Last week I blogged about writing and diet. I revealed many of my food intolerances: gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, most grains, legumes, potatoes, nightshade vegetables, lettuces, watermelon. I’ve been asked many times, what do you eat?
Here’s an example of my food journal:
Breakfast: protein smoothie with fruits
Lunch: Mix of veggies, roasted salmon, vinaigrette. Kombucha tea. Chocolate coconut ice cream.
Snack: grapes, hard boiled eggs.
Dinner: roasted chicken, steamed brocoli. Berries in coconut creamer.
The Balance between routine and variety
Does it sound boring? Most of my days look exactly like above. But even if you don’t have food allergies or intolerances, most diet consists of mixing protein, fat and carbs. Finding the right mix for maximum health is the challenge.
I use a mix of veggies because I can’t eat lettuces. I used to love a good salad. Mid-way through the Elimination Diet, I was discouraged at all my restrictions. Couldn’t fathom that on my diet, I couldn’t have salad. How wrong was that?
The day I realized a salad didn’t actually have to have lettuce in it was a good day. I chopped celery, cucumbers, carrots, and radishes and tossed them with my own special vinaigrette. It was crunchy and fresh. Bliss.
My next batch was better. I used organic veggies and I added half an avocado. Yum! Top the dish with any kind of meat (chicken, fish or beef) and I had a new staple!
Here’s the recipe for my vinaigrette:
In a bowl, add 1 tbsp of dijon mustard, 1/2 cup of organic apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp of organic honey (or more to taste), salt and pepper and mix with a whisk. Slowly pour 1 cup of organic extra-virgin olive oil while whisking. The mix should hold together thanks to the mustard. If it separates, just mix again.
It’s sweet and tart at the same time. In true Rachel fashion, it’s delish!
I vary my proteins and my vegetables, and so far, I’m still excited when mealtime comes up.
Breakfast = Important
Since I’m off gluten and grains in general, breakfast is a challenge. No more bread, toasts, cereal, oatmeal. What’s left? Eggs, bacon, fruits. I’m very active and I need sustenance before I leave the house. Smoothies save my mornings.
If you google smoothies, you’ll find a ton of recipes. I’m limited: no dairy, no nuts and no seeds for me. In the morning, I blend vanilla coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, egg whites, berries, ice. I recently discovered a cultured coconut milk at the store, flavor vanilla and chocolate. Cultured means bacteria has been added, the good kind, like in regular yogurt. Chocolate smoothies are next on my list.
There are green smoothies, with vegetables, or avocado. Though less tempted, I will try them. At some point.
Desserts
When one has a sweet tooth, going on the Elimination Diet is like mourning. The first few weeks are the most difficult, then sweets can be added, so long as no intolerances have been detected.
With the ever rising rate of food allergies, specialty foods have exploded on the market, making choices much easier. Dairy free, gluten free, soy free. Very popular. In my case, I need all three on the label.
The brand So Delicious has developed a series of non-dairy, soy-free desserts. Ice creams, yogurts, milk, novelties. It makes sweets a better world.
I discovered recently a recipe by Eric Lechasseur, Vegan, Macrobiotic Chef: coconut macaroons. Easy, organic shredded unsweetened coconut, brown rice syrup, coconut milk. Mix and form into a favorite shape. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. The macaroons are lightly sweet and crunchy. With a cup of tea, they’re heaven.
I haven’t abandoned my family, though. I still cook and bake “regular” for them. Two weeks ago, I made orange cranberry scones and brought them to my RWA’s chapter meeting. I bake brownies and chocolate cake for my tennis crowd. And crème brûléee for my DH.
If we are what we eat, I am a delicious morsel.
Amen, Carole.
We have pre-conceived notions about meals. It was hard for me to imagine breakfast and lunch w/o some kind of bread product, and I totally get your point about salad.
Who says there has to be lettuce? The world is full of pasta, bean and potato salads (yes, I know you can’t have some of those) yet so many people are stymied by the notion of a salad without leafy greens. I routinely make salads with veggies and beans, be they black, kidney, or chick. Dice in some avocado, chunks of left over chicken, or tuna or salmon for protein. For those who can eat a traditional, leafy green-based salad, unsweetened applesauce is a great substitute as a salad dressing. A drizzle of honey is heaven on a spinach, almond and strawberry salad.
Who says a pancake has to have flour? Mash a banana, mix with an egg, fry. Serve with fruit, syrup, or applesauce. YUM. Believe it or not, there was a time when sandwiches didn’t exist. Just lay the filling on a plate and grab your fork!
Altering our diet is a challenge, but it is also an exercise in creativity and planning. Leave the paradigms outside the box!
I’m going to try your macaroons. And, I hope you still have the coconut milk creme brulee recipe I sent.
Sherry,
I still have the recipe. I plan to make it later this week, and I also plan to make some caramel, using coconut milk. The kitchen is the lab!
Thanks for stopping by. Miss you!
A delicious morsel indeed! And, yea, now I have the exact recipe for your tasty dressing. Score!
Happy Labor Day!
Wendy,
Any recipe you want, simply ask. It’ll be a pleasure!
I’m going to have to try that vinaigrette…
Angelyn,
You might want to play with the measurements and adjust it to your taste. It’s so easy to make and delicious!
Another great post. I eat like a European, probably because I lived in Germany for 18 years.
You’re preaching to the choir here. A year ago, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Four generations of my family have been diagnosed with either Type I or Type II, so it wasn’t precisely a shock, but it wasn’t welcome either. And although I wasn’t extremely overweight and certainly not inactive (the two main culprits in most cases of Type II), I went on a whole foods diet, began walking three miles a day and added natural supplements known to reduce blood sugar. A year later, my blood glucose which was a shocking 320 is 97 and the doctor considers me pre-diabetic. We ARE what we eat. Kudos to you, Carole, and I wish you a long, healthy life of sensible eating. (By the way, if this helps, almond flour makes the BEST pancakes. I use seltzer water rather than milk–it makes them rise. A little salt, an egg, some sweetener, a bit of whatever oil you can tolerate. They are heavenly and very low carb. I eat mine with fresh raspberries. Heaven.)
Whatever you’re doing, Carole, it’s working for you. You look fantastic. I do love a salad for lunch, but I pack on the vegies, so I could see leaving out lettuce. Your salad dressing sounds simple and yummy. I use a lot of balsamic vinegar although that may be too sweet. I’ve got honey from neighbourhood bees and you’ve reminded me to use it in salad dressing instead of sugar.
Love your meal suggestions. Sounds pretty healthy to me!
You can make caramel with coconut milk? Wow. That’s one I’d love to try.
Have you ever thought of putting out a cookbook?
I’d buy it. I have many of the same issues.
Thanks for the sharing.
Hi Carole,
I have a daughter who doesn’t do gluten or lactose. My stepdaughter is a vegetarian. My sons do not like any tomatoes, and my my husband dislikes anything with a custard texture. As for me, I was raised deep in the country so I ate almost anything we could raise, shoot, or catch.
As for fixing dinner for the clan, it isn’t that hard since we only get together a couple of times a year. Your diet sounds tasty.:)
Hi Morgan,
Thanks for stopping by. You have an eclectic family.
Good thing reunion happens just a couple times per year. I’d suggest a pot luck for next time. Everybody brings what they can eat, and everyone can partake in someone else’s diet.
Interesting post, Carole. You must have a great imagination to find a way around your restrictions. Oh, right! You’re an author, imagination is a given. Good luck on the new diet and on the writing.
Thanks, Sandy.
Sometimes I have bad dreams. I dream I’m eating pasta or cake or something breaded and fried. And I’m telling myself, don’t eat that, it takes 6 months to clear gluten from you body! You’ve been off gluten for 10 months so you’ve been clean for 4. What a nightmare.
Weird, eh?