BF moms - milk/soy allergy. what do you eat??

I eat out a lot. Can I eat plain grilled chicken? Can I eat breads? french fries, tator tots? plain baked potatos? I am sorry if these are stupid questions but I am at a loss. The Ped told me today I can eat cookies and cakes as long as the milk is cooked into it?! Then the other Ped said most children with a milk protein may have a soy allergy!?! I am thinking of cutting both out of my diet for a bit but I have no idea what I can eat. I am looking for breakfast/lunch/dinner ideas (not cooking from scratch) along with a few items I would be able to order when I am out. I am quite lazy when it comes to cooking so I really need ready made stuff. Is it worth taking a trip to whole foods?

Also, if I cut out soy and it turns out he wasn't allergic, will it hurt him in the long run because then he wasn't exposed? He is already 3 1/2 months and we just found out about this allergy. He doesn't show any signs except a lot of spit up.

Also, what about desserts? I am a candy junkie too.
Thanks!

Message edited 4/28/2012 12:07:51 AM.

Re: BF moms - milk/soy allergy. what do you eat??

I am on my phone right now so can't really give a whole detailed response, but I will tomorrow! Plain grilled chicken is fine, baked potato is fine (just remember, no butter on it), most breads are made with whey so are not ok. I used to just not risk it at all if I was out to eat and couldn't read labels. French fries are often made with milk so I always avoided them. But your son's sensitivity may not be that severe, so you mat be ok with them. It's honestly a lot of trial and error. And don't be afraid to try, especially since it sounds like his is probably mild. Since you know he won't be in pain, try things and see if he has a reaction. My son only had a couple instances of screaming in pain (before it was diagnosed) and after that, if I accidentally had hidden dairy in something, he would have blood in his poop, but no other symptoms at all. There is only a 30% cross-reactivity with dairy and soy. So I would honestly try it the other way around. Start with just eliminating dairy, then if you don't see in improvement in a few weeks, try eliminating soy as well. I say this because it is REALLY hard to cut out soy. Definitely doable, but a lot harder than just dairy because it is in so many things.
I am also a very picky eater who does not cook and goes out to eat a lot! I ate a LOT of eggs, cereal (with almond milk), bagels (with Earth Balance butter), pasta, chicken (not breaded). For lunch I did mainly sandwiches or salads or bagels. Like I said, most bread is made with whey, so you have to read the labels in the store before you buy it. I honestly can't remember which brand I used!
For sweets- a lot of dark chocolate is ok (just have to read the labels), and carob is a great chocolate-tasting alternative. There is a brand called Ciao Bella that makes really delicious ice cream that's dairy free. They also make gelatos though, which are not dairy free, so don't get those. I loved Tofutti ice cream. HTH!