It seems that when there are things that I can't have, I do the same thing. You have got to find a way to feel treated without feeling deprived. It is a fine line, but worth finding.

Two things work for me.

1. I make a list of all the wonderful things that I can have, and every week I find something on that list that I don't normally have and splurge.

2. I find things that give me the same taste as things I can't have. I struggle with lemon and vinegar also, but I have found that lemon-flavored Jell-O and two or three Lemonheads give me the same taste without the consequences. I put a few drops of aged balsamic vinaigrette on top of roasted Brussels sprouts. Two or three drops are enough to smell and taste it, but it doesn't hurt my stomach (you may have a different reaction, so be careful). I have used chocolate-flavored lip balm to calm chocolate and sweet cravings (it worked). Flavored gum helps me curb a desire for dessert often. It is difficult to manage gut issues and allergies, but there are usually ways to make it not so boring. There are so many recipes and ideas on the internet that make life easier. I keep telling everyone to make sure that they have Pinterest, then to go into the search bar there and enter searches. After that, whenever you go to the site, you will have lots of suggestions and posts in those areas. It has helped me navigate my own gut issues and allergies so that I rarely feel deprived these days.