A few months ago, shortly after I moved to Colorado, I got an email from a woman introducing herself as a plant-based holistic health and nutrition counselor. She was moving back to Colorado and invited me to meet for lunch. We hit it off immediately and shortly after lunch I asked all of my Facebook friends to follow Jessica. You know why? Because veganism is not about competition. We are both coaches working with people on a plant-based journey and I say the more the merrier. We will win when every single one of us is working to make the world more compassionate for animals and healthier for humans. I asked Jessica to write a guest post so that you can all see what she has to offer.
So, dear readers, meet my friend and colleague Jessica Osterberg!
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Overcoming the Dairy Addiction
I am a long-time vegetarian, turned vegan. I used to be a cheese and dairy addict. Cheese pizza or macaroni and cheese were my comfort foods. We won’t even talk about Dairy Queen and their chocolate covered strawberry Blizzards!
As a kid, I remember having stomach aches and digestive issues after having my morning cereal topped with skim milk. Every time I would indulge in ice cream, I would feel awful afterward. I never made the connection until I stopped eating dairy and noticed the absence of stomach issues…and acne!
For me, the hardest part of giving up dairy was mental. This appears to be the case with many of my clients, as well. “I just can’t live without cheese,” is a very common response. I knew dairy wasn’t good for me, but I especially knew it was not good for the cows, either. However, that ingrained belief that we have to have milk was a large obstacle to overcome.
Oftentimes, simply telling yourself you can no longer have a food, which has been such a large part of your life for so many years, causes resistance and hesitation. I see this within clients and myself when beginning a cleanse. Why? Why can’t I have this? Why shouldn’t I have this? Surely I can have just a little here and there and be okay, right?
So, let’s go about it a different way… Start eating foods that mimic that creamy, gooey texture and saltiness you get from cheese like hummus or guacamole. Spreading coconut oil or avocado on toast is a very satisfying alternative to butter. Vegan cheeses, butters, and mayo have also come a long way and are great to go to when you do have a strong craving. Adding these things into your diet will help give you that texture and taste you’re craving and wanting to get from cheese.
Take a favorite recipe and veganize it. Chances are you can find the necessary vegan counterparts at the store. Take it up a notch and make it even healthier by making cheese sauce from scratch. There are so many recipes available for vegan macaroni and cheese made with cashew-based sauce or nutritional yeast. This recipe from VegNews Magazine is my favorite and always a crowd-pleaser.
Pizza is another very easy vegan meal. Buy a pre-made vegan crust or make your own, top with marinara, your favorite veggies, and vegan cheese. Do some research, many pizza chains and locally owned restaurants already have vegan pizza if you just order without cheese. You’ll be surprised at how awesome pizza tastes even without cheese. Many larger cities now offer vegan cheese on their pizzas, too.
Telling yourself you cannot have or do something can be a recipe for failure. Focus on the positive and remind yourself of all of the healthy possibilities you will now be exploring. There are so many amazing tastes to be experienced that will keep you and the animals healthy!
Jessica Osterberg is a board-certified Holistic Health Practitioner (AADP) certified in plant-based nutrition. She has a passion for animal welfare, nutrition, and working with others to improve their eating habits, support them in weight loss, and sustain a happy, healthy lifestyle. Jessica offers health and nutrition counseling programs for individuals, families, or groups. You can find her at www.mindfullyhealthy.com.
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Do you have questions for Jessica about dairy addiction? Ask in the comment section and she’ll reply!
5 thoughts on “Overcoming the Dairy Addiction. A guest post by Jessica Osterberg, CHHC, AADP”
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What if hummus upsets the stomach while milk and ice cream soothe? I consider giving up dairy, but I’m a little turned off by the assumption that it doesn’t digest well for everyone.
@disqus_Yz2TusiWkZ:disqus, then don’t eat hummus! If you have stomach discomfort you might consider drinking coconut water, ginger or chamomile tea. If you’re avoiding dairy because you are vegan or want to eat a plant-based diet you can also ask your doctor for vegan food or drink suggestions to relieve stomach issues.
Berick, certain beans may not digest well for everyone, so you might try some more digestible legumes first – such as lentils and adzuki beans – and then eventually try other beans like chickpeas or soybeans. Also, if you have only eaten store-bought hummus, definitely try making it at home. The citric acid used in store-bought tastes peculiar – and I don’t feel great after eating it. There are so many amazing nondairy ice cream and milk alternatives now, you won’t have to go without! I have always loved ice cream, and when I first became vegan almost 20 years ago, there were no options and I didn’t know how to make my own… so, I didn’t eat it for a few years. I really missed it, even though my body felt much better off of dairy. Now, I have a decent stock of almond, coconut, and rice ice creams in my freezer – and they are just as good if not better! 🙂 Good luck, hope you try a few options!
That is so accurate about our mental notion of cheese. I hear that all the time “I just couldn’t”… and then AFTER people tell me “it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be”! So, sometimes the perceived difficulty is a barrier to change, when actual change shows us it isn’t that complicated… and is very rewarding in many ways. Really wonderful post, Jessica – thank you for sharing!
Great post! Very good advice for making a switch.