Navigating Filipino Cuisine with Galactosemia

Discovering vibrant Filipino food while managing galactosemia can feel daunting, but with mindful choices, you can relish authentic flavors safely. Galactosemia—a condition requiring strict avoidance of milk-based ingredients and galactose derivatives—means scrutinizing dairy-laden dishes common in the Philippines. Apps like MM Food empower diners by translating menus and flagging hidden galactose risks in seconds.

How MM Food Simplifies Your Experience

1. Translate Menus Instantly: Snap a menu photo for real-time translation.
2. Set Custom Alerts: Enter "galactosemia" as your dietary restriction. The AI scans dishes, highlighting galactose sources like dairy, organ meats, whey, or casein.
3. Get Safe Recommendations: See tailored dish suggestions based on menu ingredients, avoiding guesswork.

Galactosemia-Safe Filipino Favorites

Seek these naturally safe or modifiable classics:

• Sinigang (Tamarind Soup): Patrick's Tofu/Hipon (shrimp) versions are usually dairy-free. Skip bone broths if concerned about galactose residue.
• Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Pork): Marinated in soy-vinegar, typically safe. Confirm no butter or cheese garnish.
• Pinakbet Vegetable Stew: Mixed veggies in shrimp paste sauce—just verify no cream additions.

Key Dishes to Avoid

• Kare-Kare (Peanut Stew): Contains milk, cheese, or offal.
• Leche Flan (Custard): Made with condensed milk.
• Halo-Halo (Dessert): Features ice cream and milk-based toppings.

Pro Tips for Dining Out

• Request dishes cooked without butter, cheese, cream, or kesong puti (local white cheese).
• Use MM Food app's ingredient scanner to verify bottled sauces like bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) for dairy fillers.
• Opt for grilled/seared proteins and vegetable-centric plates.

Embrace Filipino culinary adventures confidently—let MM Food handle the safety checks while you savor every safe bite.