Even though many booklets recommend using prepackaged food as a way of
managing tasks, I believe it's better for your overall health to
prepare food from scratch at home. I eat mainly whole grains (brown
rice, meusli, etc) lots of fruits and vegetables, organic dairy
products such as yoghurt and eggs, fish, small amounts of soy products,
small amounts of meats (organic when possible), and rooibos teas.
Before you congratulate me on my healthy eating, I also eat chocolate,
sugar, cookies, doughnuts coffee and alcohol. Plus I'm not above the
occassional fast food meal or box of Kraft Dinner. What do you eat and
do you notice it affects your RA?
We are fortunate where I live to have a wonderful coop which i shop in all the
time. I also eat organic, lots of fruits, veggies, lean meats, but I love beef. I
only eat organic dairy, will not touch the other stuff. I do stay away from the
sweets for the most part and choose them wisely when I do. I do love my
coffee and that is probably the last thing I will ask for just before I die. I
have heard it has powerful antioxidants so I don't care. I do drink lots of
iced tea rather than soda. I also prepare from scratch. And I love to cook so
makes it easy. I can leave the pastries but have a hard time passing up
cheesecake. I think healthy eating is important in disease maintenance. I
don't have some of the debilitating effects that some ppl here do so who
knows when I will no longer be able to cook like this. It would be nice to
have a thread on things people do to make their lives easier on a daily basis
ie, shortcuts, quick recipes, etc.
I don't notice much of a change. Too much dairy upsets my tummy and too much sugar makes me overly tired and cranky (once the sugar buzz wears off, that is!)
I love food! I love cooking, cookbooks, eating - you name it! I only buy organic milk (not to thrilled with the BHG and antibiotics in the regular milk), I try to eat fish at least once a week but it's hard with my kids hating it! I love to make chicken. I never fry anything. I like to make oven fried foods though. I make tons of veggies. I love the weird veggies though, the not so popular ones, lima beans, brussels sprouts and asparagus. Pretty much any vegetable I will sprinkle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and roast it at a high heat (maybe 400 degrees) for 20 minutes. Simple and delish. I snack on nuts and fruits. Don't get me wrong either, i love to have a good piece of cheesecake but i don't do it too often. Maybe once or twice a year. Not big on chips or that kind of thing. I don't notice anything affecting my RA however I've felt pretty good lately and I like to attribute that to my healthy eating. Haha although i did just go out for a gigantic greasy cheeseburger for lunch today! Everything in moderation!
I believe my diet is what keeps my arthritis under control. Probably the most important things I do is avoid sugar and caffine, and drink tons of water. I try to eat mainly fruits, veggies, fish, and whole grains. What made it easier for me was taking the time to build my own cookbook. Recipezaar.com has a ton of recipes and great filters so you can find recipes that match specific criteria.
shortcuts, quick recipes
We buy a half beef every year that has had no meds at all and I cook mostly from scratch. I don't drink milk and eat a lot of veggies. I do quite well avoiding the sweets but will eat a bowl of ice cream. I drink coffee in the am and water the rest of the day. I have not found any change based on diet.I think there has to be some comprimises...pre packaged foods that are frozen like the lean cuisine and healthy choice and smart ones meals are good once in a while when you just cant cook...but there are also alternatives to canned veggies that have a more salt in them..frozen. Fresh is great but requires more work and actually buying fresh fruit and veggie when they are not in their peek season actually can get you less nutrients than frozen ones..
I love to cook and I have found tons of recipes out there that are 3 or 5 ingrediants or just quick meals..
alot of chefs and other foodies are jumping on the band wagon..I mean, I love the fancy stuff..but really..who has time or money for some of the old school recipies of Paul Prudhome or Southern Living? People like Paula Dean ( who I adore ) make some awesome stuff...but not healthy for everyday eating.
Racheal Ray, Giada DeLaurentis...and many others are creating recipes that are simple and inexpensive and healthy (okay not all of Racheals stuff is healthy....but she is the 30 min meal queen)
Web sites like www.allrecipies.com have alot of user submitted stuff that is easy to make and the nutritional values are listed.
I think the idea of a self created cook book is an excellent idea.
I use alot of frozen veggies, I buy the low carb pasta, Fat Free shredded cheese and low sodium tomato sauces. Since ground meat is so easy to work with and fast, I buy 96/4 lean beef or 99% fat free ground turkey. Learning how to season and work with the turkey has made it a new family favorite for my Italian Wedding soup. And never underestimate the appeal of breakfast for dinner...eggs and toast...a lean low sodium slice or 2 of bacon...
We also use the Foreman type grill..which can turn plain sandwiches into dinner worthy treats...served with a salad or some left over homemade soup...and yum!
we do the quickie stuff...and some fast food..and well..our share of crap...but in moderation...and I am learning to do Fast Easy Healthy...
I mostly cook from scratch. I will use good ole Kraft mac and cheese though especially for the kids. I NEVER buy stuff like "Lean Cusine" or quote... snort giggle.. "Healthy" (yeah right) Choice. That stuff is PACKED with sodium, which is pure poison.
We eat a lot of chicken, I buy chicken and beef from my sister she raises a steer every year. None of us much care for fish, I know we should but other than a little tuna or a fish fry or squid, things like that I'm not a fish eater. course I don't eat donuts either so it all evens out.
I love my coffee too, but have cut way way way down to 2 cups a day. No tea, no soda EVER, no alcohol.
I do eat dairy, my bones are wonderfully strong. I like milk, and cheese and make sure to eat some form of dairy daily.
I also eat lots of veggies, including the "different " ones. just finished off the asparagus yesterday, but if I dont care for it I wont eat it. I LOVE fruit.
I've tried organic, but to me its not worth the extra cost. To me organic means lumpy, wormy fruits and veggies.
I would no more eat at McDonalds than I would eat out of a dumpster. Same goes for BK, KFC, Taco Bell. etc.
I also don't smoke, I figure all the careful eating in the world means nothing if you smoke.
Let's see, what do I eat. All things I shouldn't. And some that I should. I am a carb addict, I will not lie. I love pasta, rice, potatoes. Can't afford to buy anything organic, but I doubt I would pay extra for it even if I could.I do know that the frzn meals, even the low cal, low fat and high fiber ones to have quite a bit of sodium so you just have to balance you day 3g sodium if you are on reg diet or 2g sodium if you are on a low sodium diet for your BP or whatever. If I am not well enough to cook, these meals stored in the freezer are better than getting a burger from the fast food place though.
It really is about moderation....besides...there are somethings that most of us have to factor into an otherwise nutrient filled diet...like convenience foods, comfort foods, and special treats.
I am somewhere in the middle I think...I try to eat as healthy as possible..but I am a foodie and I am not going to go through life feeling deprived...I agree with Hillhoney to some degree and I certainly know where she is comming from...so geeze..go ahead and have a brownie already...
I am a pasta lover too, I just go for the low carb stuff or a WW meal to get my pasta fix with out using up all of my calories for the day on one helping! [QUOTE=Hillhoney] Let's see, what do I eat. All things I shouldn't. And
some that I should. I am a carb addict, I will not lie. I love pasta, rice,
potatoes. Can't afford to buy anything organic, but I doubt I would pay
extra for it even if I could.Basically I love food. I use some prepared foods
and I cook some things from scratch. I like cheese but since I'm lactose
intolerant I can't handle too much dairy. One milkshake would make me
miserable for days! I take a calcium/magnesium supplement to make up
for it.Food is a very important part of my West Virginia roots. And none
of the favorites are healthy. Biscuits and sausage gravy, slow cooked
green beans in bacon fat, Chicken and Dumplings, fried everything is
what I was raised on and are still the things I can't wait to have when I go
visit my mom.I'll probably die younger than the healthy eaters, but I'll die
happy! Having lived through the agony of Alzheimers with my
grandfather, I definitely don't want my body to outlive my mind. So if I
use up my time here faster, so be it.
[/QUOTE]
Hillhoney, I used to work with a nurse from West Virginia. She came from
a small community of coal miners. And man, could she cook. She made
the best cornbread I have ever eaten. She made it with bacon fat,
cornmeal, baking powder, salt and buttermilk. And I have tried many
times to copy it and never have been able to . She also made the best
buttermilk bisquits...and I have never been able to make them like her. I
would love to know what the secret is to make these. Not that I need the
calories or fat but would love to make those like she did.
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