I walked the Butte yesterday with my husband and took note of others walking too. This time I noticed paces. One guy was riding his bicycle up and down the butte - he made at least three trips to our one; others ran, some walked briskly, while still others were in groups laughing and talking about something fun. I overheard women complaining and smiled when I overheard one young father teaching his daughter how clouds are made. Greg and I, we had a moderate steady pace with few words all the way up and down; it was just nice to walk side by side.
It may be similar with changing one's diet. We are all different and rise to challenges at random paces. Some, like me, will go all or nothing. In other words, when I was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, corn, soy, peanuts, gluten, and processed sugars I immediately set out to eliminate each ingredient from my diet - I killed the hill on my bicycle. Others will run by discarding the allergens quickly, but not all at once. Some will steadily exclude items one at a time getting used to going without before moving on to the next item. A few will make a game of it, not taking things too seriously while others will complain daily about the process.
It's a choice. What I know is that after almost two years of living allergen free, I am a healthy woman who has the brain power to dream again and the energy to go after those dreams. Pick a pace and begin; your dreams will breathe again...
Sunny
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Back to basics
People ask me what can I eat rather incredulously when they learn I don't consume foods with gluten, soy, corn, peanuts, dairy and processed sugars. I just smile and answer most anything I want, the closer to the earth it is the better. Whole foods are prevalent; many of us are so quick to chose processed items for convenience we don't even see the great foods around us.
Trust me when I say changing my eating habits was not easy and the most difficult part was my own mindset. I learned rather quickly what little I knew about the foods I purchased and prepared for my family. It's not like we ate poorly; growing up I was taught how to prepare a plate with meat and potatoes and a vegetable on the side - if it was a colorful presentation it was good.
A huge shift came to our family's menu when my dad was diagnosed with MS and diabetes at the age of 48. We could predict based on the day of the week what would be for dinner - pizza on Saturday, fried chicken on Tuesday, grilled cheese sandwiches with soup on Sunday, mac n cheese on Thursday...or something like that. This changed quickly as my dad strictly followed the dietary recommendation of his doctors. I can remember him exploding in frustration at the dinner table once when I mentioned he could have just a little of the creamed corn mom served that night, he angrily replied it would be like playing Russian roulette with food; it hurt then but now I get what he was saying.
Dad taught me how to experiment with ingredients and we modified several recipes over the years and ate everything we made - even the mistakes. I learned to be bold in the kitchen and not afraid of the little extra time it takes to prepare a meal from scratch. Today that is such a blessing as I know exactly what is in the meals I serve my family.
All that to say, I found I really had to set my mind to changing habits and not be afraid to ask for help, (I am recalling a melt down in the middle of the local Trader Joe's), when I have trouble locating items without the ta bu ingredients - do you really know how much corn and soy are used in gluten free items?! It took time, but now I know what to grab and what to stay away from and I am getting real skilled at label reading as well as more and more willing to try new ingredients.
Here's to exploring new flavors and looking forward to sharing ideas and hints.
Sunny
Trust me when I say changing my eating habits was not easy and the most difficult part was my own mindset. I learned rather quickly what little I knew about the foods I purchased and prepared for my family. It's not like we ate poorly; growing up I was taught how to prepare a plate with meat and potatoes and a vegetable on the side - if it was a colorful presentation it was good.
A huge shift came to our family's menu when my dad was diagnosed with MS and diabetes at the age of 48. We could predict based on the day of the week what would be for dinner - pizza on Saturday, fried chicken on Tuesday, grilled cheese sandwiches with soup on Sunday, mac n cheese on Thursday...or something like that. This changed quickly as my dad strictly followed the dietary recommendation of his doctors. I can remember him exploding in frustration at the dinner table once when I mentioned he could have just a little of the creamed corn mom served that night, he angrily replied it would be like playing Russian roulette with food; it hurt then but now I get what he was saying.
Dad taught me how to experiment with ingredients and we modified several recipes over the years and ate everything we made - even the mistakes. I learned to be bold in the kitchen and not afraid of the little extra time it takes to prepare a meal from scratch. Today that is such a blessing as I know exactly what is in the meals I serve my family.
All that to say, I found I really had to set my mind to changing habits and not be afraid to ask for help, (I am recalling a melt down in the middle of the local Trader Joe's), when I have trouble locating items without the ta bu ingredients - do you really know how much corn and soy are used in gluten free items?! It took time, but now I know what to grab and what to stay away from and I am getting real skilled at label reading as well as more and more willing to try new ingredients.
Here's to exploring new flavors and looking forward to sharing ideas and hints.
Sunny
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Sharing...
I've attempted to start this page 4 times in the last couple weeks. Yesterday I was encouraged by a friend to blog my experiences with living with several food allergies. It really is as simple as sharing experience, strength, and hope. I would welcome any who read this to share with me and we can learn together how to eat within our limitations and keep some money in our pockets. Just remember, this is my experience - I am not a doctor, nor am I attempting to tell anyone what is right or wrong. That said, this could be fun and helpful!
I was diagnosed with food allergies May of 2010 after a visit to the emergency room with all the symptoms of a heart attack. The last thing I wanted was to take any more meds so I chose to talk with my chiropractor as I had seen signs about nutrition popping up all over his office. He used muscle testing to determine I had allergies to gluten, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, and processed sugars. He would be very happy if I stayed away from coffee too, but, dang - I am still hanging on to that one!
I do not have celiac disease, but I am allergic to gluten, corn, and soy in that they affect my nervous system and consequently brain function. These foods in excess (I had been eating them for more than 40 years) shut down some systems and sent others into overdrive, thus the feeling I was having a heart attack. Knowing there is neither an overnight nor a miracle cure, I am taking supplements and reading food labels very carefully. I have found the easiest way to avoid the tabu ingredients is to eat whole foods; and this is where the adventure begins.
So, I invite you to walk with me...
Sunny
I was diagnosed with food allergies May of 2010 after a visit to the emergency room with all the symptoms of a heart attack. The last thing I wanted was to take any more meds so I chose to talk with my chiropractor as I had seen signs about nutrition popping up all over his office. He used muscle testing to determine I had allergies to gluten, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, and processed sugars. He would be very happy if I stayed away from coffee too, but, dang - I am still hanging on to that one!
I do not have celiac disease, but I am allergic to gluten, corn, and soy in that they affect my nervous system and consequently brain function. These foods in excess (I had been eating them for more than 40 years) shut down some systems and sent others into overdrive, thus the feeling I was having a heart attack. Knowing there is neither an overnight nor a miracle cure, I am taking supplements and reading food labels very carefully. I have found the easiest way to avoid the tabu ingredients is to eat whole foods; and this is where the adventure begins.
So, I invite you to walk with me...
Sunny
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