Looking for tips for healthy eating? Look no further. Just the other day I received this touching email from one of my readers Nicole, a young woman dealing with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I won’t get started on the health insurance aspect of her words. Sometimes that issue is absolutely heart breaking.
In any event, as you will see below, Nicole has written to me for advice on what to eat. In spite of this site, I am a very boring eater.
My husband makes fun of me at dinner time when I eat an entire 2 heads of steamed broccoli (with this yummy Mustard Marmalade Dressing of course), all the while chomping away like a rabbit and teasing him that I need to get my 5-9 servings of produce every day (neurotic, I know). Of course I have a decent helping of protein with said broccoli and do so at every meal. More on that later, let’s get to Nicole and her lovely epistle:
Hey Elana,
I first want to say that I absolutely love your website and recipe ideas. My name is Nicole and I am 20 years old, and I am looking for your advice.
I am currently saving up money to treat my Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I am doing this because I have aged out of my parent’s insurance. I recently got a job, the first one since my illness, and have been working the best that I can to save up.
I love food, and have gone grain free for the passed 3 months to help me lessen the symptoms of my illnesses while i work. Being that i am so tired all the time, and work takes the energy that i do have, i am finding myself slipping into my old eating habits because i don’t have the energy to prepare my meals anymore. I am also completely boring myself with my lack of ideas. If i eat one more salad, or one more plate of grilled chicken with veggies, i think i just might lose it!
You mentioned that you were grain free. So i am curious if there are any tips you have, or any ideas, on how i can still eat grain free, VERY low sugars/fruits, and still have time to sleep,so that i don’t want to eat every grainy, sugary food in my wake. I sadly, almost purchased a package of Oreo’s and was going to admit defeat while watching Pride and Prejudice. I was even going to dunk them in milk, which i also have been avoiding. So you can see, I am coming VERY close to undoing all my hard work.
My main problem is also breakfast, because the standard omelet or anything egg just DOESN’T fill me at all. I have to tell you, I am a hungry hungry girl in the morning, and without grains as an option, i am losing ideas. Any advice you could give would more than help me I’m sure.
Thanks so much for your time reading this novel of a question,
Nicole
First of all, I think what Nicole is dealing with is common for so many of us. We live in a world of processed junk food and are likely addicted to foods that aren’t so good for us until we break the habit. At least that’s what I’ve found to be the case for myself. We often crave the foods we are allergic to and this is called an allergic-addiction. Quite a lot of interesting information on this can be found in the book, Dangerous Grains
Anyway, on to some solutions (and confessions). And you might not be very impressed. At all. An ideal day for me consists of eating the same meal for dinner, then breakfast and lunch the next day. This meal repetition saves a lot of time and I also find it strangely comforting. It’s not boring though because I use so many flavors in the dishes that I make. I love to snack on nuts and berries (goodness, that sounds so puritanical and annoying, I do apologize).
While I have gluten free junk food in my house for the boys, after years of going without it, I do not have cravings anymore. It takes time. And remember, patience, as so many of us are dealing with chemical cravings to sugar or other substances of choice that we might not feel so great eating. When I look at the stuff instead of thinking of a good sugar buzz, my brain somehow automatically goes to the migraine that I would get after that. My goal in dealing with both celiac disease and multiple sclerosis is to eat as clean as I can and to have as much energy as I can to keep up with my boys.
I would say that it is this passion (for them and for living) which helps to keep me focused on my goal.
When I do get cravings I find myself munching on organic fruit sweetened dried cranberries –I am obsessed with everything cranberry right now.
I have read books that claim that MS (and other disease) symptomology can be kept in check with diet. In particular, the book The Gift of Remission
However, I know this way is not for everyone.
I do want to post a couple of yummy menu items that might help Nicole (and you) out. This week is so busy that I will be making a double batch of Ina’s Grilled Lemon Chicken and stretching it into 2 nights of dinners, plus my breakfast and lunch. I’ve been making double dinners this whole week since it is a zany one and I’m out of the house so much.
My Favorite Entrees:
Favorite Sides and Salads:
For Snacking I Love:
You’ll notice I incorporate fruit with my meals. I like to do this as I feel more satisfied after eating a meal with something sweet in it.
I hope this post is helpful to you, Nicole and others who may be dealing with similar situations. This is just the way I do things, it is what works for me and simplifies my life. It may have no baring on anyone else’s. Just my humble offerings. Enjoy and laugh at it if you must :-)
Christiane says
Hi Nicole, I’d also like to suggest you have your adrenals and thyroid tested, by an osteopath or specialist in this area who would use Genova Diagnostics or some other equally comprehensive test. I just read the book “America Exhausted” which did a great job of explaining the energy cycle and links between diet, exercise, sleep, hormone deprivation and sugar levels. It would be a good thing to read before you go to the doctor so you know what to ask and what your doctor should be talking about. All the best to you. These recipes look delicious!
Sandra says
Nicole-
Please look into fructose intolerance. I struggled for years to find the root of all my ailments – and it was fructose. I am now unable to eat fruits, most veggies, whole grains, etc.
I eat mostly homemade french bread (made with white flour), homemade baked goods (using white flour and dextrose), cheese and meats. You need to watch out for added sugars in all products, including meats.
It probably sounds like an anti-healthy diet, but I assure you that it has given me a new life.
Best to you!
Jacki Putnam says
You are getting some great advice with all the comments. I think the most important thing is to learn what works for you, your body and your disease.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5 years ago (though I’m sure I’ve had it for years). Everything I tried would stop helping after a time and my life changed radically for the worse. A few months ago I put myself on an elimination diet with no gluten, corn, soy, dairy, citrus, nightshade plants. That certainly covers all processed food, too. It relieved 80% of my pain! I’ve been able to reintroduce some dairy and eggs with success. It’s literally changing my life.
And I see by these comments that others are finding answers through diet as well.
I’ve been blogging this experiment daily at:
http://fibrofood.wordpress.com
if anyone is interested in this journey.
Best of luck to us all!!
Jacki
shari watson says
I just posted a message and then read everyone elses messages. You name the problem I have it. So, bottom line is getting thru the problems, not even necessary to identify them…Protocell. I have been in natural health care for 25 years, trying to FIND the monster within. Cleanses, nutritional supports, avoiding foods. My story is very long. If you want to talk more. shariblossem@yahoo.com The before mentioned info is very valuable. pH is one that I didn’t see mentioned. Test you urin pH with a test strip. chances are it is not 7 (normal) but in the acid area. Mine is finally in the 7 range. I can’t speak more highly of Protocell. Finally a product to kill the beast within. WOrks with any disease. Good luck all. I am so saddened to see so many suffers like me. It truely is no fun. BUT now I have true hope…your friend. SHARI
shari watson says
Would you please see that Nicole gets this. I am 49 and have been chasing my chronic fatigue monster since I was 20. Please see the website on Protocell. I am currently treating my CFS. Yes, I supported thyroid, adrenals, blood sugar, depression and the list goes on. I stopped eating wheat years ago before I came to your site. Just because it made me feel worse, but I never got better. CFS is Epstein Bar Virus. An auto immune disorder. This Protocell attacks the bad cells and allow the good cells to survive and replenish. I have become so bad I have spent the last 10 years spending 80% of my time in bed. Now, my thyroid levels are coming down, my adrenals are regular, I have far less depression and anxiety. I would certainly hate to see her waste her life away as mine has. I am currently on Protocell 23 and am seeing hope, Life actually might be worth living!! shari
Rebecca says
I am all too familiar with chronic illness. I have suffered with RSD and fibromyalgia for the last 6 years. Chronic pain is very taxing. I will say though that my diet makes a difference and I am highly motivated to do anything that reduces the pain. In fact I would eat beets and onions all day long if I thought it would help me! Thankfully I don’t have to resort to that extreme. I don’t eat any sugar, dairy, grains or yeast. I know how you feel when you think, if I eat any more meat and green vegetables I think I will cry. I also agree, the freezer is your best friend. Make extra, individually wrap potions and freeze. Breakfast is the hardest. I eat a lot of eggs, steamed veggies, and fruit. I also like to eat sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon. I make coconut milk smoothies using canned coconut milk (easy to find), frozen cherries and raspberries. You could use any low sugar frozen berries. It is very creamy and yummy. It will keep you full for awhile, too. I can relate to never filling up. My husband calls me the bottomless pit when it comes to food! Snacks are tricky, too. I bought a dehydrator and make “flax crackers” by soaking flax and adding herbs and salt, then spread on trays and dehydrate. I put nut butters on them. You could also make jerky with the dehydrator. Elana’s cookbook has helped, as well. I like to make her bread, toast it extra crispy and top it with nutbutters and fruit or seeds. I made the brownie recipe on this site last week and froze some of them. They were great, even my husband liked them. I did however tell him that if he ate any more of MY brownies I would kill him in his sleep! Ha! I swear, the man can eat anything and he always wants to eat the handful of things I can eat! I guess it just tells you how tasty some of it can be even if you are on a restrticted diet.
Hope this helps a bit. You are not alone. Illness sucks, but there are blessings in it as well. My dr told me that perhaps being diagnosed with this and making so many radical dietary and environmental changes might have kept me from getting something worse down the road. Life is good, but sometimes it is indeed hard.
Blessings,
Rebecca
Marilyn says
Nicole,
Please, please, please get tested for Lyme disease. I spent most of my adult life believing I had fibromyalgia, only to find out in my early 40’s that I actually had Lyme disease, and the testing that I had had for this tick-borne illness in the past were useless. My sister was told for 20 years and my mom for 10 plus years that they, too, had fibromyalgia when it was really Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Educate yourself about this disease, which has increased by huge numbers all over the United States over the past few years. The tests are not accurate, so finding a Lyme-literate physician is very important. Go to lymediseaseassociation.org and click on “doctor referral” to find a doctor in your area. Other good resources: lymedisease.org, canlyme.org, publichealthalert.org, and others. E-mail me at dustyjoewilliams@yahoo.com if you want to know more. Don’t expect your regular doctor to know or support you in researching this disease – most just don’t get the severity of the epidemic, and there is a lot of politics in the medical world surrounding this disease. Best of luck to you!
The Diary of an Epic Failure says
I am one of the people who eats pretty much the same thing every day, so I agree that repetition can save time and anxiety about eating. I also use whey protein powder in many different ways and this is actually the cornerstone of my diet sometimes…also flax seed and almond milk with the whey at breakfast. I don’t give up and keep fighting because…we HAVE to. Sometimes finding what works for us means not paying attention to conventional thoughts about nutrition, etc…but it’s ok! Be true to your body and it won’t let you down!!
Alta says
Keeping up the energy to stick through a gluten-free diet, much less a grain-free diet, does take planning. So as others have said before, plan your meals, and cook in bulk so you have something in the freezer.
For breakfast, you may have to think outside the box a bit. For me, eggs are such a good source of protein that I stay full with them…but you mentioned that they don’t fill you up. How about cooking a few sweet potatoes, and drizzling with coconut oil and/or honey/agave? I LOVE sweet potatoes, and they make a filling, delicious breakfast. Or right now, pumpkins and winter squashes are in season. Bake up a bunch! This will definitely help satisfy that sweet/starch craving. Also for breakfast, making up some grain-free granola (I know Elana has a recipe on this site) and eating it with almond or hemp milk is a great “quickie” meal (with some fruit). I even like to snack on the granola, in place of crackers or chips.
I hope you start to feel better soon, and that focusing on eating clean will help you along that path.
unscrambled says
for breakfast, I’m not full with just eggs either.
I have to eat protein + fat. (and veg and fruit and what have you, but the fat + protein is what keeps me full)
A smoothie with protein powder needs added coconut oil, or a raw egg, or likely, both for me to be full.
I’ve got MS, and want to send shouts and support to all of us who are dealing with this stuff.