Lactose intolerant: The inability to digest lactose, a component of milk and some other dairy products.
After recently being diagnosed as lactose intolerant, life has definitely become more of a struggle than it already was. Who knew cheese and milk were in so many different foods? Well news flash, everyone — milk and cheese are in everything. Going 21 years with cheese and milk then suddenly cutting it out of my diet has not been easy. I've cried, laughed at my life, then cried some more. If you're anything like me, here are the top six foods you miss the most when you become lactose-free:
1. Pizza
Cheesy, gooey goodness. I dream about pizza all the time; life is not the same without it. Chicken bacon ranch pizza, meatball pizza, white pizza and buffalo chicken pizza. Thin crust or deep dish. I need pizza. Don't forget the garlic knots either!
2. Chipotle ranch dressing
Salads are no longer the same without chipotle ranch dressing. Chipotle ranch is about 100 times tastier than regular ranch. Believe me, balsamic is not an equal substitution!
3. Ice cream
As the weather continues to get warmer, ice cream stands are beginning to open, and guess what — I can't have any! There is lactose-free ice cream, but it just isn't the same. I want nothing more than a serving of mint chocolate chip larger than my face right now.
4. Mozzarella sticks
Warm gooey fried cheese. What's better than that? Nothing. Going out to eat and ordering an appetizer is not the same without mozzarella sticks.
5. Quesadillas
Warm cheese in between two tortillas, sometimes with meat and beans. But let's not forget the sour cream! What is life without sour cream? Meaningless. That's what it is, meaningless.
6. Macaroni and cheese
Boxed, homemade, instant — you can never go wrong with any type of macaroni and cheese. My life has a little less comfort without this staple comfort food. Let's not forget that this eliminates the most ultimate drunk food ever — Kraft Easy Mac. I don't think there's anything else to say about this.
To all those who can still enjoy these foods: Savor every moment that you have with them.
