Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I developed a sensitivity to milk in my 40's and had to stop drinking it. Used Lactaid for a while but gave up cereal when I developed Type 2 diabetes, so there was no need for me to drink milk. We don't avoid cheese, but most of our cooking just doesn't involve cheese. I'm ok with a single serving of yogurt, but if I have it for several days in a row, that also causes problems. We use sour cream occasionally on the side, but don't usually cook with it. Hubby loves his cereal and milk so we still buy a half gallon every week for him. I have no problem with using a bit of whole cream in my coffee if I need it, but that's only if the coffee is too strong.
I give thanks all the time that I have no issues with gluten, nuts and especially dairy. Who can live without butter and cheese? Half and half for coffee? Life would be a much sadder place.
I do wish I had more options for products where I was ensured that the cows were treated well.
Too much sour cream and some other foods with give me heartburn but thats what Tums are for
I drink at least a half gallon of whole milk weekly, in addition to yogurt and cheese. Tbh, I would drink 1 gallon or more if I didn't consciously limit myself, because I love love love milk. It's weird that I actually crave it after going several days without, like an alcoholic. ; )
As far as environmental effects, well, I am a member of an industrial society that is destroying the earth in 1,000 ways, so I have no illusions that my not consuming meat or dairy products is going to matter one whit to the health of the planet.
The benefits of calcium, protein, fats and minerals make dairy an essential part of my diet. Fortunately I don't have any digestive issues with milk, but I do limit myself, mainly due to the fat content in whole dairy.
It's like "gluten-free", which I see on maple syrup, a bag of sugar and a hundred other things that would NEVER have anything to do with wheat.
You'd be surprised how many items on the shelf contain wheat/gluten. Especially things you would never imagine would contain any. Chips, seasonings, candy, soup, non-wheat based cereals, etc... I was amazed at all the things I could no longer eat off the shelf at the supermarket. The prices for certified gluten-free food are ridiculous, but for those of us who have no choice, life would be very miserable without them.
I don't buy anything organic unless I know for sure that I'll eat it right away (plus the "healthier" options are always more expensive). Shopping at Four Seasons is not an option for my wallet.
I have to take a lot of calcium. I've never liked milk but do like chocolate milk, although I seldom have it. I buy butter, never margarine, and when I buy milk I opt for 2%. I eat cheese of various kinds, although I don't put it on everything like one of my nieces does.
I used to make my own vegan yogurts (coconut, soy, or nut based) but have never tried a straight dairy yogurt homemade. I ordered cultures online and also found some probiotics at a local Whole Foods Coop that I used and they worked beautifully. I have a yogurt maker as well. I may just have to try making my own greek yogurt one of these days!
Actually, you can drain the whey from yogurt by putting some cheesecloth in a strainer. Depending on how long you strain it, you end up with something like Greek yogurt - or a yogurt cheese.
My midnight bread pudding would not have been the same with out the butter and half and half (we don't have milk on hand, just half and half for our AM coffee)...
Actually, you can drain the whey from yogurt by putting some cheesecloth in a strainer. Depending on how long you strain it, you end up with something like Greek yogurt - or a yogurt cheese.
A coffee filter also works well. I buy Mountain High plain yogurt, and sometimes I drain some in a coffee filter for an hour or two to make it even thicker.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
