No Dairy Diva: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free and Vegan Options

At the age of 42, I was working full time at a job I loved, volunteering at schools, a hockey mom and trying to be the super parent we all strive to become. I worried about everyone else but myself. Then I started to get tired and feeling worn out. I couldn’t do as much as I used to. I was feeling uncomfortable in my own skin from all the bloating and constipation I was starting to experience. Needless to say, I was getting worn out and did not understand why I wasn’t feeling like myself. I realized through trial and error that my problem was food, mainly dairy. I ended up eating nothing but salads and drinking coffee. I quickly lost fifteen pounds, however I could feel myself losing strength and muscle mass. Little did I know my life was going to change, without my permission. The job I enjoyed, which gave me solace from my crazy home life, had to go. The foods I loved (Lindor Truffles, for example) were no longer an option to settle that chocolate craving. I needed to do something to improve my quality of life as well as my family’s. I was starting to become ＂not so pleasant to live with＂ if you know what I mean. Going to a restaurant was no fun. Imagine sitting at the table with my cup of black coffee and dry salad when my friends or family are enjoying a a chicken and rib platter. Being invited to someone’s home for dinner gave me anxiety. I wondered if they truly understood the gravity of my intolerance. Will they prepare something that I can eat? Do I bring my own food or just decline the invitation? My intolerance does not stop at lactose. I am not able to digest anything that is dairy-based. This includes additives or preservatives. Then I thought what it must be like to have a child with severe food intolerances. My heart truly goes out to those families dealing with this issue. While trying to find food I could eat, or cookbooks that I could learn from, I found a lot of Gluten Free, Lactose Free and Nut Free recipe books, but not a lot of complete Dairy Free without going to a vegan lifestyle. I also wanted a cookbook that I could understand with recipes that made sense when feeding a busy family with different food wants and likes, without cooking multiple meals every night. When I decided to share my story and recipes with you, the final product was kid and family tested. I created recipes that everyone could enjoy without feeling left out. This is my answer to the cookbook I wished I could find.