Have you ever taken a second to really look at how the dairy aisle has changed? Oat, plant based, coconut, almond, and soy milk all sit competitively near skim, whole, and chocolate cartons. This is a lactose brawl waiting to happen, may the best coupon win.

Most of these options are lost on me, I’ve never been a fan of milk, dating back to childhood. Usually I just grab a big jug of non-fat Lactaid for my family and move on. As my so eloquently daughter tweeted, “milk is weird.” I agree. Once, I tried steamed almond milk in my coffee at Starbucks, and…it just did nothing for me. But, I do hope the addition of these products make it easier for someone with an allergy, that’s the true need here.

The dairy case is one of the many places where God gives us a bevy of choices. Proverbs 16:9 teaches us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

No matter the grocery aisle, there are always going to be intriguing options, but it’s hard to find that one golden product without a few costly fails. As your foodie friend, I say try new things. As a conscious consumer, I say keep your receipt, share feedback, and get your money back when you’re not happy with a product, if you can. All products have their company information on the packaging. As a disciple, I see God’s amazing provision for all of us. I marvel at the options for sustainable living, more ways to hear the Word and increased awareness on living well.

A few weeks back, a super early morning run in Los Angeles took me past a famous 24 hour donut shop, Prince Donuts. I ended my run here with a cup of black coffee and a just-made, glazed donut. I know this goes against my super clean eating rules, but I was living in the moment. When I pulled up my dailyJesus Calling devotional, I felt totally blessed when the first line reads, “Taste, and see that the Lord is good…”