any complaints. She can find out if it is an allergy or just intolerance - the difference being one is life threatening, the other causes discomfort ranging from slight to severe. Good on her for taking the time to check it all out!

Answer 2

Lactose intolerant happens when a person doesn't produce enough lactase enzyme to break down lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk. It effects 50-70% of the world's adult population, and about 1 in 4 Americans.

A person who is lactose intolerant does not have to completely eliminate lactose from their diet, but in higher quantities, lactose will cause stomach pain, cramping, diarrhea, gas and bloating.

Your mother would want to verify this with the parents of the child in question, but most likely the school menu would not have to be altered much, other than providing lactose-free milk (many companies, including Lactaid and Dean's, make this) or soy milk, which is naturally lactose-free. A small amount of cheese or other products with lactose are probably not going to affect the student.

I have lived with lactose intolerance for about 5 years. I can eat a sandwich with a few slices of cheese, light sauces made with milk products, and cook and bake with milk products without any discomfort. If I want a bowl of ice cream, macaroni and cheese, or a slice of cheesecake, I take a dairy digestive supplement. It is not a drug; it is a lactase enzyme dietary supplement and may be used by children ages 4 years and older.

Perhaps the parents of the child will simply be able to review the school menu by day and determine when an alternate choice will be needed.

Happy Cooking!
Maria

Answer 3

My son is allergic to milk. I wouldn't expect a whole new dish (assuming there is a choice of foods each day). Cheese is the main problem, but if there is cheesy pasta, I'd expect something else, he often has ham salad or similar instead. I'd avoid soya in large quantities as it mimics hormones in the body, but you could try Oatly (with added calcium, which can be cooked with. Try speaking to the parents, they must have things they can suggest and if its lactose intolerance (as opposed to a milk protein allergy) he could be given 'lactaid' drops which help replace the missing enzyme (which you also buy in the UK - he may be able to get it on prescription)

Answer 4

There are a number of good books around with Lactose intolerance recipes in, i use one that i purchased from w.h. smith last year, they also recommend other items you can use in place of dairy items, which will make the cooking process easier for your mom.

Answer 5

Here are some tips for dealing with lactose intolerance:

Choose lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk.
Take a lactase enzyme supplement (such as Lactaid) just before you eat dairy products. These can be taken in drops or tablets and even added directly to milk (they tend to make milk taste a bit sweeter if left for a long time).
When you do drink milk or eat lactose-containing foods, eat other non-lactose foods at the same meal to slow digestion and avoid problems. (For example, if you are going to have a milkshake, don't drink it by itself. Have something else with it — like a healthy sandwich.)
Drink juices that are fortified with calcium.
Eat a variety of dairy-free foods that are rich in calcium, such as broccoli, beans, tofu, or soy milk. Consider hard cheeses such as cheddar, which are lower in lactose.
Yogurts that contain active cultures are easier to digest and much less likely to cause lactose problems.
Learn to read food labels. Lactose is added to some boxed, canned, frozen, and prepared foods like bread, cereal, lunchmeats, salad dressings, mixes for cakes and cookies, and coffee creamers. Be aware of certain words that may mean the food has lactose in it: butter, cheese, cream, dried milk, milk solids, powdered milk, and whey, for example.

Answer 6

That's difficult if you order in food from a company instead of having it made fresh, where ingredients can be changed. You'll need a radical rethink of menu's. Lactose intolerance is a difficult allergy, not to be made fun of, as is glucose intolerance.
The LEA should advise, but i'll keep checking the www. for you.

Answer 7

Lactose Free Corn Chowder
INGREDIENTS
5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup sliced leeks
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 cup non-dairy creamer (lactose free)
salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a 3 quart pot over high heat, combine the potatoes with enough water to cover. Boil for one hour, adding water to cover potatoes as necessary. Add the celery, leeks and scallions and boil for another hour.
Reduce heat to low, add the corn and parsley and heat through. Add the non-dairy creamer just before serving. Enjoy!

Answer 8

Soy products go soy,also sherbet, tofu kashi has a great variety of food also

Answer 9

my dad is lactose intolerant, and my mom is a great cook, but doesn't care to cater to his allergy. my dad just pops pills when he eats lactose. get the kid's mother to sign something giving your mom permission to give him those specific pills.

Answer 10

Chicken nuggets, and pasta they have no dairy and they are good to serve for lunch. For dessert offer fruit instead of puddings. Or Jello is good too.