Nourishment

May 27th, 2015

There are times in most peoples lives when they have to make a change and adjust to a new normal. Jobs, living situations, children, a new pet, heath, food, and so on. It is just part of life. 

When people face a heath issue and are told they need to make some dietary changes, many feel a sense of panic. Let's face it...we humans do not like change and heaven forbid you mess with our daily food rituals! As Americans, it's rather embarrassing to see what the "norm" is in the area of food these days. But, we are working on it and things seem to be changing for the good (I hope so anyway.) 

That first feeling of panic seems to be a common reaction when told to make some diet changes. Most of the time it's met with opposition...depending on the persons disposition and on how stubborn they are. But, for the people that faithfully follow the needed changes, they see results or feel so much better. Sometime those faithful followers discover that their body can indeed communicate with them on what needs it has (and no, a call for refined sugar and sugar laden breads is not a positive call.) Sometimes those communications indicate deeper issues, damage, intolerance, allergies, and imbalances you never ever knew you had. You slowly go layer by layer, uncovering secrets that your body was too weak or suppressed to communicate...until you started to unload burdens. 

When a person is told "take a month off of milk" or "take a break from wheat for two weeks". Panic sets in. That's all they know. Panic really sets in when that person finds that wheat and dairy are in so much of the normal American processed food. They are found under different and unfamiliar names. How can a person survive without dairy or wheat?! Are they not the main items on the food pyramid that tells us how to eat healthy?? Their thoughts and fears spiral. They eat rice and chicken for the next month...totally unaware that there is so much goodness out there that surpasses anything made from wheat and dairy. Take away sugar and that poor person falls to the ground in heap - wailing and tearing their garments. Let's think about....what brought us here? That place where we fall a part when we can't have the things that do harm to our bodies? Just think about it. I don't plan to give you an answer...I just want you to start thinking. :-) 

But, when a person is told or figures out that they can not eat; wheat, dairy, eggs, sugar, soy, corn, pesticides, additives, citric acid, nightshades (tomatoes, peppers etc), potatoes (but sweet potatoes are ok in moderation), limited high histamine foods (at certain times), nuts, melons, oranges, fruit and veggies high in sugar (at certain times)....etc .... etc.... You wonder what is left to eat?! 

Tears are shed, stomachs ache, abdomens hurt, skin itches, with each trial and error. It's like walking through a field of land mines...never knowing if you will react to something you put in your mouth. Testing is done, results are founds, questions are answered, more questions come to mind, more trial and error, more tears, and then peace. Peace...at least for a while. Peace until you are away from home (but that will be other post.)

Some people have major gut issues. More people than you might think. Some, have no idea. People eat the food of their people. Americans have lost the sight of true cultural eating and healthy eating in general. Eating for nourishment. Eating to heal. Eating to feed the soul while we feast with others. Instead, we eat junk. We eat to slowly kill ourselves without thinking twice. We eat with ignorance of what we are eating. We eat for instant gratification. We eat because somehow we think our bodies will handle it just fine. We think our bodies are invincible. We blindly eat what the FDA says is safe to eat. 

Not everyone can eat the same. Especially in this age of autoimmune issues, diabetes, cancer, leaky guts, and wheat bellies. We are not robots. We can not all handle wheat "just fine". It's not a crime, so stop looking at someone who can't like they committed one. Each body is beautifully unique.

So, after you get over that very natural emotional and fearful moment after you find out you can't have something. Take a deep breath...breathe in and breathe out. Then channel that hungry anger into creativity. Find out what you can have (or slowly eliminate what you can't and find what you can). Make a list. Find out the nutritional benefits of the food on the "yes" list and write them down. Take a look at your favorite recipes and see if you could adapt them. Simplify. Find fun and different foods that are on your "yes/can" list and explore. Be creative. 

I know what is it like to see a long list of "No" foods. I shed tears as everything I ate that use to be on my already restricted "yes/can" list made me react or sick. Tears were shed over that rapidly shrinking "yes/can" list. I was hungry. That can be a great motivation to stop crying over spilled milk and be creative with non dairy options. I have always loved to cook. It comes naturally to me (sorry...long standing joke..I am a Cook by birth). I have been dairy free since childhood. My brother has Celiac and has been wheat free for years.  I was already in this world of "yes" and "no". But, it still can be really hard.  

So, I re-re-learned to cook. I studied how to prepare good healing food for when you have candida/mold/histamine issues/dairy intolerant/wheat intolerant/leaky gut etc. I read up on the GAPS diet, traditional diets, the Candida diets, the Body Ecology Diet, acid/alkaline diets, and so forth.   I already have a background in historic foodways and that has actually helped. I learned to see the nutritional benefits in each dish (and my poor husband has to sit and hear about how each item will help his liver and spleen etc.) Each meal has a purpose. To help heal and give strength. To replenish. To nourish. 

"You learn to cook so that you don't have to be a slave to recipes. You get what's in season and you know what to do with it." -Julia Child

Wise woman. Cook with each season. Find local (or localish) fresh organic food. Support local stores and farms. Find new vegetables. Give your body and your family's bodies variety as much as you are able. Rotate foods. Nourish wisely. 

Ok...so many words! How about some pictures? Here are some dishes I created during my restricted times (still in them by the way). Some times I cheat...like have some rice pasta. But I never cheat with wheat and dairy and now nuts and eggs (WAY TOO PAINFUL...totally not worth it!) 

Some times my soul needs a little boost and my awesome husband takes me to the local vegan bakery and buys me a wheat free/dairy free/egg free doughnut (ok, I cheat with a little sugar then...BUT IT'S RARE!) I am not a gourmet cook. I just want to survive and want my food to taste good while surviving. I want to heal! My grandmother did a good job in teaching me to do my best with what I have to make my food look good and present it well. Thank you Grammy for that! 

Our weekly "Paleo" share is from the fantastic Liberty Heights Fresh down the street. This weekly share has been a life saver and so much fun to work with. Free range happy eggs for Chris, wonderful organic grass feed meats that I do not react to, and fresh organic vegetables and fruits. 

One week we got  strawberries and rhubarb in our bag. So, you know what that means!

A most amazing strawberry and rhubarb crumble. Made from some rice flour (good from some, bad for others, but ok in moderation for me. A crumble can be easily made grain free) and coconut sugar (amazing stuff if you have never tried it!) Whipped coconut cream for a topping and we were in love! See...you can eat very well when you have restrictions. *This may not work for those that can not handle grains with fruit. It kinda breaks the food combining rules. :-/

Fresh greens, non egg/dairy ranch dressing, grass feed steak, Ramps sauteed, tossed with rice pasta, olive oil, and lemon. Freshly made sun mint tea with mint from our "garden".

Herb crusted chicken with cauliflower and broccoli covered in "cheese sauce" (totally dairy free and with turmeric to help with pain and inflammation.) 

Easter Dinner: roasted lamb, mashed cauliflower, asparagus, fresh mint sauce, and sparkling mineral water with lemon.

A crazy experiment. Looked terrible...but tasted AMAZING! Chicken Fried Steak with gravy. Totally wheat and dairy free. A bit to greasy for my poor body .... but a fun treat. Tasted just as good if not better that a diner's version.

Quinoa chicken nuggets. Grain free and really handy to have for when Chris goes on a trip. We love making these for traveling. They freeze nicely as well.

A favorite breakfast. Buckwheat cereal with coconut oil and frozen wild blueberries. Left over coconut whipped cream for  a delicious topping.

It took me several months to even be able to handle meals like this.. Chicken broth and light soups were my best friends. Simple green drinks still are my best buddies. It took me months to even be able to cook for myself and Chris. We have come along way and plan to keep going. Many people are in the same boat. Working hard at finding what works. Maybe you are one of them. Don't give up. Keep going. You will find what works. Ignore the weird looks and stupid comments from friends and family members. Keep bringing your food to events and function. Be brave. You will heal.

Stay nourished my friends. It's totally worth it.