Cooking for Special Diet

azucena

My OH has been put on a special eating plan for medical reasons. We have been following this plan for 8 months and it is beneficial. The eating plan is largely Mediterranean-style, which we both enjoy. We are allowed chicken (has to be organic, which is very expensive), game and fish.

There are, however, banned items and I do miss them in cooking. Beef is off the menu, as are pork, lamb and processed meats. We are not allowed dairy products (with the exception of a little butter) or mushrooms.

Our family will be with us over the Bank Holiday weekend, and I would like us all to eat the same meals as much as possible. As well as our dietary needs I have to consider one vegetarian, one non-wheat eater, one carnivore and two little boys who thankfully eat almost anything and just need healthy food! In the past I would often make lasagne for family meals (with a veggie version as well), and I really miss not being to cook this; I can cope with the lack of beef and I can use non-wheat pasta, but the cheese sauce poses a problem! Any ideas for family meals would be welcome.

FloralRainbow

Is soy or rice milk permitted on the eating plan? You could use that to make the lasagne sauce with some non wheat flour.

Alternatively, have you thought of a barbecue style, Mediterranean type meal with lots of little dishes? This might be a lot of work, but could you rope people in to help out? In my experience children love choosing what veg to put on a vegetable kebab! You could barbecue (or grill if the weather is too bad) fish in foil parcels with some herbs, and some chicken pieces too. You could also cook some bean burgers for vegetarians and those that want a burger. Then everyone would be able to pick and choose what they do or don't eat, but everyone is eating essentially the same meal.

HTH, will have a think to see if I can come up with any more ideas!:)

RosyRed

Hi ,I also make the sauce for lasagne with soya milk(the unsweetened one)or any non dairy alternative,and cornflour to thicken it.You could do a chicken & spinach version,or seafood one in addition to your veggie one,or what about potato topped fish pie with the fish done in the same above sauce.
The HairyBikers recently made a slimmers version of lasagne that used leeks unrolled and blanched instead of pasta .
Chicken or veg curry and rice?

azucena

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, soya milk is allowed and I am going to try making lasagne with it. However, I am worried that without cheese it will be very dull.

I must sound very negative, but I'm not the one making the rules! With regard to barbecued food, sadly that has been banned, as has chilli (though I think that may now be allowed - I must check, as that would make chicken curry a possibility).

RosyRed

I do sympathise,our son has quite a few food allergies,the main ones being chicken and tomatoes.He has gone back on cheese now,but having been used to soya since being a child(adult now)tends to stick with it.Sometimes I add a bit of mustard to the sauce to make it tastier,depending what its used for of course,goes ok in the fish pie,prob not in the lasagne .If you are making the lasagne in a big dish,could you sprinkle a bit of cheese on one end,and serve DH from the end that doesnt have any on?

Little_Vics

I'm gluten free, but got round making lasagne by using sliced aubergine instead of pasta, and cornflour in the cheese sauce. I know that doesn't help the dairy issue though.

Can you do some kind of veggie curry or rice based thingy? Stuffed peppers? Can you have fish?

azucena

Fish - definitely yes. Stuffed peppers - yes. Pasta is OK. The idea of serving the lasagne with a non-cheese end is a good one. It seems I was using too much cheese in the past as I put it in the sauce as well as on top! Thanks for your ideas.

PipneyJane

What about moussaka using soy mince/quorn and coconut milk mixed with eggs for the topping? No wheat. No dairy. And it should keep the veggies happy.

(I've not tried it but Evelyn Rose suggested it in one of her cookery columns a lifetime ago in the Jewish Cronicle. Kosher keeping Jews can't mix dairy products with meat so have to find practical alternatives.)

tryingtoruletheworld

Home made pesto (I make it without cheese) and can be used pretty easily with wheat free pasta. I make it with brazil nuts/almonds/pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds, lots of basil, olive oil, salt, garlic and some lemon juice or vinegar to taste. I also use it as a layer in lasagne instead of cheese, and lentil tomato sauce is amazing instead of beef.

I also make risotto without cheese, you just have to make sure you use really good stock. I like pea and mint as the flavours are much more noticable without the heaviness of the cheese. Butternut squash and sage is also delicious.

Stir fry with lots of rich soy sauce, ginger, garlic and coriander could add some richness.

Lots of little dishes could be fun, houmous, salad, baba ganoush, pitta chips, balsamic roasted beetroot, salsa, guacamole, lightly spiced couscous or quinoa, rice salad, stuffed vine leaves, olives, roasted peppers, artichokes, some good bread, any bits and pieces you can pick at.

Have you looked at the vegan thread? That would probably have a lot to offer in regards to the veggie and dairy free requirements.

vanoonoo

in holland and barrett (sp?) they have a dairy free cheese sauce mix in a tub near the stock and pate spread things I'll see if I can find a link - I havent tried it but was planning to get some this weekend - or there are dairy free cheeses in the chillers in many healthfood shops which you could maybe use to make a cheese sauce?

this is it http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=2686&prodid=3085 - out of stock online but other places may have it online or you local shop may have it - if I try it I'll report back!

if you check out the meal plan thread there's at least one vegan meal planner person (apologies cant remember their name) but they may have some no dairy receipe ideas or product suggestions. I am dairy intolerant but love meat so think of myself as a meat eating vegan

azucena

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. Some I'm doing already, and you have all given me some new ideas. Soy sauce is unfortunately off the menu, but everything else looks possible.