40 replies to this topic

[frenchiemama]

Well, I'm a simple creature. The one and only reason that I occasionally cheat with dairy and soy is that the benefit (enjoying a food that I love) is worth enduring the consequences (insomnia and eczema). I don't want to live that way, but it's hard for me to give up what I love without severe penalties (as with gluten).

[tarnalberry]

Well, I'm a simple creature. The one and only reason that I occasionally cheat with dairy and soy is that the benefit (enjoying a food that I love) is worth enduring the consequences (insomnia and eczema). I don't want to live that way, but it's hard for me to give up what I love without severe penalties (as with gluten).

And, in my opinion, if we really know the consequences (if, for instance, the insomnia and eczema are the extent of them) and the reward is worth it, and we've thought about it, then we're making an informed decision, and I don't think there's a big problem with that. (I'm not condoning eating things that make people sick, just condoning individuals making informed decisions for themselves. Sometimes, in some instances, I think the latter can lead to the former. )

[Jestgar]

Rather, the fact that it makes you sick isn't sufficient to keep you from doing it. That makes it self-destructive, in some ways. We all do some things that are self-destructive to some extent, and it's useful to think about why. Sometimes, if we can understand why the reward makes it worth the risk for us, it helps.

This is interesting. There are some things I cheat on and some I don't. The ones with the most sever penalties (for me) I never cheat on.

As for the other things, sometimes I think the penalties aren't sever enough to add that particular food to my "don't touch list". I'm willing to tolerate a bit of discomfort now and then to pretend I'm normal.

Curious beings we are.

[frenchiemama]

I'm willing to tolerate a bit of discomfort now and then to pretend I'm normal.

Curious beings we are.

Yep, that's pretty much it.

[lonewolf]

For me, I weigh the pro's and con's of cheating. I will NEVER cheat with gluten - it's just not worth it. The only soy I eat is soy lecithin in things like chocolate chips (can't afford the Enjoy Life ones), which is a once in a while thing. I have never noticed a reaction to lecithin, but if I did, I would probably cut it out too.

I cheat with eggs once in a while in a baked good if it just won't work without it. I have to decide if my psoriasis getting worse is worth the piece of cake or whatever - sometimes yes, sometimes no. I would never try scrambled eggs because I'm afraid I would be really sick, but 1/16th of an egg I'm sometimes willing to risk - but I only did that after avoiding them like the plague for about 9 years.

I'm kind of the same with dairy - I would never drink milk or eat real cheese or ice cream. But I do bake with butter occasionally because I can't find a dairy-free, soy-free margarine without hydrogenated oils. And I occasionally eat raw goat or sheep milk cheese. Again, I weigh the pro's and con's.

[tarnalberry]

exactly - so, for the op, shalia, if you can weigh the pros and cons objectively, and not make a *purely* emotional decision about it (though I'm certainly not saying that the emotional aspect should be left out - it is certainly a factor in something like this), and make a well-informed, thought out decision, then there's no reason to feel guilty.

(sometimes I feel guilty for being *so* strict about dairy - with nothing but an dietary elimination to go on. I won't even do butter. but... it's a decision I made, with a lot of information. so be it. )

[Shalia]

Shalia,

What state do you live in?

I'm in Utah. Salt Lake to be exact.

I didn't mean it in a "because it makes you sick" way. Rather, the fact that it makes you sick isn't sufficient to keep you from doing it. That makes it self-destructive, in some ways. We all do some things that are self-destructive to some extent, and it's useful to think about why. Sometimes, if we can understand why the reward makes it worth the risk for us, it helps.

Sometimes not. Just one more thing to think about, is all.

No, what you said really helped me. When I was craving a chocolate bar today I asked myself "is it worth being sick? Why make myself sick when I can avoid it?" and I was able to keep away. So you really helped me.

Thanks.

Shalia

[CarlaB]

My other intolerance is dairy/casein. It makes me feel worse than gluten does, so no cheating!!! It's interesting to me that some of your intolerances aren't as bad as gluten.

[AndreaB]

Shalia,

Fred Meyer/Krogers carries some enjoy life stuff up here. Maybe they would be willing to order some chips for you.

[tarnalberry]

When I was craving a chocolate bar today I asked myself "is it worth being sick? Why make myself sick when I can avoid it?" and I was able to keep away. So you really helped me.

I'm glad it helped.

You shouldn't have to go without chocolate if it's not absolutely necessary though, so I encourage you to look around for chocolate you can have. (So says this bossy little chocoholic. ) It's dairy and soy, right? Including soy lecithin? If so, you can still get ground cocoa and make hot chocolate, or chocolate pies, or raw brownies. You can even get dark chocolate bars without soy lecithin - I believe Green & Black's mint bar doesn't have soy, Michael Cozumel (sp) french chocolates don't, and ... some type of chocolate chips (someone help me out here, I know they've been mentioned a number of times) are soy free too.

[Shalia]

Shalia,

Fred Meyer/Krogers carries some enjoy life stuff up here. Maybe they would be willing to order some chips for you.

We don't have Fred Meyer here, but I can try the store they turned into, Smith's Marketplace, and see if *they* carry them. I always forget.

I'm glad it helped.

You shouldn't have to go without chocolate if it's not absolutely necessary though, so I encourage you to look around for chocolate you can have. (So says this bossy little chocoholic. ) It's dairy and soy, right? Including soy lecithin? If so, you can still get ground cocoa and make hot chocolate, or chocolate pies, or raw brownies. You can even get dark chocolate bars without soy lecithin - I believe Green & Black's mint bar doesn't have soy, Michael Cozumel (sp) french chocolates don't, and ... some type of chocolate chips (someone help me out here, I know they've been mentioned a number of times) are soy free too.

Fortunately, I can still do dairy. (For the time being... ) So it's really just the soy.

But yes, soy lecithin makes me sick, it's one of the ways I figured out it was soy causing the problem was hershey's bars were causing the problem. That's when I pinned it to dairy and/or soy. So since I *know* chocolate bars cause it, I know soy lecithin is a problem. (Which REALLY bites when it comes to non-stick cooking sprays...)

[Can'tEvenEatRice!]

I agree that the whole food intolerance thing is so hard! It is hard enough to avoid gluten, but to give up other things is so difficult too. I pretty much cannot tolerate any grains at all so when I crave something substantial, my only choice is potato chips. I have really been craving cereal, so I broke down and ate some gluten free corn flakes. Well, they made me sick since I have trouble with corn. What did I do a few days later? I hate some more! Then I threw the box away! I keep hoping that some of my intolerances will just go away, but they seem to be getting worse. Try to take it one day at a time and know there will be setbacks. I feel your pain!! I would never in a million years cheat with gluten, but I keep trying with my other food intolerances.

[Simply_V]

But yes, soy lecithin makes me sick, it's one of the ways I figured out it was soy causing the problem was hershey's bars were causing the problem. That's when I pinned it to dairy and/or soy. So since I *know* chocolate bars cause it, I know soy lecithin is a problem. (Which REALLY bites when it comes to non-stick cooking sprays...)

Just so you know.. Hershey bars also have corn in them.

[jerseyangel]

Just so you know.. Hershey bars also have corn in them.

Well now, that certainly explains a lot. Thank you!

[Green12]

I believe Green & Black's mint bar doesn't have soy

Just a word of caution, a handful of Green & Black's chocolate bars/products contain gluten, including the Mint Bar.

I just discovered this this week, wanted to pass it along.

Here is a link to the chart of Green & Black's products containing gluten:

http://www.greenandb...itionalarea.php