Oil Spill

Restaurant dining has always been a struggle for me.I used to see it as a treat, that I would not order anything that I could make at home (read: salads). The more calories, the better. I mean, you shouldn't be dining out all of the time, right? It's a special occasion to go out to dinner! Get the Monte Cristo!

My lifestyle now has me dining out a LOT more than I would like. I'm out at least 4x a week for dinner, maybe even once or twice for lunch. I had to revamp my thinking- that I can still enjoy the restaurant outing while eating healthy-- and staying within my budget.

However... it seems as though restaurants are still out to sabotage me and all dieters. For example: yesterday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with ALL of my younger sisters and my mom. It was great- we have so much fun together. Mom, sister #1 and sister #3 drove to my place, and we all drove together to see sister #2, who is at Central Michigan University.  We went to lunch at the Italian Oven- a decent, Olive Garden like restaurant. I tried to order healthy- I did!- but oh... the warm bread... with the olive oil and dipping spices put on the table... I ate a few good chunks of bread, a few (3) pieces of bruchetta... and for pasta, I ordered "healthy." I had whole wheat pasta with 7 vegetables (they encourage you to test their servers on which vegetables are in the pasta) and chicken. It was flavored with "a light olive oil and garlic drizzle." I'll take it!

First, let's talk about serving sizes. A serving size of pasta is 2 ounces. Measure it out- its SMALL. Yet, with veggies, it can be really filling. And, a lot of whole wheat pasta is now fortified with protein- so really, 2 oz is a pretty substantial meal. I had-- I kid you not- at least 6 servings of pasta handed to me.

That is 4 NAPKINS worth of oil blotting! In JUST that bowl of pasta!

Secondly, "drizzle." Drizzle is defined as "to let fall in fine drops or particles, to rain gently in fine, mistlike drops." So - why did Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella? Fo' drizzle. It's light, it's fine, it's NOT a downpour. Apparently the cooks at Italian Oven knocked over the bottle of olive oil and mopped it all up into my bowl. The olive oil was *dripping* off of the noodles. When I nuked the leftovers (see below), I removed the noodles and veggies from the bowl with a slotted spoon, and *still* blotted off the excess oil.

MUCH better!

Third- the leftovers. While my remaining  servings of pasta were wrapped up in a cute foil swan, it was like 6 servings. I took it out and weighed it - remember, 2 oz is one serving of pasta. That's about 1 cup. The dish weighed in at 12 oz. I took out as many of the veggies and chicken chunks that I could, and ended up having the pasta weigh in at 8 oz. 4 servings of pasta came home. 

I ended up dumping some of the pasta, added some more veggies (like diced tomatoes- it added flavor, volume, AND some juice, seeing that I dumped as much of the olive oil out that I could), and ate up. I still ate 2 servings of the pasta plus the veggies, and I was full. I could have had more left overs, but honestly... I did so much doctoring to this dish, it wasn't worth it. That, and the pasta was soggy. Nobody likes a soggy noodle. 

Some restaurants are getting good at the diet thing- they're placing healthier options on the menu, allowing for substitutions... but they're still not perfect. You're still served a huge amount (we, as Americans, think that more is always better- you should get your money back in quantity, not quality). Restaurants still use a lot of oil and cheese to cover up the diet smell.

Lesson? I need to ask more questions before ordering, and I can't- I won't - be afraid to ask for modifications. And, the bread basket needs to stay in the kitchen.

Happy Pants Dance - Part 1

Weekly Weigh- In = -.2 (total = -14.4 lbs)

This week's lesson at Weight Watchers was about using our past (failures included) to shape our future. All of those little mistakes we make as we continue on our weight loss journey can be viewed in two lenses- one of "well, I screwed up- might as well go for that triple chocolate cake" or "Well, I screwed up. That plate of nachos wasn't the best idea. If I want them again, I need to make better choices through the day and get a good workout in first." As we talked about how to learn from our past and make better choices, the conversation turned to how we should learn to celebrate non-scale victories as well as celebrating when the scale goes down.


Now, we do this every week in our meetings- we highlight member's "Bravo Worthy" moments after we cheer on those who lost weight during the week (speaking of which, Amy, my WW buddy, hit her 5% GOAL this week! 15 lbs down! WooT!). This week, my hand shot up.

"My friend, who is like 5'5" and started at 180 lbs has been losing weight. She gave me a pink spring coat, telling me that it was too big for her. I looked at her like she was nuts- she's MUCH smaller than I am, and it's pink. I don't do pink. It didn't fit across the chest, but I kept the coat in my closet for the last month. Yesterday, I put it on to go outside in the rain- and it fit. It ZIPPED. And, people are complimenting me on the coat because I look GOOD in it!" It was a great moment for me. I'm pretty vocal in my meetings to begin with- when you've been doing the program (on and off) for so long, you have a lot to contribute. But this was different. I hadn't been this excited since the day I realized I can cross my legs (plus-size girls, you know what I'm talking about!).  -.2 lbs be damned, the THE COAT FIT.

I got home, and pulled out the box of clothes that my roommate gave me from her weight loss (side note- I like being the "bigger" friend to these two, because it's not by much, and I get their clothes- for FREE! Between the weight loss and the budget, free clothes rock!) to see if this one pair of pants fit. These pants aren't anything particularly special- they are dark blue with very subtle light blue pinstriping. They're some kind of weird softish fabric. I loved them- but when I got them 4-5 months ago, they wouldn't even go over my thighs. I tried them on about 6 weeks ago, and they wouldn't button.

This morning, I opened my closet and saw the unopened box of clothes and pulled it out. The pants were on top (naturally). I gently lifted them out of the box and set them on my bed. Daisy came over to inspect the pants, and she laid down next to them, giving the pants her approval. I gingerly put one foot into the leg hole... then the other foot. I pulled the pants up. I stood up straight and fastened the button and zipped the zipper. THE PANTS FIT! WITH room to spare! I was so excited, I started dancing, which got my dog barking. And-- the zipper broke. NOOO! I took them off, realigned the zipper, and put them back on. Apparently, the zipper isn't lined up properly, but if you take your time zipping them, the pants work without fail.

At our work weigh- in, the scale showed that I was UP a pound. I'm kind of used to this scale at work now- it never agrees with the Weight Watchers one. That's fine- I go by the Weight Watchers number, especially since the work competition ends next week. I'm still in great spirits- the pants fit. That's all I need.

I'm calling this "Part 1" because another friend of mine said that there is a pair of jeans that she has been hanging onto for awhile that are too big for her, yet too small for me (I don't think this friend has ever BEEN this particular size - I think she just had a "fat" day when she bought them). If I can get down that far, she said the pants are mine. Depending on what label I'm looking at, that's only 1-2 sizes away...

Like Owner, Like Dog.

Weekly Weigh-in: -1.6 lbs, total down: 14.2 lbs!

I'm sorry I ate that book. Can I have some cheese now? Please?

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.  ~Phil Pastoret

I'm a crazy animal lover. I admit it- I spoil my dog rotten. Look at those big brown eyes-- how could you *not* love and snuggle this dog, even if she chews up your roommate's $50 sandals?! Chewing up my West Wing Season 6 cover? One cock of the head and I'm over it. She *does* gets in trouble- for about 5 minutes. Then we're playing ball or tug-of-war again. No harm, no foul. And, even if there *is* harm, like Monday's trip to the dog park (I have a nice scratch running from my lip to my cheek bone from her crazy ass), it's quickly forgotten about.

As I was making Daisy's batch o' treats this weekend, I realized something- most people take better care of their dogs than they do themselves. Think about it- we spoil our pets, we buy them toys, we feed them healthy food, give them treats to make them happy/healthy. But, do we do that for ourselves? I know for a long time, this was true of me- I treated my dog better than I treated myself. However, since restarting the healthy lifestyle, I've noticed a few health related things changing in the both of us:

• We've both started eating healthier. My focus with Weight Watchers has been more fruits and veggies and less carb and fatty filled foods. She's been switched from Iams to Science Diet- some people disagree with the switch, saying Iams is just as healthy or that Science Diet isn't that good for dogs, but I've noticed a difference in Daisy's coat and her activity level (it went UP, impossibly so) shortly after the switch and the vet recommended it, so we're sticking with it.

• I've been eating healthier snacks- again, more fruits and veggies, but more eggs, more fiber bars, and less processed foods. Daisy's snacks are handmade by me and are "healthy" for dogs. She loves all kinds of treats (like me), but the treats I was buying-Milk Bone- were making her stink up the house. Plus, making her the treats are WAY cheaper than buying a box off of the shelf. The treats I make her prevent that, are smaller, and I feel less guilty giving them to her. Once a day, she gets  1 1/2 treats in her Kong with 1 tb of (frozen) peanut butter.

• When I don't work out on a regular basis, it's extremely easy to pack on the pounds. Working out, for me, included Daisy's 2-a-day walks, with each walk being just shy of a mile. With our cold Michigan winter, the walks slowed down until they just stopped. Daisy packed on a few pounds because of my aversion to walking in the cold and because I refused to stand outside in the cold at the dog park while she ran through snow drifts. Now that we're back to walking at least once a day, she- and I- are starting to slim down. Michigan State University released a study showing that those who own pets are 34% more likely to get the exercise they (the human) need, which aids in achieving an overall healthier lifestyle.

• My entire attitude shifts when I work out and eat well. My attention span is better. I can stay more alert, finish more tasks, and have less mistakes. I'm calmer. I'm just generally happy with a workout and a healthy meal plan under my belt. Same for Daisy. If she gets her walk and her dog park trips 2-3x a week, she is an entirely different dog. She will still jump on you when you walk in the door, but she will calm down faster. She's more reserved, listens better, and doesn't destroy things. She's a much better dog when she's well-fed and exercised.

I always laughed at those pictures with owners and their dogs, looking exactly alike. Now, I look absolutely nothing like Daisy- except the brown hair/fur. But our personalities match - and apparently, now our health habits do, too. Generally speaking of course. 

Daisy's Peanut Butter Biscuits (taken from "The Daily Drool" - yes, I tried it because the name matched my dog's name)

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup quick oats - uncooked
1 cups hot water
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 eggs- lightly beaten
3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter- smooth
2 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite nutritional supplement (I use Flax Seed oil- helps the coat!)

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine peanut butter, hot water, oil, and eggs in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Set aside. Combine flour, cornmeal, and oats in a separate bowl. Mix well. Pour the bowl of the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix well with hand mixer until dough forms.

Knead dough on a floured board until no longer sticky (I let the dough sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes to add extra firmness. Makes it easier to roll out). Add flour as needed. Roll out dough to inch thickness. Cut into shape with a floured bone shape cookie cutter (I use a heart shaped one because it's a lot smaller). 

Place on a lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool until hard. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (dough can be frozen for later use)

GET IN MY BELLY!

Weekly Weigh-In: -.8 
Total:-12.6 lbs down

I am LUCKY to have lost that .8 this week. I tracked every day in my handy-dandy Weight Watchers food journal. I exercised 3x this week (at a high intensity). I didn't use my extra weekly points, and only used 3 of my extra "activity" points (you earn them by working out). I wanted another repeat performance of last week's huge loss. But, alas, my body wanted something else. What it wanted, my friends, was more food.


MORE?! I don't get it. I ate a LOT. Granted, a lot of it was fruit and veggies (which are 0 PointsPlus), but it appears that my body is starting to hold onto its weight again. I'm not eating enough calories for as much as I'm expending during the day. Usually, sticking to one's daily PointsPlus allowance lets you do just that. However... these meds curb my hunger and I had to fight with myself on 2 different days to eat my daily points (which I didn't). On a 3rd day, I had breakfast and 2 slices of stuffed pizza for an early dinner. Nothing else. I assumed that the pizza covered an easy 10 points each, but nope. I had extra points left over that day, too. So for 3 days, I was off program and under-eating.

Weight Watchers, in its recent plan makeover, did away with counting calories. The argument is that there are "good" calories and "bad" calories, and in the end, the other PointsPlus factors do enough to negate the calorie problem. "Having a higher point allotment could potentially slow weight loss in some people, says Roberta Anding RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. 'As you increase points, you increase total calories, maybe by 100 or 200 calories a day,' she says. "But calories or points always count. That subtle increase in points may make a difference in weight loss.' But, she adds, 'This is the first time there has been an emphasis on whole foods from Weight Watchers, the first time they recognized that a 100 calorie apple and a 100 calorie cookie aren't metabolized the same way. The concept of getting away from processed foods is a good one.'"

I don't even look at the caloric value of most foods anymore. It's all about fat, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. However, WebMD, Everyday Health, and nutritionists continue to warn against not eating enough calories:

"The reality is that different people respond differently to low-calorie diets. When your body senses that food may not be in plentiful supply, it may slow down your metabolism as protection against the possibility of starvation, even if you are obese and deliberately trying to lose weight. 'In some people, the metabolic rate [how fast the body burns calories] is only slightly reduced to make up the shortfall in energy difference, while in others it is far greater. It is this variability in the metabolic rate with energy restriction that causes much of the variability in weight loss between people,' explains Leanne M. Redman, PhD, an instructor of human physiology at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La"


Long story short, I need to eat more and get more calories into my system.

Cupcake Burgers! Thisiswhyyourefat.com

And not just a crappy "more," but healthy food choices more. Talking it over at Weight Watchers today, I think I have a plan of attack. I'm going to eat my daily points - even if it results in me knocking back a beer or two in the process. If I exercise, I'm going to eat *some* of those points (not all). I'm still going to leave my weekly points untouched unless I find that I need them for some occasion (I don't foresee this coming up this week, but who knows?).

I still lost this week. You probably can't tell from this post, but I'm really happy with my progress! :-D

The Jelly Bean Trail

It's amazing how fast retailers can get the next holiday's treats onto their shelves mere hours after the last holiday has passed. For example, I went to Rite Aid last night and there is Easter candy everywhere, with the Valentine's Day candy sitting sadly in the next aisle, marked 50% off. We're still over 6 weeks away until the Easter Bunny comes hopping our way, and ... really? 2 entire aisles filled with candy? And it's not just Ride Aid. Meijer was ridiculous, with it's entire center aisle covered in candy, Easter egg dye, and cute fuzzy baskets.

Sales of Easter Candy has skyrocketed in the last few years, with Easter being the 2nd largest candy holiday behind Halloween. Americans spend an average of $1.9 BILLION on Easter Candy a year (Halloween = $2 billion, Christmas is $1.4 billion, and Valentine's Day brings in $1 billion). There are 90 BILLION chocolate bunnies made each year for Easter. Holy. Crap.

As a kid - ok, even as an adult- my parents gave us Easter baskets every year. Our furry little baskets were always carefully hidden with a trail of jelly beans leading the way from our rooms to the general location of the basket (side note- this is a bad idea if you have 2 dogs, like we do. The trail would randomly start and stop due to the dogs' love of jelly beans), and underneath the big chocolate bunny, the book or CD of the year, and the fake green grass... stuff.... was a plethora of candy. Hershey Kisses, Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, Marshmallow Creme Eggs, jelly beans, Robin's Eggs- it was candy nirvana under that green basket filling. And it would last me all of 5 days.

The tradition of the Easter Bunny and his baskets of candy comes from Germany. Back in the day, kids would receive eggs in their baskets made of pastry and sugar. And, to sum up a long Wiki entry, bunnies and eggs are both signs of fertility and the coming of spring-- but, where do the jelly beans fit in?

Knowing that this candy is out there and within my grasp has made me pause. I was caught in Rite Aid without my handy Points calculator, so I resisted the urge to buy the candy for one more day. But, I haven't stopped thinking about those Starburst Jelly Beans, waiting for me in 3 delicious varieties (Twisted- 2 flavors in one! Sour Beans! Traditional!). Or that 12 pack of Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, on sale with a Rite Aid coupon.

So, to keep myself honest, here's the nutritional breakdown of some of my Easter favorites. The nice part about Weight Watchers is that I don't have to deprive myself- I just have to educate myself. And, I would rather educate before I eat rather than after - then it gets all messy and guilty and "If I don't track it, it doesn't count" starts appearing in my head...

What's in My Easter Basket
*Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs- my absolute favorite sweet treat. They're thicker than the regular peanut butter cups, therefore much better. I could live off of these, no problem.: (Serving Size = 1 egg) 180 calories, 11g fat, 18 g carbohydrates, 1  g fiber, 4 g protein = 5 points plus

*Starburst Jelly Beans- These are my preferred jelly beans, even over Jelly Belly. They're small, sweet, and pack a big fruity punch. Interestingly enough, jelly beans weren't added to Easter Baskets until the 1930's: (Serving Size = 1/4 cup or 1.5 oz) 150 calories, 0 fat, 0 fiber, 37 g carbohydrates, 0 protein = 4 points plus.

*Chocolate Bunny- the Holy Grail of all baskets. I was always an "ears first" kind of girl- unless my mom got to them first (those and the marshmallow eggs - see below- were never safe in our house): (Serving Size- 1.5 oz) 217 calories, 13 g fat, 22 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 3 g protein = 6 points plus

* Marshmallow Eggs- I've hid one or two from my mom over the years, and they're pretty tasty. And, their marketing technique (selling them in an "egg carton") is cute: (Serving Size = 1 egg) 120 calories, 3 g fat, 22 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 1 g protein = 3 points plus

*Peeps- I'm not a Peeps fan at all. But, I've been told that I need to try them stale, or "aged" as its called by Peeps conneseurs. And, I think it's cool that there's an entire Peeps store... (Serving Size = 4 bunnies) 130 calories, 0 fat, 33 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 1 g protein = 4 points plus

*Cadbury Eggs- again, not a fan. It's the creme filling that throws it off. If I could drain the filling out and just eat the chocolate shell, I'd be fine. Thankfully, they now make Peanut Butter Cadbury Eggs- though, I still pick my Reeses over these any day: (Serving Size = 1 egg)150 calories, 5 g fat, 25 g carbohydrates, 1  g protein, 0 fiber = 4 points plus

*Robin's Eggs/ Maltballs- filler candy at its finest. We'd have jars of these sitting around the house for the weeks before and after Easter (Serving Size = 24 pieces): 190 calories, 6 g fat, 33 carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 0 protein = 5 points

*Sweet Tart Chicks, Ducks and Bunnies- I have a friend who buys bags of these in bulk before Easter season hits. She picked hers up last week, and is rationing herself to a bag a week. I don't see this going well. (Serving Size = 4 pieces): 60 calories, 0 fat, 0 fiber, 13 g carbohydrates, 0 protein = 1 point.

Many healthy websites, including Weight Watchers, gives healthier options, like sugar free Peeps and chocolate (?!), bubble gum, and even jelly beans- in moderation. One website even suggested giving your kid a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss from the Easter Bunny. PARENTS (and future parents)! DO NOT GIVE OUT TOOTHPASTE FOR EASTER! You will end up being that person who gives out pennies on Halloween, then will act all surprised when your house gets egged.

Even with practicing moderation- and even if I get a toothbrush- it's going to be a LONG 6 weeks.

Paczkis and Shamrock Shakes

I'm Irish and Polish. The month of March marks a *great* eating and drinking season for both nationalities, in its purest Americanized sense. 

Early March kicks off McDonald's Shamrock Shake season, where people go all crazy for this cupped green goodness. I'm serious- I've seen about 5 of my friends on Facebook post Shamrock Shake pictures. 2 of my clerks just audibly gasped out of jealousy when I said I had one today. What is it about this sweetened green drink that makes people go crazy? Is it the "Girl Scout Cookie" theory- that because it's only offered once a year, it's extra special and extra yummy?

It's been a long time since I had one. I honestly can't remember the last time I pulled up to a McDonald's and asked for a Shamrock Shake. I went today with a friend, after lunch at Chipolte (half off!) and we ordered "2 Shamrock Shakes in the smallest serving possible." That's 12 oz of goodness, kids. $2 for vanilla-mint-flavored ice cream. Not bad.

The shakes are presented to us with whipped cream and a cherry on top, in a fancy McCafe cup. I started to get excited. Something about adding whipped cream and a cherry makes me feel like a little kid again. As we pull away from the golden arches, I bring out the phone and look up the nutritional info for one of these bad boys. In one 12oz serving, you get 420 calories, 10grams fat (6 of them saturated), 72grams carbohydrates and 9 grams protein, with a PointsPlus value of 11. ELEVEN points for one shake?! Holy crap! I drank half and tossed the rest- I know, milkshake connoisseurs,  but I wasn't going to pop this in the fridge and save part of it for later (I'd forget about it until it got gross). I got my taste of goodness and I'm set. Plus, the whole "breaking out because of dairy" thing, which I remembered after sitting down at my desk to taste the cool goodness...

I think I'm better off with the traditional Irish drinks, like Guinness and Jameson Whiskey.

On a side note, this blog talks about a sugar free, gluten free AVOCADO Shamrock Shake. There are so many things wrong with that phrase, I don't even know where to begin.

Depending on the calendar, early or late March also marks Paczki Day (pronounced POANCH-key). I was explaining to a co-worker today that there is a difference between a standard jelly doughnut and traditional pazcki- pazcki is WAY worse for you, being more dense and cooked with more lard. Today is the traditional Polish holiday where people load up before Lent "Fat Thursday;" it has since been adapted here in the US as "Fat Tuesday," the day before Lent kicks in. The entire point of this pastry is to mark the end of a period of "excess" before Lenten sacrifices are made- the Poles used this holiday to use up the lard, eggs and flour in the home so it was out of the house during the Lent season.

One paczek (singular form of pazcki) has about 400 calories and 27 grams of fat. I felt dirty looking up the nutritional value of a paczek on Weight Watchers' website, like they knew I was thinking about having one. But, they linked back to livestrong.com, which says a paczek is about 13 PointsPlus. However, during other searches, I've found them to be as high as 18 PointsPlus. On the flip side, one jelly doughnut (from Dunkin Donuts) has about 270 calories, 8 grams of fat, and clocks in at 6 PointsPlus- so a paczek is equal to two jelly donuts. Awesome.  Either way, like my friend said, have half of one if you really need one.

Of course, that would require me finding a good Polish bakery up here in Lansing, because a pack of Quality Dairy Pazcki is *not* the same as a pack of Pazcki from back home, therefore not worth the points. Now, if my family were to bring me a paczek from home...

Milkin' It

Weigh in Feb. 16: +2.0 (total of -5.1 lbs down)
Weigh in Feb. 23: +.08 (total of - 4.3 lbs down)
Today's weigh in: -7.6 HELL YEAH! (total of -11.9 lbs down)

I know, it's been awhile. Too much has been going on, life is getting in the way, etc. All of the excuses a dieter makes when they're not making healthy choices. When they're not logging their food. When they're not holding themselves accountable.

I got to a point in the last week where I was just mad. I was angry that I wasn't losing weight (but I was losing inches). I was doing *almost* everything right. I hit that wall that so many of us fail to climb. I kept persisting, hoping to pass over the plateau with minimal damage. In the midst of all of this, I had a doctor's visit. The doctor is still concerned about my Vitamin D level, but she was also concerned about this back and forth of 5 lbs I've been dealing with over the last few weeks. She put me on a thyroid medication to see if it would help. After this week's results, I certainly believe it helped! Of course, now I feel like I cheated and that maybe there is something screwy with my thyroid, but that's a different issue.

I also learned this week that this minor skin allergy I've developed to milk is greatly exaberated by fondue parties. I've had the pimples coming and going the last few weeks, but when I woke up after Sunday's day o' cheese and chocolate, I looked like a 16 year old going through puberty. It was horrible. I've been staying away from most (if not all) dairy since then and looking for dairy-free options. My Facebook family left lots of helpful suggestions:

1) "Silk": Apparently this is a very popular soy milk brand. I'm learning from reviews that it doesn't taste much like milk (it has a different consistency and a slightly sweeter taste), but it makes a great substitute. Since I don't drink milk on it's own (it needs chocolate syrup or cereal to be added), this seems like a viable option. Of course, it costs about twice as much as regular milk... good thing I don't use a lot of milk. 

2) "So Delicious" coconut milk: This got rave reviews from one of my sister's best friends and by one of my glucose intolerant friends. The online reviews I've read suggest going with the vanilla flavor, since it masks some of the coconut flavor (rather, it enhances the taste). It has a 2% milk-like consistency. But, again, it's expensive- like $5/ gallon.

3) "Almond Dream": Hungry Girl raves about this on her website. It's 1 point/cup for the unsweetened variety, and she uses it in almost recipe she creates. It has great reviews and is fairly reasonably priced.

4) "Teese Cheese": It's reviews are higher than Sheese or Cheezly (I can't make these names up), as it tastes better, melts better, and isn't much more expensive than regular cheese. But, it  comes shaped like a log. Weird.

5) "Tofutti" cream cheese/sour cream: Mixed reviews, with one of the top ones being listed as "Tofutti sour cream- GROSS...help!" Doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Apparently it's still pretty bad for you, although there is no milk product in it (still has 5g fat and only 1g protein?! From what?!), but it has a similar sour cream taste and consistency. Again, this is a product (sour cream) that I use much of, so I should be ok here.. 

The reason dairy is important to our bodies is because of the healthy protein and the calcium- both which I can get with the soy products and vitamins. I don't plan on cutting out dairy entirely, but I'm planning to make a fairly significant change with the basics- milk, cheese, and sour cream/cream cheese. I'm sure there are many other substitutes out there, but I'm a little leery (and poor!) to try them all. So any other suggestions/samples you want to push my way... feel free!