How to Cope With Being Lactose Intolerant, When You're a CHEESE LOVER!

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By RA Cologna
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Lactose intolerance is manageable.

If you love cheese as much as I do...brie cheese, head cheese, cheddar, fresh mozzarella, and of course, good ol' American, you might just be devastated if you learn you're lactose intolerant. Or, if you need to stop eating dairy for another medical condition. However, even if you are a cheese lover, you can learn how to cope with being lactose intolerant!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

soy products
fond memories of cheese, memories that will stay in the past
friends and family who will not push cheese onto you
willingness to try new foods, not in the dairy category

Step 1

Cheese, and other dairy products, sometimes contain a high level of hormones passed from the animal into the food product. As a result, your physician may advise you to stay away from dairy if you have certain medical conditions that can be worsened by extra hormones. Or if you are lactose intolerant, obviously you'll need to modify your diet.

First, make a list of the foods you eat frequently that contain dairy. Perhaps you have a bagel with cream cheese every morning. And maybe you have a grilled cheese sandwich every Tuesday when you have lunch with a friend at the diner down the street. Write these frequent occurences on the list.
Step 2

In another category, labeled "sometimes," write the occasions when you sometimes enjoy dairy. For instance, maybe you have a cup of hot chocolate a couple times a month. Or maybe you have a dollop of sour cream on your baked potato when you have dinner once a month at your Mom's house.
Step 3

Then, in a category for "rarely," write down the rare occurences when you have a dose of dairy. It might be every year at the work holiday party when Beth brings her famous melted fondue.

This list will help prepare you for alternate foods, and the right expectations, to avoid dairy and lactose containing foods.
Step 4

For the main meals or events when you typically enjoy cheese, or another dairy product, such as pats of butter on hot rolls just out of the oven, understand that having a tasty alternative available will help you avoid the foods that you need to eliminate from your diet.
Step 5

Assess your dairy list and shop for foods that can replace the frequent times you consume dairy. For instance, instead of a bagel with cream cheese in the morning, how about a bagel with some fruit jelly, applesauce or peanut butter? Instead of the grilled cheese sandwich, how about a turkey club or BLT alternative? How about soy spread in place of butter?
Step 6

For the special occasions, the sometimes list, it will be more challenging to have alternates at hand, because those are the less common times you'll need options, so you'll need to plan for these in advance. Have a new box of special teas ready in your pantry for the next time you might want some hot chocolate.

Or better yet, how about the soy version of hot chocolate?
Step 7

Give yourself a chance to try soy...it is actually very refreshing and delicious. The vanilla flavor soy milk tastes most like regular cow's milk, but without the after taste. It can be used as a substitute in all my milk recipes, including my hot chocolate and my cafe mochas!
Step 8

Go ahead and try soy cheese too. It will have a slightly different texture, but it will give you the same compact source of protein you relied on with cheese.
Step 9

For the rare occasion items on your list, prepare a special dish that you can offer as a replacement for the cheesy one you've grown to love. Try something extra tantalizing so even you will be motivated to forego the cheese for the new sampling!
Step 10

Explain to your hosts and hostesses IN ADVANCE of their parties that you regret you are unable to partake in dairy due to your condition. Be sure not to drop this news on the host or hostess on the day of, or the days just before, an event. It's proper to give someone plenty of time to plan their menu and make adjustments...when food preferences are involved.
Step 11

Always avoid talking about your lactose intolerance at the table. This is rude and distracting from those who may be enjoying dairy. No one needs to hear about how you are suffering because you can't have cheese anymore. Yes, it is sad. Yes, it is unfair. But keep this to yourself so the rest of the guests can enjoy their dairy.
Step 12

Further, be willing to ask your physician about products that will settle your stomach in case you ingest a dairy product accidentally, or if you plan to treat yourself to an ice cream cone once a year...maybe you can try some Lactaid or something similar.
Step 13

Finally, remember to heed the healthcare advice given to you. Eating dairy is a wonderful experience, but discomfort and poor digestion are not worth the joy of eating it.

Comments

purrfect1969-2 said

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on 11/7/2008 Great suggestions for people who just love their cheese and have problems eating it because of their lactose intolerance.

Bfastattiffanys said

on 11/7/2008 Nice article. I will forward this to my brother. *****

MotherDove said

on 11/6/2008 I, too, am a cheese-loving sufferer - and you're absolutely right in directing others to soy. It's made a tremendous difference. Nicely researched article.