My Non-Dairy Life

Cheese is milk's leap toward immortality.

~ Cliff Fadiman

Cheese is awesome. Cheddar, swiss, provolone, goat, feta...delicious. I'm also a big fan of cream-based sauces, yogurt, and ice cream. Of course, we mustn't forget chocolate, sour cream, butter, cream cheese, or a cold glass of milk. After 26 years of consuming dairy products like they're going out of style, someone sudden realizes Hey, you might have a lactose allergy. Really? So, no more string cheese as a snack? No more Dairy Queen Blizzards or cheesy enchiladas? You're saying I have to cut out fettuccine alfredo and pizza? What's a Greek/Italian woman supposed to do without dairy??

Honestly, this little experiment has not been nearly as torturous as I thought it would be. Difficult? Yes, definitely a challenge. It's been amazing to take the time looking at food labels and realizing just how much milk, butter, cream, and cheese have infiltrated into foods I never thought about. Rice-a-Roni products and several types of crackers surprised me by their dairy content. So far, I have found one Healthy Choice frozen meal that does not contain milk. Instant popcorn and instant coffee were less surprising, but still not something I would have really considered to contain butter and milk. I've come to the realization that almost everything I was eating had some form of dairy in it, let alone the obvious choices of yogurt, au gratin potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. One of the biggest changes I've noticed is cutting out almost all dipping sauces - ranch, bleu cheese, onion dip.

Maybe this has been a bit of a blessing in disguise. I'm having to get creative with my meals and snacks, looking toward healthy options such as in fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm actually thinking about what I put in my mouth at every moment. I have to ask how foods are prepared when eating out at restaurants. Grocery shopping takes a little longer now because I'm really looking at the ingredients. While part of me was hoping I wouldn't notice a difference in my digestion so I would be able to go back to my dairy-filled meals, I can say there might actually be something to this new non-dairy lifestyle. Though I haven't really lost any weight, my clothes are all fitting better - to the point where I can take my jeans off without having to unbutton or unzip. I guess I never realized just how bloated I was all the time and always just assumed it was fat.

So, after 26 years of lasagna sprinkled with parmesan cheese and ice cream sundaes with chocolate fudge, it looks like things are going to be different.