So, You've Decided to Go Dairy Free...Now What?
So, what did I do first? Well, I didn't. I was dairy free, but it was my husband who pretty much told me what I could and could not eat. Who knew I could make him sick just by buying the wrong soy sauce!?
It took a while, but I did learn. I learned how to check the ingredients on everything, soy sauce and frozen vegetables included! It does get easier though, don't worry. It becomes second nature after a while. Eventually, I stopped even craving dairy at all. (Granted, that changed quite a bit when I got pregnant, but even now it continues to get easier and easier).
Step 1: KNOW the NOs.
This is step one, because how can one go dairy free without knowing what all is dairy? It's a lot more than just milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt. Other than some of those more obvious items, the following is a list of ingredients that are NOT dairy free.
- Acidophilus Milk
- Ammonium Caseinate
- Calcium Caseinate
- Casein
- Caseinate (and Caseinate products like ammonium Caseinate or Calcium Caseinate).
- Curds
- Custard
- Whey (and whey products)
- Lactalbumin
- Lactoferrin
- Lactoglobulin
- Lactose
- Lactulose
- Recaldent
If it makes you feel any better, after a while it will seem as if you never did not know these ingredients. You will find what works for you. Stick to it.
Step 2: Know the Severity
Upon going dairy free, you will want to know how severe your allergy, or intolerance, is. Many people who choose to go dairy free, whether due to allergies, an intolerance, or otherwise, are just fine with cross contaminates, or as my husband and I call them, May Contains. For others, however, a product that says may contain dairy, or processed in the same facility as dairy, the effects can be just as devastating. Lance and I learned this one the hard way. We have learned that if the label says may contain, it contains.
Step 2: Know the Severity
Upon going dairy free, you will want to know how severe your allergy, or intolerance, is. Many people who choose to go dairy free, whether due to allergies, an intolerance, or otherwise, are just fine with cross contaminates, or as my husband and I call them, May Contains. For others, however, a product that says may contain dairy, or processed in the same facility as dairy, the effects can be just as devastating. Lance and I learned this one the hard way. We have learned that if the label says may contain, it contains.
Step 3: Check EVERYTHING
This is something that can both be discouraging, but also very surprising. If you really want to go dairy free, it is important to avoid the ingredients listed in step one, and unfortunately, that can be difficult at first. As I mentioned in the beginning, even some soy sauces and ketchups will have dairy in them. It's in everything anymore, but don't fret, you may also be pleasantly surprised.
On our honeymoon, my husband and I stayed at this amazing resort in this room with a fully equipped kitchen. It was great, but we had quite the shopping to do, and I was really starting to miss some of things I used to eat. Tacos on the menu? No, I would miss cheese and sour cream. How about brownies? Nope, most packages things and chocolate things seemed to have dairy. Well, or so we thought.
It is amazing the foods that are available now as compared to before. My husband and I have made countless discoveries since we first got married, and he had been dairy free for at least a couple of years by then. Here's a fun tip: Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownies are dairy free! What!? Yes, MILK Chocolate Brownies. My husband likes to tease them about false advertising, but hey, I found out I didn't have to live with out brownies, so I didn't care.
Step 4: Be Prepared
This is an important one. After the first little while of being dairy free, things got pretty easy pretty quick. Dairy did not enter the home, so it was rarely a temptation. Plus, after getting my husband sick a few times due to a diet error, I learned quickly that I should NOT sneak dairy into my dresser drawer at home... (Sorry Sweetie...).
The real challenge for me came from everything outside of the home. I can't tell you how many times I have eaten a chocolate chip cookie, brownie, or whatever else thinking, "I eat these things all the time!" Well yes, at home. It was very easy to accept a cookie from a co-worker, not thinking about the cookie having dairy in it, because we make the same cookies at home all the time. So, that said, be prepared to say no to pretty much everything, and be prepared to make all of your favorites at home.
Step 5: Understand that it IS Worth It
Whatever the cause for your change in lifestyle and diet, it will be worth it. There are so many benefits to going dairy free that don't include allergies or intolerances. (Here are a few: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/05/8-benefits-to-eating-dairy-free.html). You might not see the benefits right away, and that's okay. In some cases, it can take up to 90 days for any dairy to fully leave your system, which means a possible 90 days before seeing any of the benefits. Many will come sooner, but if they don't, stick with it. You won't be disappointed.
Going dairy free is hard, just like any other major diet change, but it is doable. You can do it. Know that you really can. Hopefully the above will be helpful in your journey to becoming dairy free. Below may also be a few helpful resources, and of course, feel free to comment with questions below!
If you are looking for places to eat out with dairy free options, this post may be beneficial to you: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/10/11-best-places-to-eat-if-you-are-going.html
Not sure if you have an allergy or intolerance? Try this one: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/05/7-signs-you-have-dairy-allergy-or.html
For more on general Health and Fitness, visit: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/search/label/Health%20%26%20Fitness
Step 4: Be Prepared
This is an important one. After the first little while of being dairy free, things got pretty easy pretty quick. Dairy did not enter the home, so it was rarely a temptation. Plus, after getting my husband sick a few times due to a diet error, I learned quickly that I should NOT sneak dairy into my dresser drawer at home... (Sorry Sweetie...).
The real challenge for me came from everything outside of the home. I can't tell you how many times I have eaten a chocolate chip cookie, brownie, or whatever else thinking, "I eat these things all the time!" Well yes, at home. It was very easy to accept a cookie from a co-worker, not thinking about the cookie having dairy in it, because we make the same cookies at home all the time. So, that said, be prepared to say no to pretty much everything, and be prepared to make all of your favorites at home.
Step 5: Understand that it IS Worth It
Whatever the cause for your change in lifestyle and diet, it will be worth it. There are so many benefits to going dairy free that don't include allergies or intolerances. (Here are a few: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/05/8-benefits-to-eating-dairy-free.html). You might not see the benefits right away, and that's okay. In some cases, it can take up to 90 days for any dairy to fully leave your system, which means a possible 90 days before seeing any of the benefits. Many will come sooner, but if they don't, stick with it. You won't be disappointed.
Going dairy free is hard, just like any other major diet change, but it is doable. You can do it. Know that you really can. Hopefully the above will be helpful in your journey to becoming dairy free. Below may also be a few helpful resources, and of course, feel free to comment with questions below!
If you are looking for places to eat out with dairy free options, this post may be beneficial to you: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/10/11-best-places-to-eat-if-you-are-going.html
Not sure if you have an allergy or intolerance? Try this one: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/2017/05/7-signs-you-have-dairy-allergy-or.html
For more on general Health and Fitness, visit: http://blog.allthingstristen.com/search/label/Health%20%26%20Fitness
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