Aside from spending much more time grocery shopping (reading all the labels), there were other challenges to going dairy-free. Eating out in restaurants required me to be the "difficult" patron, asking multiple questions about the contents and preparation of every meal. I also had to ask for no cheese, which broke my heart every time I uttered those words. I even had to send back a baked potato filled with sour cream, butter and cheese, despite the fact that I ordered it, gulp, plain.

The one time I most felt like cheating during the two weeks was when my boyfriend's cousin was visiting from New York. We showed him all around Los Angeles and he mentioned that he wanted to try Salt & Straw ice cream, a place I've been dreaming of going, but the line is always so long that I've never gotten to try it. (I should also mention that ice cream is one of my most favorite foods.) Lo and behold, when we arrive at Salt & Straw there was absolutely no line. They sampled all of the delicious delicacies before deciding on a flavor while I sampled a sorbet — good, but by no means ice cream. I realized that these are situations my mom deals with on a regular basis.

Image via Unsplash @nativemello

I'm generally a healthy eater, but tell me I can't have something and it's all I can think about. During the two weeks, I definitely spent way more time thinking about cheese and ice cream than I normally would.

In terms of pros to giving up dairy, I did feel lighter, more energetic overall and my digestion was more regular. I can honestly say that I did not notice a difference in the condition of my skin. It remained just as oily as when I started, however, had I given the experiment more time or had I not gotten my period in the middle, the results could have varied greatly. Also, my weight stayed absolutely the same. Though I had given up dairy for two weeks, it seems that most "creamy" substitutes are more nutrient and calorically dense than your average dairy product. So even though I wasn't consuming milk products, I was probably consuming more (healthy) calories overall.

My no-dairy experiment definitely gave me a greater appreciation for people struggling with food sensitivities — especially my mom. Not being able to enjoy the things you love can leave you feeling isolated and extremely limited in your food choices. Also, you have to do the research, read the labels and be your own biggest health advocate. I attempted to cut out dairy to gauge the effects from a beauty standpoint, but if it were a question of my health, I would make those cuts no matter what. As with all things, moderation is key. There are some dairy-based foods that I will happily continue to sub out for the occasional non-dairy alternative (they were pretty good), while some foods, like half and half in my coffee, are non-negotiable. I will say this, in my two-week quest, I did help my mom (who's as big of an ice cream connoisseur as I am) find an ice cream substitute that actually tastes like the real thing — So Delicious Cashew Milk Ice Cream is one non-dairy treat that we will both continue to enjoy together.

Image via Instagram @so_delicious