Foods to Avoid and Substitutions to Make with Food Allergies

Food allergies can be a debilitating medical condition especially if you are newly diagnosed. Each person has their own individual food allergy triggers and specific diagnostic tests may be needed to identify them. Once you have been tested, evaluated and your food triggers have been identified, you can alter your food choices and eating habits to avoid having an allergic reaction.

To help you with this task, you should read the labels for all foods that you buy and keep a food diary to track the foods and amounts that you eat. It is also helpful to wear a medical wristband that lists your food allergies and contact information to call in case of an emergency.

It is important to discuss your specific food allergies with your physician as they can impact diagnostic tests that you take and prescriptions that are prescribed for you. The following is a list of some of the most common food allergy triggers and some alternative choices that you can make to avoid having an allergic reaction.

Milk Allergy

If you have a milk allergy, you should avoid cow’s milk and cow’s milk products. You should also avoid butter, cheese, ice cream, margarine, pudding, sour cream, yogurt, chocolate, baked goods and other dairy products. As a substitute, you can use soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and coconut milk. You can also use cold-pressed coconut oil as a bread spread or thickener for fruit smoothies.

Egg Allergy

If you have an egg allergy, you should avoid eggs, mayonnaise, ice cream, baked goods and precooked pasta. As a substitute, you can use liquid egg replacers that are specifically labeled as not containing eggs. These products are available in most health food stores and often marketed as vegan egg replacers.

Peanut Allergy

If you have a peanut allergy, you should avoid peanuts, mixed nuts, peanut butter, ice cream, pancakes, Chinese food, Mexican food and vegetarian food products. As a substitute, you can use soybeans, walnuts, almond butter, cashew butter, soy nut butter, sunflower seed butter and other nuts and nut butters.

Soy Allergy

If you have a soybean allergy, you should avoid soy sauce, tofu, tamari sauce, bakery goods, processed meats, cereals, cookies, crackers, canned soups, canned tuna and even soaps and moisturizers. You can substitute fish sauce or oyster sauce for soy sauce, or use a combination of balsamic vinegar and olive oil as an accompaniment to rice and other dishes.

Wheat Allergy

If you have a wheat allergy, you should avoid all products with wheat flour including bread, pasta, cake, cookies and bakery goods. As a substitute, you can use powdered amaranth, powdered quinoa, rice flour, buckwheat flour, rye flour and corn flour.

Shellfish Allergy

If you have a shellfish allergy, you should avoid shrimp, crab, lobster, prawns, crawfish, clams, cuttlefish, scallops, squid and artificial seafood. As a substitute, you can use chicken, veal, turkey or pork.

These are a few of the foods to avoid and substitutes to make in your diet if you have food allergies. Contact your physician for a complete list of recommended foods for your particular sensitivities. You can also check recipe substitution guides online for other foods that you can substitute in recipes when preparing food.

For comprehensive testing and evaluation of your specific allergies, contact Allergy & Asthma Centers SC. We can test you for your particular allergy triggers, recommend alternative choices, prescribe oral medications to control your symptoms and administer desensitization shots, if necessary. Our board-certified doctors and medical staff can design a treatment program especially for you that will give you the best solution and bring you the most relief.