Q6: Dairy free living in Qatar?
Hello again,
I am still looking at possibly moving to Qatar from the UK.
I just wondered if there is anyone here living in Qatar (or who has family) with dairy intolerance / allergy?
How easy is it to live dairy free in Qatar? I am thinking in terms of buying milk alternatives such as soya, almond milk or oatly, and dairy-free icecreams etc.? And also how easy it is to eat out dairy free in Qatar - are restaurants geared up to deal with food allergies?
Many thanks, Sarah
Hello! If its any help, I produce and sell homemade raw, dairy free, gluten free snack bars. Check out my post RAW 'CLEAN' SNACKS. Maybe I can help?
theek
I did wonder about the bread as I have heard most American brands of bread contain milk too. At least the chapatis beat the UK... my local supermarket has started putting milk in those now - you have to keep your eyes on those ingredients all the time. I hate to the see "New Improved Recipe!" written on the packet - usually means they've started adding milk to it :-/
you can find all of what I've mentioned earlier at Lulu Gharrafa.
As to bread... they have milk bread, but they also have white bread and is milk free but sometimes contains butter. Pitas and chapatis are dairy free though so don't worry.
.... just gets better and better - sounds like heaven! Sarah
There are lots of reasonably, often cheaply (in comparison with Western prices) priced vegetarian only restaurants (most of which will do delivery/take away) because of the large vegetarian population.
deedee and Mary Catherine (sorry, only just registered your post Mary). Sounds like being dairy free in Qatar is going to to reasonably straight forward - if pricey ;-)
and carry a gluten free selection (although small). They and Megamart are definitely your best bet as they cater to the western expat population.
I'll make a note of Mega Mart, than is really helpful. Do you know if they habitually put milk in bread in Qatar? One of the most annoying things when they put milk in products that you think would be dairy free!
many thanks, Sarah
Our daughter is lactose intolerent, There are items available like lactose free milk, dairy free butter and ocassinally cheese and yogurt in places like Mega Mart, but not much choice like the UK.
There are lots of vegetarian options in Qatar as there are many people living here from the sub-continent who are vegetarians. You can get frozen food veggie options as well, at a price.
Don't know about lactose free items on restaurant menus at the 5* hotels but I'm sure you would be able to enquire beforehand and make up your mind whether to risk it.
... very much appreciated. Sarah
I m glad this helps. Please PM me for details, if needs be.
There are many vegan and vegeterian restaurants around, so don't worry about that.
Cheers,
bibo,
that is fantastic, thank you so much! That covers all the essentials.... and might be fun to have a go at making our own ice cream :-)
My reaction to dairy is closer to an allergy than an intolerance, but fortunately I don't have an anaphylactic reaction, so I can get away with the odd accident - it does leave me very uncomfortable, but at least can usually risk restaurants, as long they actually serve dairy free meals.
I prefer vegi restaurants really, because they will serve vegan meals with no fuss. But I've done a quick internet search and haven't found any vegi in Qatar. I eat meat though, so I don't think I'll be too stuck for choice!
Many thanks, Sarah
dont buy diary products.... is that simple enough ?
dont buy diary products.... is that simple enough ?
My son had to follow a dairy free diet.
Soy milk, almond milk, oat milk and rice milk are available.
Rice cheese, Tofu, dairy free whipping cream available.
Certified Dairy free chocolate, cereals and crackers available.
I couldn't find any dairy free ice cream though, so I used to make my own.
As to restaurants... this is a risky ground... if your intolerance is not life-threatening, you could get along with ordering specific meals and highlighting your intolerance. If your case is serious, then I'd avoid restaurants altogether.
Hope this helps.
We're a family of 'dairy intolerance', we drink laban milk every night before sleep, and there's a great improvement.
i guess for lactose intolernace , u will find a lot many options here , but a frnd of mine told me UK is much more geared up in this regard (i know abt it as my daughter WAS on GFCF diet )
restaurants are geared mostly in vegetarian and non vegetarian catogaory , only in very rare places , u will find lactose free diet.
Soya is available,but didn't heart of restaurants who has special menus for allergic ppl..
think you can get along, too much restaurants here..
regards,,,