Ask Our Experts

Thanks for reaching out to us. First, I'm sure you are feeling overwhelmed. Anytime anyone is prescribed a new way of living and eating, they are sure to have a learning curve. It's like learning a new food language. Just as it takes more than a week or even month to become fluent in a new language, learning to eat completely different also takes some time.

Second, the Cleveland Clinic recommends that someone who has a soy allergy should use the following guidelines:

Avoid foods that contain these ingredients:
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Miso
Shoyu sauce
Soy (albumin, flour, grits, nuts, milk, sprouts)
Soybean (granules, curd)
Soy protein (concentrate, isolate)
Soy sauce
Tamari
Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
Tofu

The following ingredients MAY contain soy protein. The source of these ingredients should be verified before consuming the product:
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Natural flavoring
Vegetable broth
Vegetable gum
Vegetable starch

Allowed ingredients*:
Soy lecithin
Soy oil
Soybean oil
*Studies show that most people with soy allergies can safely eat foods containing these ingredients. Check with your doctor and registered dietitian first.

Another great resource is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) www.foodallergy.org

Lastly, I can't encourage you enough to schedule an appointment with a Registered Dietitian who specializes in food allergies. They can provide meal plans and provide specific guidance as it relates to you (calories for your age, height, weight, etc). If you would like to search for your specific area, you can search the national database of Registered Dietitians: http://www.eatright.org/programs/rdfinder/

Thank you for your question! Don't get discouraged. Each day is one day closer to you being a soy allergy expert!