I'm also severely lactose intolerant and dairy allergic. I haven't eaten or drunk any dairy products (with the exception of butter and some goat feta (with A LOT of LactAid along) for almost 20 years.) I really don't miss it much.

My intolerance is so severe and I also have Bovine IGA protein allergies, so even cow milk with Lactaid tablets, or Lactaid milk is not something I can drink. (NOt to mention the calories. The calories from dairy milk are so invasive. Bleh. I hate the stuff, I can't even watch other people drink it now.)

I drink water about 99% of the time. I don't drink our tap water, as we have a private well and it has been contaminated, the entire neighborhood contracted E Coli about 15 years ago and a couple of the kids ended up in the hospital) and it tastes like butt.

So, I drink bottled water, no flavor (I don't see the point. It's water.) My kids were raised without any pop, so they really don't like it, in fact my little one has never drunk pop and cried when she accidentally got some at a birthday party because it "burned" her.

We go through about 2-3 gallons of water a day for drinking and cereal (yep I put it on my cereal.) My little one drinks low fat soy milk, either Soy Silk Very Vanilla or powdered soy milk by Better Than Milk. I occasionally drink some plain tea, either hot or iced, and once in a while some chocolate coffee, made with soy. (General Foods International Coffees have a nice Viennese Chocolate Cafe that I drink once in a while.) My kids drink some apple and cherry juice and I drink cranberry cocktail when I have a UTI or everyone else is having wine.

The thing with soy milk is the fat. I usually try to buy the low fat, but it is harder to find, especially in the Vanilla for my little one. I honestly can't drink soy milk, being raised on cow milk. It tastes weird alone. I cook with it all the time, though, and even use soy cheese for things most people would use "real" cheese for. Pizza, casseroles, sandwiches, burgers, on top of a lot of things, in hot dogs. It's good stuff.
I think cow milk is for baby cows and there are much better things to put in your body.

At least 85 to 90% of the world becomes lactose intolerant in late childhood and dairy can cause stomach and intestinal bleeding, allergies, obesity skin conditions, damage to the immune system (as it contains foreign proteins meant for the immune system of a baby cow, not an adult or even child human.) I never gave my kids Cow Milk and none of them have ever had a broken bone.

Kayla, you are much more healthy without dairy. Think of this as a blessing and a way to a new, healthier life.

When I go out I usually order an Iced Tea, plain. It has no calories, is taste and people don't bug me to drink alcohol, because of the color.

I know it sucks, but this could be a really good thing for you.

One more thing, for a once in a while treat, there is a non dairy ice cream made with coconut milk. It's called Purely Decadent. It is fucking wonderful! My Man buys it for me, in all different flavors and I eat a little Pot De Creme cup of it (about 1/4 cup or so) with graham crackers, or a few cookies or granola or maybe some chocolate sauce for a special treat once in a while. Orgasmic!

Nom nom nom.

YOU SHOULD TRY SOY!