Dairy-Free Low-FODMAP Desserts

Patsy Catsos

November 29, 2017

Recipes: snacks

Q. Any suggestions for dairy-free, low-FODMAP desserts?

A. Most people on low-FODMAP diets can eat versions of custards, puddings, ice creams, and parfaits made with lactose-free cow’s milk. But some people on low-FODMAP diets avoid even low-lactose dairy products for various reasons; this makes desserts more of a challenge.

If the main ingredient of a recipe is usually cow's milk, just substituting with almond milk or another alternative milk can have unexpected results. And recipes that are all about the flavor of butter, such as butter cookies or fudge, aren’t easily made dairy-free either! It is probably best to begin elsewhere, with recipes that don’t have milk products at their core.

Patsy Catsos

March 2, 2017

Label reading, FODMAPs in food and drink

IBS Myth: No Dairy for IBS

Patsy Catsos

March 2, 2017

Label reading, FODMAPs in food and drink

Many people with IBS are under the impression that everyone with IBS (or maybe just everyone, period) should avoid “dairy.” And who can blame them, after hearing this advice passed around by any number of authors, bloggers, celebrities and even healthcare professionals. I don’t share that view. Although I recognize that milk and milk products are a common cause of abdominal pain, excess gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, that is no reason to over-generalize and say that everyone with IBS should avoid them. There are some individuals who actually do need to avoid all dairy products to manage their IBS, but in my experience that is the exception, not the rule.