Dairy and Soy Free

Some of the most frustrating four words you can imagine.

In an attempt to knock out my constant migraines, never ending achiness, and close to chronic fatigue- I have officially cut out both dairy and soy from my diet.

Cutting out dairy is one thing- cutting out soy is another- but both? I'm hoping that the lack of edible food will help me lose those extra five pounds.

Anyone with an allergy or intolerance knows what I'm talking about. In some ways, an allergy would be easier. Only because I would know that eating that peanut butter cookie would send me to the hospital. With an "intolerance," I can eat that very appealing cookie with the small side effect of being super tired the next day. Or laying in bed with a migraine for a couple of hours. Which, when that cookie (or piece of pizza) is calling your name, doesn't seem so bad- at least in the moment.

One of the harder parts is having to read every label of every item. Trying to read labels in the grocery store with a toddler who will not stand to sit in a cart even for 2 minutes and 30 seconds is next to impossible.

You would think that almond milk would be a great option for someone both dairy and soy free. You would think that almond milk would be almond milk and not contain any type of dairy or soy. Thankfully, Silk brand has an almond milk that is simply almond milk. Blue Diamond brand on the other hand- puts soy in their almond milk. Thanks for that blue diamond, thanks. I didn't think to read the label until well, I got home and had already opened the container that cost me $3.49 for a half gallon. $3.49 that I had to pour down the drain.

Vitamins are another problem. It is almost impossible to find soy free vitamins in the store that don't cost my entire grocery budget for the week. I've been able to get my hands on some vitamin D that is phenomenal and a reasonable multi vitamin that I like- and I'm very thankful for those.

In the end I've resorted to eating at home for every possible meal of every possible day. It's a lot easier to find something to eat there than ask the server to check everything on the menu for dairy or soy.

Some restaurants are great- Mimi's for example, is very helpful. Unfortunately, they don't have muffins without butter or much of anything else without butter. The French Press, my favorite local coffee shop, lets me read all of their labels on their dressings and syrups. They even have a ton of gluten free pastries- gluten free doesn't really help when its dairy and soy- but if you are gluten free and live in Denver- check them out! Tokyo Joe's is like a mecca for soy products so don't even try to go there.

Regardless of the drama in making the transition- I do feel better after 3 weeks or so. Let's hope I can keep it up and not give in to the allure of chocolate covered croissants or oven baked pizza or cream.

I really do miss cream.