Every day is an opportunity to learn. We are constantly learning. Learning helps us grow, expand horizons, meet mew people, try new things and so much more. In reality, we never can learn everything, there will always be something new.
This has been my life in the last few weeks.
As you may recall, I recently found out that I have 22 trigger foods that have been wrecking havoc on my stomach and intestines, are potentially the cause of my headaches, fatigue and so much more! I think I have read more food labels in the last 2 weeks than I have in my entire life.
Don't get me wrong, I read food labels before, but never like I do now! Before I would take a quick scan of the ingredients, but my focus usually was more on the fat, calories, protein and carbs in anything I was considering buying. Now, I am literally reading each and every ingredient on the label, trying to decipher what some things are, contemplating if it is "safe" for me to eat!
This weekend, I finally tackled the project of going through the pantry and cupboards to sort out what I could eat from what was now fair game for the rest of the family to enjoy. Everything that contained Milk, almonds, cheese, onions, pineapple and more was set on one side of the table. Everything that was free of all trigger foods was placed on the other side of the table.
In the end, there was definitely more on the right side (avoid side) of the table than the left. Wow! No wonder why I feeling the way that I was, if I was eating so many of these foods on the "avoid" side of the table daily!
How much of it was I eating? just to give you an example:
Breakfast most mornings was a shake mixed with Chocolate Almond Milk, a milk based shake mix and either a banana or pineapple. I have since learned that Milk (most Dairy) is a trigger, as are almonds and pineapple!
Now I am replacing my shake mix with a dairy free version and sticking with bananas, strawberries or other fruit!
Lunch was usually leftovers... this particular day, it was baked salmon (now on the list of avoid foods) and green beans (another avoid food!). Yes, I will miss as my salmon and
Shrimp and crab, but I still have scallops and a few other varieties of fish I can enjoy!
In the two weeks that I have been working to eliminate these trigger foods, I feel better, sleep better most nights and am starting to see higher energy levels. Oh yeah, and I have not had any migraines!
I have also had to stop and think more about what I am feeding my body. I have gone back to some of my favorite recipes, some of which I have not made in a long time, played with them to see what I could do to tweak them, to fit in the new diet
One of those recipes that I went back to, was my favorite chicken salad recipe!
A few years ago, I posted the recipe for this here and figured that it was time to share it again.. with a few modifications!
This light, summer chicken salad, in its original formula, was made with almond butter. Since I can't have the almond butter anymore, I opted to make it now with cashew butter!
What a game changer!
Shredded chicken (perfect way to use up that leftover rotisserie chicken!), granny smith apples, grapes, cashew butter and honey!
The perfect blend of sweet and crunchy to go with the chicken!
Pure yum!
Yes, I am still learning what I can easily grab to eat when I need a quick snack or am making dinner. I will continue to work on finding modified recipes for some of the family favorites that right now, I can't make in the same way that I did before... Chili without onions, kidney beans and cheese, just is not the same. Same goes for sloppy joes and meatloaf.
Yes, this is a tough journey, but I know that it will be worth it in the end! The next few months might be tough and I will miss my pizza, but if, in the end, it means that I am healthier, have more energy and can avoid the headaches, it will be worth it! Your health is more important!
Now, time to scour the internet for dinner tomorrow!
