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.
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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 espouses this way of living and eating.
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 :-)
Nicky says
Dear Elena,
I recently found your website and recipes several months ago. I am a disabled woman with Autism and Second Generation Agent Orange Poisoning(causes many strange health issues with body). I am on a very strict and limited diet. I tried your recipe for Paleo Bread (had to change the vinegar to lemon juice) and am a big fan of it grilled. My dog Mia absolutely loves it, too. Thanks for sharing.
Thyroid blog says
You can try cottage cheese (look for low sodium one) with plain yougurt for breakfast. It has a lot of proteins. I also add some berries. Berries have planty of anti-oxidants and do not raise your blood sugar so fast as other fruits.
Tammy Lou McIlwain says
It is very hard to switch from eating anything you want to only the things you should be eating. I am also a morning eater-since I changed my eating habits- and it’s a hard one when you are gluten, dairy, starch and grain free. I have found a tasty and filling breakfast, for me anyway. It’s easy if you have a coffee grinder to zip the nuts and seeds in. I buy hazelnut flour and use that as a base. Then add ground flax and chopped almonds. All you need is a few heaping teaspoons. I add raisins or any fruit and coconut milk. Hot or cold it’s yummy. I poach my eggs which seem to fill me more than fried or scrambled(and they’re healthier that way :). I throw it right on top of the nut cereal!! Gives me energy and my body is happy!
Elana is right that the longer you keep to what is better for your body the more natural it is and you actually start craving the fresh foods that are keeping your chronic disease/s under control! Besides the fact that when you backslide the repurcussions are immediate to your system and make you miserable. I crave squash and carrots like I used to crave pizza – well….I do have a recipe for that also! Happy eating and good health to you. Tammy Lou
Kim Trimbo says
Hi Elana,
Does The Gift of Remission cover the topic of eliminating all grains? (I just ordered this book and Going Against the Grain). If not, could you please tell me why you have eliminated rice from your diet or refer me to a source? I have been GF and dairy free (except for butter, I tested okay with butter doing applied kinesology) for a long time now. I have CFS and IBS and a friend was recently diagnosed with MS. I met Julia from Adaba foods the other day and she mentioned you and that you were grain free. I am just trying to determine if giving up all grains (I love rice)! would help me (or her) in recovering.
Thank you!
alison says
I just stumbled upon this website, doing a search for “how to roast winter squash” … but HAD to look at the other, more recent postings too. As someone suffering from food allergies, sensitivities and chronic illness, I think I will benefit a lot from visiting this site in the future.
My love of (and therefore battle against) cow-dairy (goat is still ok) has gone on for years, and that’s the one food issue I’ve been dealing with the best of late! I am looking forward to gleaning helpful advice from this blog and the other readers. Elana, everything looks marvelously delicious, and your readers seem to be phenomenally supportive people! I feel fortunate to have found your blog.
Gurtee says
Nicole,
I too suffer from Fibromyalgia and CRS. For years I suffered daily. I couldn’t see past the present day, I was just hoping to have the energy to get through it. Last year I had some food allergy testing with a Kinesiologist. I discovered that not only was I allergic to gluten, dairy, corn, soy etc. etc. I was also nightshade sensitive. Nightshades include potato, tomato, peppers, eggplant and tobacco. These nightshades cause bloating, swelling of the joints and pain. It has not been easy, but with elimination of these foods, I am virtually pain free and medication free. I eat as clean a diet as possible and have lost 50lbs. Mainstream medicine either medicates or thinks your crazy when presenting fibromyalgia. Do not waste your money on them. See a holistic doctor or a kinesiologist and take back your life. Gurtee
Kathy O'Dwyer says
Elana – I read Nicole’s email to you and my heart goes out to her. It is difficult to be gluten and lactose intolerant. I would comment to her that she should explore the raw food section of her local natural food store. it sounds to me like she wants convenience and the raw food section has great gluten free granolas, raw food cookies, and other items that incorporate a lot of nut based items that may satisfy her cravings for grains. The other thing that I personally do is set aside some time on Sunday to cook up a huge pot of a veggie soup or stew or chili, including beans for protein. Then I put the soup or stew in portion size containers which I then have on hand for the week. it is so easy to come home and pop some soup in a pot or the microwave and dinner is ready. and I know it is fresh and nutritious – not processed. a little bit of time on Sunday makes life so easy the rest of the busy, busy week. Morning smoothies do the trick too! please tell Nicole t!
o hang in there. Life is great and it is worth the effort to be healthy.
Thanks for a great website. Kathy
Liz says
Hi there!
This may not be for everyone, but I’d just like to share my (Dad’s) omelette recipe with you. I find that it not only fills me but lets me be very active for hours before I feel hungry again. I am 6’2″, gluten intolerant and am inclined to hyperglycemia if I don’t fuel my body carefully. It does contain cheese though.
1 onion, finely sliced
1-2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
3 eggs, beaten and seasoned with salt & pepper to taste
fresh herbs of choice, chopped
grated cheese
Saute the onions for a couple of minutes (until soft), then throw in the tomatoes. Tip in the eggs, sprinkle on the herbs and a little cheese.
I fold it in half once the base is cooked, to let it cook through. Sometimes is falls apart. Sometimes it doesn’t. But I always tastes great and keeps me going.
It’s not for everyone, but I find that making it with vegies, extra eggs and no milk works for me and might be good for someone else too.
Nan says
To me, the MOST important sentence Elana wrote in her excellent post was this, “We often crave the foods we are allergic to and this is called an allergic-addiction.”
I learned this years ago from Dr. Doris Rapp, M.D. a pediatric allergist who wrote, “Is This Your Child?” I credit that book with saving my life.
I find that a small scoop of raw cashews helps satisfy the bread urge. They are sweet, nutty, nutritious and filling. Make sure they are not processed in a facility that also processes wheat.
Also, you can add raw or lightly roasted almonds to foods.
Be careful of overdoing sugars in dried fruit.
In addition to Elana’s recipes and book ideas, I find good ideas in: The World’s Healthiest Foods.
It teaches you the best way to bring out nutrients in foods and most of the methods are E-Z! For instance, the best way to cook sweet potatoes is to steam them. This takes just 10 minutes! Slap a little butter on ’em and they make a fine breakfast food.
Also…check out Jessica Black’s, The Anti Inflammation Diet. From that book I figured out that potatoes and tomatoes cause inflammation (pain) in my body. Eliminating them spared me a back surgery. (Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family they ARE NOT related to regular potatoes which can be inflammatory.)
My point? Don’t just look at grains as the culprit; learn how to identify which foods *might* be inflammatory for you. For some it is nightshades, for others grains or eggs or dairy or soy…
Where do you start? Look at the foods you are craving. That isn’t an absolute but it is a good starting point.
And listen to your body. Just because one person can tolerate agave and honey, doesn’t mean another can (and so on.)
I know, it isn’t fun, but whenever I feel cheated I look at photos of orphans who live on the streets and huff glue to numb the pain of living in the sewers, or at pictures of young Nepalese girls who are sold by their families into servitude at kindergarten age. Then I set aside a little bit of money or goods for those less fortunate. I am lucky. I am free. I can afford food. I have internet. :^D
You may feel overwhelmed. THat’s normal. Take all this information bit-by-bit. It helps to write it down and go through it step-by-step. Trust your instincts to guide you. You sound like a mature young lady.
Thanks to everyone who posted, I have gleaned some helpful ideas.
Elana, you’re a sparkly gem.
Ashley says
Breakfast doesn’t have to mean “breakfast foods”. Are there any meals that you make that help you to feel energetic and full? Eat those.
I love using my slow cooker because it makes life a lot easier. Just throw things in and walk away. You’ll return to find a fantastic meal. I agree with the others who suggested spending time cooking on the weekend/Sunday to ensure that you’re stocked up for the week. A soup, stew or curry can go a long way.
It’s absolutely tough, but keep your head up and work towards having a positive attitude! When I feel frustrated with my food choices, I remind myself of how good I feel when I eat the way that I do. For me it comes down to feeling good or feeling bad and I every day I work towards feeling good.