How To Compromise With Your Cheese Allergy

If you are suffering from lactose intolerance and would like to learn how to compromise with your cheese allergy, follow the steps below.

Recognize the problem.

I was an addict.

Cheese was not merely a dairy product, it was a way of life. As an Italian-American, I pretty much bled Pecorino Romano cheese. Whether it was Cheddar cheese in my scrambled eggs, Muenster cheese on my sandwich, or Parmesan in my macaroni, cheese was always present.

But one cheese reigned supreme above them all: Brie. I would always make sure to keep a wheel of Brie in the fridge in case of emergencies. Some people are resistant to Brie and some people blatantly reject it. However, I find the firm outer rind and soft, creamy inside to be a slice of perfection.

Accept the verdict.

Imagine my agony when I discovered I was severely lactose intolerant. At first, I rejected this diagnosis. How could I, a cheese connoisseur, be allergic to cheese? It was madness. But as I continued to eat dairy, my symptoms continued to worsen. After trying (and failing) to use Lactaid pills to moderate my reactions, I decided it was time to give up cheese.

Find alternatives.

In 2016, I began slowly weaning off of cheese and other dairy products. By 2017, I gave up dairy entirely. For two whole years, I did not indulge in a single piece of cheese. While it was extremely difficult to avoid something I was constantly surrounded by, there were some positives to my experience. I am incredibly grateful to be living in a time in which dairy alternatives are so readily available. Violife and Follow Your Heart are two of my favorite brands that do a very good job at creating dairy alternative products that actually taste good. However, nothing compares to the taste of authentic cheese, and I still felt unfulfilled.

Make a compromise.

Once 2019 rolled around, I decided enough was enough. I went to the fridge, pulled out the Brie, and cut myself a small slice. After several long minutes of deciding whether or not to go through with it, I bit into the cheese. It was the most satisfying thing I had tasted in years. After my successful trial, I decided I would continue with the dairy-free life, exclusively eating Brie on occasion.

But then in 2020 something incredible happened. Upon falling down several research rabbit-holes, I came across an article that opened new doors for me. According to this article, there are nine cheeses you can (probably) safely consume if you are lactose intolerant. It all depends on the individual person and the severity of the allergy. To my excitement, Brie was on the list! But there was also eight other cheeses for me to experiment with. As of today, I have successfully incorporated Cheddar, Muenster, and Provolone into my diet–in moderation of course. At that moment I knew how I could officially compromise with my cheese allergy.

I believe that Cheese and I have finally reached an agreement. Cheese will no longer attack me with vicious allergic reactions and I will only eat specific cheeses, very occasionally. Oh, and I also have to start a website dedicated to cheese, but that was just a side note.

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