Answering A Casein Question, Gluten-free Gluttony, and Veggie Sushi Takes Over the World!
I wrote the following not too long ago in response to a girl who had just been diagnosed with casein intolerance. In the face of Celiac Disease and (albeit chosen, and happily so) veganism, casein intolerance seems like a stroll through a park filled with cake, but when people aren't used to having to check the labels and be aware, it truly is extremely overwhelming for people. Casein is in a shitton of things. I decided to re-post this in a more public forum (Right here! You lucky ducks!) so that it might help people who have been diagnosed with one thing or another to feel like they can get a grip on the situation. Here goes:
"It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you've just been diagnosed with a food allergy. You have to think of food in ways you never have before, and think in terms of your physical safety with regard to food. It can feel pretty threatening. It may help to know that casein is not one of the more difficult food allergies to deal with. It's relatively common, and therefore things containing it are usually clearly labeled. (Do get used to checking labels. It will become second-nature before you know it, and won't even feel like an inconvenience anymore, just something you quickly scan before eating.)
Try lots of different alternative milks; you'll find one you like, I promise. My favorites are Vanilla and Chocolate Soymilk, Vanilla Rice Milk (especially on cereal), and Chocolate Almond Milk. But there are Chocolate and Vanilla versions (and "plain", or "unflavored", but I don't recommend these flavors of ANY non-dairy milk, except maybe in smoothies) of Hemp, Rice, Soy, and Almond Milk. Oat milk is actually pretty good too. Experiment.
Also, I wanted to mention again what others have told you about most soy cheese containing casein. That's tricky for awhile; be sure to check all cheese. Daiya brand vegan cheese is the best (it's the BOMB!), in my opinion, and is sold at most Whole Foods or similar stores. It's really good for pasta dishes and on pizza (make your own [check the crust for casein], or Z Pizza now offers a vegan pizza which features Daiya! If there's a chain near you, definitely try it out, it will make you not miss pizza as much.)
I hope this has helped. Good luck!"
This girl wasn't interested in gluten-free food, so I didn't mention it, but z pizza (a healthy/organic pizza chain restaurant with meat and veggie options) also offers gluten-free crust! Woah, right? I was so psyched when I found out! I will forever be grateful to them for giving me a restaurant I can go to with my friends where they can be carnivores and I can be me! I have since found a few other restaurants with gluten-free options, but, while I'm in a major hub city in the South, it's still the South, and I have a feeling my options on the West Coast would be significantly greater and more varied. But trust me, I'm not complaining. When I eat out, when possible I eat at this local restaurant which serves amazing omnivore dishes but also has tons of gluten-free, vegan, raw, organic (and/or free range for you meat-eaters), delicious food. The whole environment is so chill and kitsch and unique.
Other than that, my gluten-free options are usually limited to PF Changs and french fries from some (but not all) fast food restaurants. AND... sushi! The vegan's secret cuisine! Luckily for us, Japan hooked us up! I can have an entire meal at my favorite sushi joint with all my friends! I usually get a veggie roll (which is a real thing on the menu (!!!!), not a special vegan thing I invented by combining random ingredients, like so many other restaurant meals for me), sticky rice (the only occasion upon which I will eat white rice), edamame, and ginger salad. For me, being able to order a meal like that, in the company of my best friends, is completely heart-warming and awesome.
"SAKI SAKI SAKI! OI OI OI!"
PS - Dear Chickfila Waffle Fries,
I dream about you every Saturday night, and wake up disappointed every Sunday morning. But if I do make it over there on some dumb weekday in the not-distant future, you had better remember give me my Polynesian, or I swear to god...