I have had a dairy allergy 3/4 of my life. Between the ages of 10 and 20 the allergy seemed to disappear. In college my symptoms reappeared. It can make life a bit challenging and travel can be less than enjoyable.

So, this summer I am going to take a little East Coast tour with my oldest daughter. I know we will have a wonderful time, but I was bummed about not being able to eat pizza in New York or a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. Did I have any options?

I visited my local allergist to see if there was any hope. (Don’t read on if you have an allergy and are still searching for help.) The first thing they did was test me for a dairy allergy. And…it came back negative. It has been close to 15 years since my last allergy test and four years since I had a major reaction. So, sometime in the last four years my allergy disappeared?

The first thing my husband said was “Don’t overdo it.” I may have mentioned the gallons of ice cream, cheesecakes and pizzas I consumed between the ages of 10 and 20. And while I do feel a sense of freedom, I don’t want to gain 20 pounds in the next few months. Also, I trust my body more than a test. Doctors say there is not correlation between dairy and congestion, but singers and actors will disagree. Directors will ask their performers to refrain from dairy before shows. If it affects people with no history of allergies, shouldn’t I be a little more cautious?

So, here is my plan: I’m not really going to change my diet. Now, to be honest I have already tried butter and ice cream and I bought a carton of eggnog and found I no longer like it. Dairy tastes salty to me, which reminds me that it is a bodily fluid from a cow and that removes some of it appeal. Mostly I’m glad to be able to go into a restaurant and order any meal that I would like. I hate to be a hassle and I love the fact that I no longer have to have a private conversation with the server before I order. AND oh, I just thought about Disneyland! I can get all those treats at Disneyland! I can have a meal at any restaurant I choose. I can go on a cruise! Oh dear, it is going to be harder than I thought to keep myself under control.

Just because I can eat these foods does not mean that I should. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable…”( NASB 1 Corinthians 6:12)