Customer Reviews

Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living

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It is rare that within a 24 hour period I make four recipes from one cookbook, let alone a newly acquired one. But Go Dairy Free, by Alisa Marie Fleming, is so fantastic, that I needed to dig in immediately. And then I couldn't stop!

This is a must-have cookbook for anyone looking to expand their recipe repertoire, regardless of whether you want or need to go dairy-free. Besides fabulous sounding recipes, the book is a wealth of information. First of all, the recipe/allergy index at the back of the book is phenomenal. Listed according to categories (dairy alternatives, breakfast to brunch, baking bread, sips & smoothies among others), each section tells you whether the recipe is vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, nut-free and/or peanut-free. This feature alone is worth the very reasonable price of the book (I am not an affiiliate seller for this book - just very pleased!). But I can't stop there. One of the other great features of the book is the section that talks about calcium. How many of us, when friends and/or family realize we're not eating dairy ask us where we'll get our calcium from?! Right? You know what I'm talking about. The author of Go Dairy Free explores this in depth, helping the reader understand how much calcium one really needs and explaining how calcium needs can be met without eating dairy.

My first foray into the book started with a recipe for Creamy Pesto-Inspired Pasta. If I hadn't cooked the dish with my own two hands, I never would've known it wasn't a creamy dairy-filled parmesan sauce. And to boot, it was unbelievably easy. Only thing is, I should've doubled the recipe. We practically licked our plates!

It didn't need anything more to improve the taste, but I decided to try the author's Easy Parmesan Substitute. Three ingredients. Delicious. A great dairy-free alternative to parmesan cheese which we sprinkled over the pasta. Delish. I'm hooked!

This morning, I made one of the author's smoothie recipes. Again, dairy-free, delicious, full of omega 3's (flaxseeds) and anti-oxidants (blueberries), and spinach (iron). Yup, you read that right. Spinach. But you couldn't even tell, not by the color of the smoothie (blueish purple) or by the taste which was mostly dominated by the banana and blueberries.

This afternoon I decided to try my hand at Go Dairy Free's Five Minute Nachos. I happened to have some homemade corn tortillas, though it would've worked just as well with store-bought corn tortilla chips. The sauce literally took five minutes plus two minutes for assembling the ingredients. Still, that's amazing, don't you think? And the finished product was fed to four hungry musicians who had just finished a two hour intense rehearsal. I didn't tell them they were eating dairy-free nachos. I just waited for the reaction. They were wowed! We all loved it and none of us could believe that the sauce had no cheese in it.

I delicately plopped refried beans over the chips, then drizzled the cheesy sauce over the whole thing, then threw it in the oven to warm it for about two minutes. It was sensational.

Alisa - I hope you're reading this review. I am crazy about this cookbook. Thank you so much for all of your hard work in pulling together so many fantastic recipes and providing invaluble information that will help me explore dairy-free cooking. Not only that, I have Celiac Disease and am completely gluten-free - this cookbook has recipes that are totally easy to make gluten-free! What a find!

Ellen A.
www.Iamglutenfree.blogspot.com

Whether you're avoiding dairy for health or ethical reasons, you will love this comprehensive book that is both a guide to dairy free living and a cookbook.

The book begins with an explanation of what dairy is, including information about pasteurization, homogenization, lactose-free milk, kefir and milk from other mammals besides cows. She goes on to explain why some people avoid dairy--because of allergies, lactose intolerance, a vegan diet, autism, general health and more. She even addresses infant allergies--how to prevent and recognize them.

Another section is devoted to the question that many people wonder about--how can you get enough calcium with drinking milk. Fleming dispels the myth that you need dairy in your diet, tells you how much calcium you really do need, and lists many calcium rich (nondairy) foods. Before heading on to recipes, the book addresses eating out, traveling, and shopping--giving the reader insight into avoiding dairy when not at home.

Then, my favorite part: the recipes! And what great recipes they are. Perfectly Pear Muffins, Grilled Vegetable Strudel, Better Than Ice Cream, Vanilla Pudding, Lemon Struesel Squares and lots, lots more. A really nice feature is the chart that lists all of the recipes and notes which common allergens they do or do not contain, as well as whether the recipes are vegan.

I highly recommend this cookbook.


This book is

This book is a welcome addition to anyone w/milk allergy intolerance, multiple food allergies or vegan. There is a ton of useful information about where to go for additional recipes or resources. Alisa includes lots of safe substitutes. And this book is very different from many other dairy free books because it does not use a soy substitute in every recipe.

There are a lot of yummy and kid friendly recipes and tricks and handy lists for where dairy hides.

If you're new to living without dairy, or if you've been at it for awhile and need a bunch of new and delcious dairy free (and egg free) recipes, get "Go Dairy Free"

This is a valuable cookbook for me, as I have had to alter my diet completely to eliminate milk products as a result of my nursing son's milk allergies. However, I was delighted to discover that it is much more than a cookbook!

The first several chapters address dairy and dairy-free from a health perspective, explaining things like the make-up of cow's milk and other commercially available mammal milks; what lactose-free, A2, and acidophilus milks and kefir are; what is pasteurization and homogenization; milk's effects on various health issues such as lactose intolerance, ADHD, autism, and weight loss; good sources of calcium; and infant and childhood milk allergies. Everything is well-researched well-explained.

There are chapters on how to be dairy-free when eating away from home, on the road, back to school, and eating with friends and family, as well as how to go grocery shopping and what to stock up on, including helpful sample grocery lists and what ingredients on food labels are milk-derived. There are very specific lists of all kinds of "okay" foods, along with information on how to contact the companies that make them.

There is invaluable information on good dairy substitutes (some that you can purchase pre-made from a store, others that you can make following a recipe) and lots of just good recipes and meal ideas.

At the end, there are a couple chapters on other good resources for being dairy-free!

I love this book! The only thing that would make it better would be pictures. There are no pictures in this book, which I think would be helpful for the recipes. However, there are libraries of information contained in this book, and all the suggested recipes and foods have been tested by personal experience by the author and everything is very good! I haven't found a recipe yet that I didn't like!

If you are considering giving up milk and other dairy products for health or ethical reasons, but are not sure how to wisely go about it, then I highly recommend Go Dairy Free by Alisa Marie Fleming. To help you ease into dairy-free living, this excellent book provides you with tips and resource information for revamping your daily diet, restocking your kitchen and medicine cabinet, changing cosmetics and body care products, and, very importantly, handling eating away from home. It also provides readers with insights and answers to many of the common concerns and questions associated with dairy products, such as milk allergies and lactose intolerance, effects on weight and cholesterol levels, ties to autism and ADHD, and various forms of cancer, just to name a few.

Those not used to diligent label reading will really appreciate the author's lists of obvious and hidden dairy ingredients and derivatives. And before delving into the recipes (yes this book contains over 225 of them!), she offers up advice on spicing up yours meals and snacks without relying on dairy products, shopping and money-saving tips, and kitchen gadgets that will make it easier to go dairy free. If you are new to living dairy free, you will be thrilled by the extensive dairy-free (and egg-free) substitution section, which includes both store-bought and recipes for homemade items like beverages, spreads, cheeses, sour cream, and yogurt.

I'm still working my way through the many recipes in this book, but thus far I have enjoyed the Effortless Overnight Oat Milk, Pillowy Whole-Grain Pancakes, Cheesy Broccoli Soup, Sesame Soba Noodles with Calcium-Rich Kale, Lightly Herbed Pasta Alfredo, and Simply Vanilla Frozen Yogurt. With the winter holiday baking season in full swing, I am looking forward to trying out many of the cookie recipes with a glass of Coco-Nog. So if you are a vegan like me, lactose intolerant, or just looking for some additional dairy-free recipes to add to your repertoire, this book is perfect for you, and your tummy will be very happy!

First of all, this is more than a cookbook. This is a guidebook for living and cooking dairy free. Most dairy free cookbooks briefly mention substitutions, tips for dining out, things to look out for, etc. But here, you get 17 (yes, 17!) chapters on tips for living dairy free - including travel tips , supplements, skincare, tips on getting enough calcium, infant allergies, and stocking your kitchen. I come from the land of cheese, and navigating family social gatherings isn't always easy, so I appreciated the section on dining with friends and family. No one wants to be left out of social gatherings because of a food allergy.

But on to the recipes. I have been dairy free for over ten years now, so I've built up quite the arsenal of dairy free recipes, both of the easy go-to variety and of the more involved variety. Still, in only a couple months of owning this book, I've found and tried countless new recipes and I have never once been disappointed. Almost all of these recipes are fast and easy, but if you aren't in the mood to cook, there are also store-bought recommendations throughout the book too.

I'm a huge fan of desserts, and the Bittersweet Truffles that I made at 8 am one morning in a fit of "I'm going to need chocolate later today, I just know it" were absolutely fantastic. The Virtuous Chocolate Mousse was my nightly dessert for about a week straight. Coffee House Cookies, Peanut Butter Truffles, the 3 pages of ice cream recipes? Don't even get me started.

I made the Cheesy Broccoli Soup just yesterday. The recipe said that it makes 4 servings, and when I made it I thought that there would be no way that it was only 4 servings - there was SO much soup. It's so good though, I couldn't stop eating it. Plus there are four different veggies in it. I can't wait to dig into the chapter devoted entirely to sauces, the Lentil Curry in a Hurry (love the name), and OH MY GOD, the grilled cheese. The gluten free option for the pizza crust is my new standard pizza recipe.

This is one of the most well-researched, well-written, and comprehensive books about dairy free living. Whether you are new to dairy free life, curious about it, or you've been dairy free for years, you will find great information here!

This book is perfect for those of you looking for natural alternatives to your favorite dairy products, such as cheese, ice cream, milk, sour cream, and more. Go Dairy Free contains different recipes for each of those foods plus simple substitution ideas for practically all dairy products imaginable. From "Dairy-Free Fetta-ish to "Sunflower Seed Cheese to "Cashew Yogurt" to "Whipped Coconut Buttery Spread" to "Cashew Chai Frosting" this book has it all!

Go Dairy Free is about half recipes and half information on dairy. It starts out with "What is Dairy?" then moves into pasteurization and homogenization and the potential risks of these practices, and then on to evidence-based connections with dairy consumption and health issues which range from acne to cancer. Finally, if you are asking the question: "Where am I to get my calcium?" Alisa delves into non-dairy calcium-rich foods and other surprising secrets to strong bones. There are also chapters dedicated to dairy addiction, infants and food allergies, dining out, and reading food labels.

My kids absolutely love Alisa's dairy-free Mac and Cheese! I make it with brown rice noodles and hemp milk meaning it is dairy, soy, and gluten-free! I highly recommend this book!

Go Dairy Free by Alisa Marie Fleming published by Fleming Ink. This book has a lot of great looking recipes in it but it also has a great introduction into dairy related allergies. Dairy causes so many problems. Most people just go through life suffering from increased mucus, sinus issues, headaches, acne, bladder troubles, plus many other maladies and don't even realize that cutting out dairy could relieve them of all symptoms.
My daughters recently cooked a couple of recipes from the book and they were complete hits. The pizza rolls were melt in your mouth good. We decided that the dough would be perfect for cinnamon rolls.. So that is on our list to try. They also made the Fudge Brownie Cookies which were eaten up in no time at all. We have declared these our official holiday cookies for the year.
My girls love this book and have a running list of recipes to try in the future. As vegans we already believe that dairy free is the way to go, but this book is perfect for the non vegan as well. Those who are looking to cut down on the use of dairy will benefit greatly from this book.

Alisa's book begins with her own story. She was diagnosed in her 30s with a dairy allergy after experiencing severe health issues for years. It's quite shocking that it wasn't diagnosed earlier (read her story - you'll be amazed).

Go Dairy Free is like an encyclopedia for dairy-free living. Any topic you could have a question about is covered. The first part of the book discusses the "health perspective" of dairy - why people think it's necessary, what's in it, how it's processed, disease information, allergies, and more. This part was well written and detailed. I found it incredibly interesting, and often found myself nodding in agreement. I've experienced many of the problems that she discusses (acne, bloating, etc...) but only recently have I attributed them to dairy.

Next she offers a primer on how to start living dairy-free. Everything from tips for eating out, to helping kids be dairy-free, to stocking your kitchen, and a huge section on dairy substitutes.

My favorite part though - the recipes. After the first few sections, I wanted to see suggestions for dairy-free meals! I don't eat much dairy at all (at this point it's only minimal cheese and the occasional ice cream), but I definitely get stuck in a rut with my meals. I've made a few of her recipes - the "Spicy Sweet Oven Fries" with a few different potato and squash varieties. They are delicious. I love new combinations of spices. Alisa is so creative! Her "Lively Lemon Stir-Fry" is fabulous. Stir-frys are my go-to meal and this one does not disappoint. The recipes section is huge - she has breakfasts, smoothies, snacks, breads, soups, sides, salads, meals, sauces, and desserts. Yum!

This book is great not only for people with milk allergies, but other allergies as well. At the end of the book is an allergy index for all of her recipes that says whether they are vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, nut-free, and peanut-free. How cool is that?

One thing in particular that I loved about Go Dairy Free was the tone. It's not a crazed PETA publication, it's a helpful resource for people that can't eat dairy. Some people don't eat it because of an allergy, some for religious reasons, others for ethical reasons, etc... Every statement in this book is backed up with facts, and it is evident that Alisa spend an *incredible* amount of time on this book, all in an effort to help those of us with dairy issues!

I highly recommend Go Dairy Free and the oodles of recipes it contains (many inspired or created by fellow bloggers!). I learned so much reading this book (I'm a science & health nerd) and I have gotten so many good ideas.

As soon as I began to browse through Go Dairy Free, I was in love. As a whole foods nutritionist, cook and baker, I naturally gravitated toward the recipes first, and can honestly say that I would like to try out every single one! Besides being dairy-free, the recipes are also healthy and can be made easily by the home cook--and they all sound delicious, from the wine-and-cheese spread to the apricot scones to the Chinese 5-Spice pasta to the brownies (and brownie cookies!).

But the recipes are only one part of this amazing reference book: Alisa also provides a host of tips and tricks for the home cook who's avoiding dairy. You'll find ways to replace milk, cream, cheese, butter, and any other dairy product you can think of, plus hints and tips for acquiring sufficient calcium (it's much easier than you think), to information about milk allergies and why they're so common, to eating in restaurants, to feeding kids with dairy allergies, to shopping and other reference sources through blogs, books, and websites.

It's a comprehensive, thorough, well-researched and engagingly written guide that you'll turn to over and over (oh, and did I mention brownies?).