I need to eat better.

[Longhorn]

I think that's why C&B is one of my groups, even though I don't cook. I keep hoping I'll get inspired but it hasn't happened.

I've spent my entire adult life on one diet or another, which has resulted in some skewed ideas about eating. For example, I drink diet soda instead of fruit juice because of the calories. I don't really care for cooked vegetables but I don't eat the ones I do like (broccoli in cheese sauce, green beans with bacon) because of the extra calories. I like raw carrots but don't eat them (too many calories) and other raw veggies with dip but don't eat them (too many calories.) I understand that fresh fruits and veggies are best, followed by frozen, and finally, canned. My all-or-nothing personality tends to reject the convenience of frozen or canned since they aren't the best. Then I reject fresh because I only like them really fresh so after a couple of days in the frig, I won't eat them and they end up rotting and getting thrown out.

There are foods I don't like for admittedly psychological reasons (forced eating sessions as a child) and then I avoid the foods I do like because I don't like them in their healthiest form. :shrug: And I'm lazy, if that hasn't already come through. My husband and I are 53 and our kids are grown and out of the house. He works long hours six days a week as a remodeling contractor. I teach part-time at community college (two evening classes a week) but I'm also battling cancer, getting chemotherapy every three weeks. It sometimes affects my appetite but mostly leaves me fatigued.

See what I'm up against? :shrug: I really do want to make some changes but I know I can't do this all at once. Since I can't afford a personal chef, I need a plan to ease into better eating.

I have ordered 12 prepared and frozen entrees (72 servings) from http://www.thestudiokitchen.com/. They will deliver the meals packed in plastic tubs with directions for cooking. The meals are oven, skillet, or crockpot ready with minor prep. All of the nutritional information is available and the menu of 14 choices changes every month. I even ordered some entrees that have mushrooms and peas in them. If I can't make myself eat them, I'm quite an expert at picking them out. ;) I think this will be much more healthy than the frozen crap that we usually eat. Perhaps getting back into minor food prep will inspire me to buy and prepare my own meals.

What I need are ideas on how to supplement these entrees and other meals with more fruit and veggies and healthy snacks, given my bad attitude. On a positive note, I don't eat a lot of junk. And my focus this time is to eat healthy, not to lose weight. I'll worry about my weight when I'm done with cancer treatments.

Thanks! :hi:

[sandnsea]

1. Oh no

I did not hear about the cancer. What is going on?

[Longhorn]

3. Well, it's all in my journal. But the short version is

Stage IV uterine or cervical cancer (undifferentiated cells so we'll never know for sure) that had spread to my lungs by the time it was diagnosed in March of this year. It was considered inoperable due to the metastasis. I had radiation therapy followed by eight rounds (three days every three weeks) of chemotherapy and the scans show remarkable reduction in the tumors. After the next round in two weeks, I'll have more scans to help decide how much longer with the chemo. I could have internal radiation and/or surgery in my future.

The cowboy boot in my signature signifies my attitude toward the tumors. :hi:

[sandnsea]

6. Oh.My.God.

I had no idea. I don't read journals and I almost never go into the lounge. I am just so so sorry. I am just in shock. It sounds like you are making progress though.

I have heard of keeping your body in a PH state where cancer won't grow. I don't know a lot about it, but a friend of my sister's has done it for 10 years and beat a cancer that was pretty far advanced. She is trying to get my sister to eat differently, and completely organic.

We changed our eating habits a few years ago and my diabetes is almost completely under control. If I lose another 20 lbs, I should be able to go off my medication. We grill a lot of vegetables, eat different kinds of salads, and find substitutes for favorite meals. Like mango salsa fish tacos instead of fatty ones. Or stuffed zucchini instead of spaghetti. Baked sweet potato fries. Fruit icees. Things like that. It takes a really long time, or it did for us, but we're on a pretty good path now. This group is terrific for healthy food ideas.

[Longhorn]

11. The thought has crossed my mind

that a better diet could help my cancer battle. If nothing else, it could help me withstand the treatments.

Congratulations on changing your eating habits for the better! How did you do it? Did you pick one habit at the time or just jump in? I like the substitution idea. I guess that's what I'm doing when I substitute the hand-prepared meals for the frozen dinners. I see that as a transition period to doing our own cooking. Do you share cooking and shopping duties? I think we need a need a weekly plan of who will shop and who will cook. My husband always cleans so at least that's not an issue (I do the laundry. ;))

Thanks for your kind thoughts and ideas! :hug:

[sandnsea]

13. I will ask my sister about the PH thing

Well we just did little bits at a time. My husband had a heart attack, then we had the diabetes, so we had no choice. We started by cutting out fatty meat. So then you're left with fish, chicken, and no meat meals. Lean beef and pork more rarely. I bought a little spiral bound index card thingy, that I hang on my refrigerator. When we try something we really like, I write it in there so it is handy. Then, when I don't know what to fix or have a craving for fried chicken or something, I flip through it and something jumps out at me. Like, I made this tarragon chicken salad and we haven't had that in a while so I will make it this week. It is soooo good. And someone around here posted a spinach, pear, nut, blue cheese salad recipe - soooo good. Little by little, most meals are pretty healthy. If I really have to have a hamburger, I get 97% lean burger, whole wheat buns, and just make it myself. It satisfies. For fast food, we try to stick to Subway. Papa Murphy's has some lite pizzas that I like. I also use stevia and agave syrup for sweetener, which are both natural and don't spike the blood sugar. They have a different flavor. I like the stevia with fruit and the agave in other kinds of things, like syrups and jellies.

We take turns cooking and cleaning. Small town, the store is a few blocks away. If we want something that isn't in the freezer, we go get it. Although that will probably change this winter because food prices are so high. I really don't know how well this will work if I have to go on a tight tight food budget. Seems like even a pot of beans costs a fortune these days.

[Longhorn]

14. Oh, I love the idea about the spiral!

In fact, I'm thinking I should keep recipes (or at least ingredient lists) in one that I can keep in my purse. Then when I shop, I'll have that information with me. I know these things are second nature for some but not for me -- and that's why we usually end up with convenience foods. The salad you mentioned sounds great! Do you have it bookmarked so I can have the link?

It's 5 miles to the nearest grocery store and 10 miles to a good one so I definitely have to plan ahead. I'd love to develop a list of things to keep in stock so that I can always cook something up.

I'll be interested in what your sister says about pH and cancer. I'll google it, too. Thanks!

[sandnsea]

28. It was MANative

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=38983#38990

There's no real recipe. I think I use about 1/3 bag of spinach, 2 pears, a cup of walnuts and a sprinkle of blue cheese. I use bosc pears too, they're brownish and I think they have better flavor and texture. I usually use raspberry vinaigrette too. I am not a big vinegar fan, but I do like a light vinaigrette. That is part of my problem, I hate everything dill and pickled, so most all of that is off the list. And I don't really like the flavor of olive oil, so I always use a light one and have to make the flavor up with seasonings or wine. I am one of those people who HATES cucumber, even though everybody says cucumber has no flavor. Uh, yes it does. So I have a little harder time with finding foods. And buying groceries, yes, very different. I do have more vinegars, wines, vinaigrettes, herbs, than I used to. I have frozen peaches to make sauces. Lots more bottles of Chinese whoknowswhat. Oh, I also buy liquid stock and apple juice, then freeze it into separate plastic bottles because a big box is way too much. I actually could use another freezer at this point. But the good thing is when you look at it as explorations in cooking and cultures, it becomes fun.

This recipe is actually way better than spaghetti, we add some turkey sausage to it when we serve it. I'd have never tried this in a zillion years if we weren't sick.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=698607

[Longhorn]

30. I'm going to buy the ingredients for the salad

tomorrow at the farmer's market. I've bookmarked this thread and will refer to it frequently as I begin to incorporate some of the suggestions. Thanks for sharing your pantry and freezer contents with me! :)

[sandnsea]

51. Okay, here's what she said

not much really. She isn't doing as much as she should.

"She found testing kits online. I think the health food store has them also. There are sites where you can find lists of foods that will help your body become more alkaline than acid. I should do better about this as well, but I don't. The doctor told her that her diet saved her life. They originally gave her six months to live, that was ten years ago."

So did you find anything online yet? Glad you liked the salad!

[Longhorn]

53. I haven't found anything that supports this theory

except from sites that are selling related products. I haven't found anything from a medical doctor or site. However, I found a list of foods and they are the kinds of foods I'm striving to eat more of anyway. Thanks for checking with her and I'm so glad she's doing well! :hi:

[sandnsea]

54. I don't think there is anything medical

My sister just mentioned it because the in-law is alive for ten years, and that's worth something. I just thought it was interesting to consider.

[Longhorn]

40. I made the spinach salad last night and it was fantastic!

My first thought was that it was like having dessert with dinner. ;) I used Newman's Own Raspberry Walnut vinaigrette. I'm having it again today for lunch. :P


Thanks!

[The empressof all]

2. Will you eat Soup?

I throw a cup of spicy v8 and a cup of veggie or chicken broth into the pressure cooker almost every day. I add a bag of shredded cabbage, a diced onion, lots of garlic and celery if I have it. You can add TVP or chicken if you like. The trick is lots of garlic.

The other veggie combo that I love is Eggplant/zuchinni. I put a small can of tomatoes, chopped eggplant, chopped zuchinni, onion, peppers and Lots and lots of garlic into the pressure cooker. It's great on top of Pasta or Rice or even just by itself with Parm.

[Longhorn]

4. Yes, I do like most soups, except for cream-based.

I don't have a pressure cooker -- can the recipes be adapted? I don't oppose getting a pressure cooker if I thought I'd use it.

Those sound like soups that would freeze well, too. Perhaps I could visit the farmer's market on Saturday and make up a batch on the weekend, then freeze for leftovers.

Thanks! :hi:

[Longhorn]

5. Well, here's how dumb I am --

I didn't know that pressure cookers speed up cooking! I remember my mother had one when I was a child and something about a meal ending up on the ceiling? :shrug:

I'm checking them out on amazon and it sounds like a good idea for quick and nutritious cooking. What size would you recommend? As rarely as I cook, it would be a good idea to make a big batch and plan for leftovers.

Thanks! :hi:

[The empressof all]

7. I have a cooks essential

I got it off qvc

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.K5963.desc.Cooks-Essentials-5qt-Digital-Pressure-Cooker-w-Accessories

I think they also have larger ones. We have a small family so this 5 quart works well for us. I have to hack up larger roasts though which is a pain. If they have a 6 quart one it might be a smarter choice.

This is a great little machine. I use it almost every day.

Yes you can do either of the soupy things I mentioned above in a slow cooker or even on low on top of the stove.

[Longhorn]

9. Here's a 6-quart model that looks good.

It's also a slow cooker and rice cooker. I'm getting excited about this idea! I can't believe how outdated my idea of a pressure cooker was! Thanks! :hug:



http://www.amazon.com/Fagor-Electric-Multi-Cooker-pressure-cooker/dp/B001A62O1G/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1223061055&sr=1-23

[hippywife]

16. Looks good and gets good ratings

but the only thing that gives me pause is the teflon. I bet someone around here with lots of pressure cooker experience could recommend one that's just as good, if not better, without the teflon.

[proud patriot]

34. mmm that v8 soup sounds good

I'm going to try that one :hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Eat raw carrots without guilt.

There's about 30 calories in a large peeled carrot. If you cut it into sticks and eat one or two over the course of a day that's very little caloric value and some good nutritional value.

Rather than drink soda or fruit juice, drink carbonated water with a generous squeeze from lemon,lime,or orange wedges. You'll get a small amount of vitamin C that way.

Try steamed broccoli tossed while still hot with a generous amount of fresh lemon juice or with a small amount of red wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper if you like. The acid brightens the taste and I've had compliments when I've served this to people who weren't fond of broccoli.

If you like tomatoes, green beans and tomatoes together are a good combo too. Saute onion or garlic and add the green beans, some dried oregano or herb of your choice and chopped tomatoes. Simmer until the beans are done.

This will sound weird but try some vegetables with salsa. Some raw vegetables work with salsa as the base of a dip. Plain salsa and celery or cucumber sticks is one of my favorite snacks. Salsa mixed with some zero fat sour cream is a pretty healthful dip for even more raw vegetables.

Eat fresh and in season fruit for dessert. I find that I like a mix of fruits on the plate rather than one type so we'll have a slice of melon and some berries or a mix of sliced peaches and plums in the summer, sliced apple and pear in the fall and sliced grapefruit and oranges in the winter. Again it sounds odd but plating the cut fruit makes it more appealing to me than just chomping into a whole piece of fruit. Eating seasonally means that the boredom factor is under control, LOL.

[Longhorn]

17. Some great ideas in here!

I especially like the carbonated water idea. I've come to realize that it's the carbonation that I enjoy the most about soft drinks. It just makes the drink seem more refreshing. Broccoli is one of the veggies I like raw so your method of preparing sounds like a winner!

Thanks for taking the time to share these ideas. :hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

19. Since you like carbonation,

you can also just make juice spritzers. Try 3/4 carbonated water, 1/4 juice.

[Longhorn]

21. You read my mind!

I was already thinking that a splash of lemon or orange might not do it for me so why not mix fruit juice? I feel validated since you agree! :D

[hippywife]

10. I really do wish you would eat better.

I really worry about your cancer. A friend of ours in the local peace movement here was diagnosed over a couple of years ago with leukemia and multiple melanoma (I think. I know there were two types of cancers.) Anyway he was 73, already a vegetarian, never been on any meds for anything in his life, no history in his family, and his wife is a nurse. She started feeding him nothing but home grown, organic vegetables. Completely tore up their back yard and put in the most beautiful, lush garden I've ever seen, in town anyway! LOL The good news is that he underwent a few treatments, is in remission and doing well. He never had even a bad day during the treatments. She kept his nutrition in the forefront at all times.

I think, no I'm convinced, that most people don't care for vegetables because they have never had them properly prepared and to some degree historical biases. Roasted turnips and rutabagas and beets are so awesome! Who knew! Broccoli and asparagus steamed but still with a slightly crisp bite with some fresh lemon wedges squeezed over them--absolutely delectable! Fresh Brussels sprouts. Beautiful salads with mixes of fruits, nuts, cheeses, and greens and freshly made dressings! Heaven! Lovely squashes! There's so much delicious variety.

I never thought I'd feel this way about veggies. I'm a major meat eater from way back! Used to think nothing of sitting down to the biggest, rarest steak they could fit on a plate. But not anymore. I've grown to even crave the vegetarian dishes I started fixing somewhat begrudgingly for my husband when he stopped eating meat. Now we eat very little meat and it ain't from the grocery store. It's spendy but it's worth every single cent to have the cleanest, safest, tastiest local meat.

I hope you'll give your body what it needs to boost the healing that needs to take place. You're such a sweet lady and you've been on my mind so often since the day you first announced your diagnosis. I want so much to see you really kick this if at all possible. :hug:

I wish I could cook for you! LOL

[Longhorn]

12. I'd love to crave vegetables!

You're exactly right about why I don't really care for them. My mother recently admitted that she overcooked veggies because that's what her mother did. I've had veggies prepared at a restaurant that I really liked but I haven't developed the knack of properly preparing them. That's one of the things I need to learn.

The rest of my aversion is psychological. I was forced to eat everything on my plate (even though my mother did the serving -- big heaping mounds of peas!) I often gagged; other times I had to sit there for what seemed like hours (think Mommy Dearest!) If I had been allowed to just take a bite, I probably would have developed a taste for them over time. All of my children love vegetables but I never forced them to eat them -- I just asked them to take a taste.

I do enjoy salads and most fresh fruits and veggies. I think I just need to give myself permission to entice myself with sauces and dips until I can enjoy them plain. I'm sure veggies with extra calories are better than no veggies at all!

It means so much to me to be included in your thoughts; in fact, it brings tears to my eyes. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I sure appreciate you! :hug:

[hippywife]

15. Sweetie...

I've seen first hand the struggle my own mom went through with uterine cancer. She was 33 with six kids with me being her oldest at 15. She had a radical hysterectomy, cobalt implant and radiation therapy, they over-radiated her as a matter of fact. They killed the cancer and for a long time she did perfectly well. Now she's 68 and the result of all of those radical treatments are coming home to roost. I won't list all the problems she's having now but I can tell you nutrition was never even considered as an important phase of her treatment. She hasn't the slightest notion of how or even the desire to eat properly. At her sickest this past year, she told me if she couldn't eat the things she wants to eat, then she doesn't want to live, and trust me when I say she eats nothing but trash. Hers is the total epitome of the horrid western diet.

I've always admired your positive attitude and strength from day one. It takes a special person not to roll over and feel sorry for themselves all the time. It's a scary thing you've been facing and I've never once detect the "Why me?!" syndrome in you, even though it's totally normal to feel that way at times and all too easy let it get you down and drag everyone around you down, too.

It ain't hard to want the best for someone who's willing to face it in such a positive way. :hug:

[Longhorn]

23. I'm encouraged that your mother survived her cancer

though I'm sorry for what she's going through now. I've been lucky that my side effects are pretty mild, much easier than I thought it would be. Your mother's struggle with food sounds like my father's struggle with smoking. He finally quit but died a few years later at age 75 due to congestive heart failure during treatment for multiple myeloma. I do believe those kinds of addictions are very similar. I'd like to improve my eating habits but they aren't as bad as they could be.

I don't know why I haven't really felt sorry for myself except that I believe that no one deserves this, no matter how they live their lives, so instead of, "why me?" it's more like, "why not me?" :shrug: But I was in the statistical minority when I had identical twins so I believe I can be in the statistical minority again and overcome this. Then again, there's a chance I'm still in complete denial. ;)

You've earned a permanent place in my heart! Thanks! :hug:

[Warpy]

18. Well, it's certainly past time to learn how to cook.

You're getting to an age when your health will start to depend on a low salt, low fat diet.

To start with, why not cut those raw veggies into dippers and serve them with herbed cottage cheese? It's a good way to start and it's premixed in the refrigerator sections of most markets. Don't make your own with packaged soup mix, that's like putting a whole shaker of salt into it.

Second, realize that your taste buds have been perverted by a high fat, high salt diet, as evidenced for your finding cooked veggies most palatable with high fat sauces. You're going to have to make the transition sooner or later, might as well do so before you get sicker because it'll be a lot easier and might stall disease off for a few years. Yes, everything tastes like cardboard while you're getting used to it, but yes, your tastebuds do eventually get sorted out.

Third, realize there are ways around everything. Fat carries flavor, but so does wine. Salt brings out subtle flavors in food, but so does lemon juice.

Fourth, learn to read labels. Start realizing just what you've been eating in terms of fat, salt and chemicals. If that doesn't get inspired to learn how to cook, consider hiring somebody.

[Longhorn]

24. I do know how to cook -- that is, follow recipes -- but I don't particularly enjoy it.

I think I can learn to enjoy it, though, and put my own dishes together with the help of this group!

I believe you're right about the taste for fat but I'm okay with low salt. I never add it to food and don't eat a lot of salty foods. I read labels a lot when I was dieting but I was looking for low fat or low carbs, depending on what diet I was following. I agree that I need to pay more attention to chemicals and additives. I shop at H.E.B., the owners of Central Market, and they carry a lot of Central Market products that are organic, whole wheat, etc. that we tend to buy but we could do a better job.

I like the herbed cottage cheese idea! I'm sure I could even spice it up myself.

All of your suggestions are excellent and very much appreciated! Because of replies like yours, I'm already feeling encouraged and inspired. Thanks! :hi:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. You know what?

While you're undergoing treatment, eat whatever appeals to you. Eat what you like, and calories and all that nonsense be damned. You need to eat, so you should eat what seems good to you.

Don't let the ideas of balanced diets intrude right now. You've got bigger things to deal with. Those prepared entrees sound like a great start. Think about sandwiches, if they're something you like.

Think about what you enjoy eating, without reservation, and then eat it. When you're all better, you can get into the nutritious cooking life that you're curious about, but, for now, with all you've got going on, I say, Bugger it all, and eat what you please.

I wish you the best. :toast:

[Longhorn]

25. There's a lot of truth to what you're saying.

In fact, I feel there are three reasons I've gained weight since my diagnosis: steroids, chemically-induced menopause, and my "damn-it-I've-got-cancer-I'm-going-to-eat-those-Oreos" attitude. :) I can't find anyone -- my husband, my mother, my doctors -- who care that I've gained weight so I've decided not to care about it, either.

I do want to be healthy enough to continue my treatment but I know I won't stick to anything if I don't enjoy it. So I take your words to heart. I'm hoping I can make healthy choices that still taste good.

For example, using what I already had in the house, today I've had a fruit smoothie (frozen fruit and orange juice, no added sugar) a PB&J sandwich (whole wheat bread, low-fat peanut butter, and low-sugar fruit preserves), veggie chips, and canned peaches (unsweetened, in juice.) While I'm sure today's foods could have been healthier, they could have been worse, too. :) And I don't at all feel deprived.

I think what I'm going for is a reasonable blend of healthy eating with your suggestion to enjoy what I'm eating.

There's so much caring in your post and I really appreciate it! :hug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. Your body will tell you

Eat what you crave.

With the hat trick you're enduring - I mean, just the steroids alone will make you balloon up - you really need to be good to yourself. Your meals today sound really nice, and if they made you feel good, made you feel well-fed and cared-for, well, isn't that the whole point of eating?

You'll pick out all the right things. Go for the impulses and don't look back. Enjoy. And thank you for your kind words.

:yourock:

[The empressof all]

22. You also Need one of these...

I agree with Tangerine (above) but if you are on a mission you must have one of these gizmos



You can get it at Linen's and Things or BB&B.

With these kinds of choppers you can make all kinds of wonderful salads.

I chop raw brocolli, cauliflower, a little onion and mix with ranch dressing.

Chopped cucumber and onions are terrific even made into a sandwich with a little cream cheese

I love my chopper thingie. The texture it creates by the small dice really changes the taste of the veggie for me and I'm able to slip them into all kinds of things.

I hope you are managing ok and I will send you white healing light if you don't mind.

[Longhorn]

26. That chopper is so much better than the one I have.

I like how the blades rotate automatically with each chop. You've reminded me that salads don't have to be lettuce-based. Duh!

You've also reminded me that I need to take stock of the gadgets that I have and think about how I can use them or maybe even get rid of some and declutter so that it's easier to use the others!

White healing light is greatly accepted! I'm not religious but I accept prayers of all faiths and any and all forms of positive thoughts. They truly strengthen me. Thanks! :hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

29. If you have any interest, I can supply you with a plethora of food blog

links. I mean, a TON! Some super healthy, some not so much, but yummy. Tons of recipes and food porn pics to entice you.

Just let me know. :)

[Longhorn]

31. I'd love it, thanks!

Especially the ones that aren't too gourmet in nature. My eyes glaze over at a long list of ingredients, especially ingredients I've never heard of. ;)

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

32. I'll work on it tonight, and send them in a PM

How's that sound? :)

And I don't do gourmet, really, so no worries. :hi:

[Longhorn]

33. Sounds great!

Much appreciated! :hug:

I always assume everyone is more gourmet than me! ;)

[yellerpup]

35. Do you like fish? Have you tried fish with tomato salsa or fruit salsas?

Fish has good omega fats in it and since you like raw fruits and veggies you might like this combination I stumbled onto in the past few years. I like to do fish in a variety of ways from baking, poaching, grilling or sauteeing (dipped in panko crumbs makes an incredibly crunchy filet). Poaching has the least added fat, but since most vitamins are fat soluble and are delivered to the rest of your body by fat, don't try to cut fats out in your present state of health. Play around with fresh, uncooked salsas to have on your fish. I've combined grapefruit, avocado, onion, garlic, lemon, lime, jalapeno pepper, cilantro and tomato, to make one salsa. In another, I combine mango and whatever citrus I have on hand along with onion and garlic and fresh herbs. Get into the habit of using fresh parsley, cilantro, basil as much as possible in everything. Leeks, onions, shallots, garlic, along with herbs...all these have different combinations of really useful and healthful vitamins and antioxidants many of them have germ killing properties. A friend of mine sailed through her chemo and radiation therapy by going home and having a meal of sauteed fresh kale in olive oil with garlic and red pepper flakes with lemon juice squeezed over it after her sessions. She said she wasn't bothered by nausea at all when she ate this. Kale is a superfood and I like it in a soup based in chicken broth. If you don't have high blood pressure or sensitivity to potassium, eat beans or hummus (great dip for raw veg) and drink pomegranite juice. There is a big sign posted at a white water rafting concession on the Colorado River that says: "If you wind up in the water, you will be expected to participate in your own rescue!" Don't wait around for someone to jump in after you and drag you back to shore. You're in the water! Kick! You're a sweetheart of a person and we all want to see you come through this whole and well. Good luck! :hug:

[Longhorn]

36. I do like fish and I've never thought of serving it with salsa

but it sounds great! I've always enjoyed various protein/fruit combinations. Your salsas sound yummy! I will definitely give that a try.

I never know which fish to buy. Any suggestions?

Last night, we ordered take-out from a nearby restaurant. I had grilled salmon salad and my husband had grilled salmon with sides of grilled veggies and side salad. He never would have ordered something like that if I hadn't told him my intentions of eating healthier. I certainly didn't tell him that HE had to but I'm glad he's joining me in this. :)

Thanks so much! :hug:

[yellerpup]

37. Salmon (Atlantic or wild is best) is a favorite of mine.

But, I also get good deals on tilapia (delicious and it holds up to practically any kind of abuse!) at Costco. It's good to know the country of origin, too, because some of the "farmed" (catfish, trout) fish is raised on pellets made of fish with high mercury levels. Our local Greek restaurant buys local fish from local fishermen--if you can find a connection like that, cool. And I bet you can find a bass fisherman in Texas. Actually, flounder, cod, and tuna are wild deep-water fish that are getting rarer due to overfishing all the time and as a result are becoming more expensive. Mr. Longhorn sounds like a hunny! His being on board with your new lifestyle diet will make it easier on both of you. Don't be afraid to play with your food! Have fun! :hi:

[Longhorn]

38. I was lucky to find Mr. Longhorn 34 years ago when we were only 19.

What were we thinking! :) We've been married 32-1/2 years. I can't imagine going through my current ordeal with anyone else!

There's a seafood market/restaurant on the other side of town that is known for its fresh fish. We've eaten there but we should check it our for fish to cook ourselves. Thanks for bringing up the topic! :hi:

[pamela]

39. So very sorry to hear that you are sick.

I hope everything goes well for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I have a few suggestions for you about vegetables. If you like veggies and dip, there are a lot of healthy dips you can use. Hummus makes a great dip for vegetables and it comes in a lot of great flavors. I also make dips for veggies using plain yogurt mixed with a little sour cream or cream cheese and spices or herbs, like dill.

I also eat a lot of taboule (aka tabbouleh.) It's packed with good nutrients and anti-oxidants and tastes great on pita bread or with melba toast or crackers. Bruschetta is also delicious and very good for you.

Since you don't like to cook a lot, I've tried to list things that require little or no preparation. I have other veggie recipes that taste great but require a bit more effort. For example, I was never fond of green beans but now I take fresh green beans and put them in boiling water for about three minutes. While they are in the water, I take a skillet and put olive oil, minced garlic and sliced almonds and then add the green beans. These are delicious and very good for you.

Cucumber and onion salad is easy to make and it keeps well in the fridge. Same thing with three bean salad. I don't have a recipe for either because I just wing it but there are lots of recipes on the web for these or you can buy them already prepared in the deli section at most grocery stores.

Hope some of these suggestions are helpful. Best of luck to you!

[Longhorn]

41. I'll try the green beans!

Thanks!

I don't really feel sick, except for a day or so right after treatment. So I don't really think of myself as sick. That's strange, huh?

Thanks for your kind thoughts and suggestions! :hi:

[pamela]

42. I thought about that word after I posted it...

I shouldn't have used the word "sick." It sounds so negative and it seems as if you are doing really well. Bad choice of words on my part.

About the green beans, the first time you make them you might want to toss them into the boiling water for 3 minutes and then remove them and let them drain while you are toasting the garlic and almonds in the skillet. I do it at the same time but that's unnecessary and you have to watch the garlic/almonds because they can burn quickly. Also, if the beans are too wet when you toss them in the hot skillet they will splatter and "spit" so I sometimes pat them with a clean towel after I drain them. All of this is a little more effort than I generally like to put into a vegetable dish :-) but they are worth it.

I have an article here from a women's magazine about a region in the Himalayas where people live into their 90's with virtually no cases of cancer, arthritis or other diseases. Here are some of the tips the article gives about their lifestyle:

-They eat less meat. Ninety percent of their diet is vegetarian with an emphasis on beans and lentils for protein.
-They snack on Goji berries. (I've been wanting to try these-they seem to be the new superfood. The article says you can get dried goji berries in health and natural food stores.)
-They eat a lot of apricots. According to the article, apricots (especially dried apricots) have the highest level of cancer-fighting carotenoids of any food.
-They are gluten-free. They use buckwheat and sprouted wheat products for pancakes and other baking. The article recommends Nature's Path Manna bread. (I've never heard of it, so I don't know where you can get it-probably health food stores.

Anyway, I thought of you with this article because some of it looks really easy-like the dried apricots.

One more tip (and I'm sorry if I'm rambling...) Check out the South Beach Diet Message Board for tons of great recipes for vegetables. (also good recipes for beans and whole wheat baking, etc.) Here is a link to a great thread. http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21361 If you scroll down to the fourth post, you will find lots and lots of great vegetable recipes.

[Longhorn]

43. How kind of you to share so much good information!

Thanks so much! :hug: I will definitely check into this information. I can certainly start with dried apricots! :P

South Beach is one of the diets I've done before -- I think I even have the book but didn't think about it for recipes. Thanks for reminding me! I'll check out the board, too. :hi:

[eleny]

44. Have you seen the bags of Steamfresh vegetables?

The veggies stay in the bag and just gets popped in the microwave for a few minutes. No hole punching or tearing the top. It puffs up and the contents get cooked to perfection. There are single veggies and some combos to choose from. I often see them on pretty good sale and we like the super fresh flavor & beautiful color.

If I were trying to ease into preparing veggies, these are a good transition. I like having some very easy things in the freezer to make interesting meals with no effort.

I almost forgot! Uncle Ben's makes a microwavable brown rice. Same as above but these bags need a little tear at the top. 90 seconds in the nuker and you've got fluffy, moist rice. There are rice combos, too.

I'm so glad to hear that you ordered some meals. Not having to plan and shop so much will be great. I know you'll appreciate your decision with all that's been going on for you. Maybe vacation showed you that you deserve to be spoiled at mealtime!

[Longhorn]

45. Great ideas, all!

I hadn't heard about either the steamable veggies or the microwable brown rice. We've used instant brown rice before, though. I had frozen veggies on the grocery list but my husband missed them (I don't know HOW I'll ever be able to tell if he develops Alzheimer's! :))

We had the first entree tonight: pesto focaccia bread. It was yummy but we learned that the instructions call for defrosting first. So it took longer than we thought it would. But it was very good! I'm impressed with the service so far. The free chocolate ganache cake that came with the order is fantastic and will last awhile because it is very rich!

Thanks, Hon! :hug:

[eleny]

46. Hey, I'm glad it worked out for you two!

Darn those pesky instructions! I hope you find some real favorites from the service.

I'm going to keep the name for future needs. I'm sure it'll be helpful for us, too. Thanks!

[Longhorn]

47. Update: Week 1

We got the food delivery Wednesday evening and have had two meals that were excellent! The food is made with fresh ingredients and no preservatives so it's as if I cooked them myself, only better! :)

I have had fresh fruit and vegetables every day since Sunday. I've also been drinking more fruit juice. I haven't restricted myself on what I can eat but I've found that I have been less hungry for snacks.

However, I did have some Twizzlers and Good 'n Plenty, but that was Tab's fault. :evilgrin:

I appreciate all the suggestions and will keep revisiting this thread so that I can implement them gradually. Thanks! :hi:

[pengillian101]

48. Oh my.

I am so sorry to hear of your having to go through this. A prayer and good wishes to you! :hug:

I know next to nothing about cancer, but here is a link to a highly recommended book.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/1410735923/ref=cm_cr_pr_helpful

I think having your meals delivered fresh to your door is wonderful for times when you don't care to cook. We have delivery from Schwan's twice a month. Everything is frozen so prepared dinners are still perhaps not the healthiest, but they have a "live smart" selection.

http://www.schwans.com/catalog/catalog_browse.jsp?parentCategoryId=2905

Fruits and veggies delivered. I am not sold on some of their items, yet I absolutely love others. Best ice cream ever! (Yogurt and sorbet too). Just plain chicken and seafood are my favorites. Add a vegie and a starch and I'm good to go. I tried a beef pot pie - ugh. Yet I LOVE the chicken pot pies. Beware there are chemicals in prepared items.

I believe they home deliver nation-wide. I tried to find out for you, but it just reverts to my home delivery in MN.

www.schwans.com

My best to you! I think you got absolutely wonderful advice from others. Eating fresh everything is best. My posting Schwan's info was just mainly for your ice cream treat delivery, :-)

PLUS - your great attitude goes a VERY long way in your recovery!

[Longhorn]

49. Thanks for the suggestions!

We do have Schwans here -- I see the trucks all the time. I even ordered from them many years ago and checked into ordering from them in the last year or so but I haven't done a comparison to The Studio Kitchen. Thanks for reminding me about them. I think frozen is the way I have to go with most fruits and vegetables because weekly shopping is so inconvenient for us and I hate throwing food away!

:hi:

[wildeyed]

50. Shoot, if I was there I would cook for you.

Sorry to hear about the health challenges. :hug:

I am a good eater and have managed to keep the weight off as I age without dieting. Here are some random suggestions that work for me.

Other than one cup of coffee in the AM, I drink only water, milk and green tea. I don't sweeten the tea, but if you really needed to, agave syrup is sweet and doesn't affect blood sugar levels.

When I cook soup or stew, I make a double recipe and freeze half for later. Since there are only two of you, you could probably get 3+ meals out of the same batch. I also use left overs for lunches.

I have one of those electric counter top grills. Great for quick meals for picky eaters. I grill sweet potatoes and veggies for side dishes and tofu, chicken breasts and burgers for main dishes. You can get bags of frozen hamburgers, turkey burgers and salmon burgers at Costco and the grocery store. I keep those in the freezer and use them for last minute meals at least once a week.

The crockpot is also a great time saver. I have a tex-mex casserole in mine right now. Last week I did beans and served them on tortillas. The nice thing about the crockpot, you can do your cooking and clean up early in the day, go to work or whatever and the meal is ready the minute you get home.

Also, I think frozen veggies are actually better than fresh unless you are buying yours locally at a farmer's market. Modern produce spends so long in shipping, it loses a lot of its nutrition. Frozen veggies are usually flash frozen soon after picking and retain more nutrition. Also more convenient. If you don;t get around to cooking them right away, they don't go bad on you.

If you really like your broccoli with cheese sauce and your green beans with bacon, can you find a recipe that has reduced saturated fat without eliminating the taste you like completely? Maybe you can wean yourself off the fatty part by preparing the dishes with less and less fat as your taste buds adapt?

Smoothies are a great way to up nutrition, especially when you don't feel like eating, but know you should. I make fruit smoothies and add a handful of spinach or other greens. The sweet of the fruit, along with a little agave syrup, kills the green taste, but the nutrition is there. I have a special 'to go' smoothie cup so I can bring the drink with me on mornings when I am really late.

Good luck!

[Longhorn]

52. Thanks for your suggestions!

I need to revisit this thread regularly and implement a few of the suggestions at a time.

I especially like the idea of adding some spinach to my fruit smoothies! I had a juicer and was enjoying juicing but then it died. But I was surprised at how good the juices tasted, even when they were 100 percent veggie juice!

I already feel like I'm doing a better job but I'm not there yet. Thanks for your help! :hi:

[astral]

55. So how's it coming?

If you have cancer it is a real good idea to avoid sugar. Sugar makes your body more acidic too, as in the acid / alkaline balance of the body.

These are great suggestions here as I also need to work on eating healthier --- I just need some inspiration and I forgot all about hummus!

One good tip if you're just getting started is to wash all your produce when you get home before you put in the refrigerator. That way when you're ready to make something up you just grab it out of the fridge and start preparing it.

Having a nice sharp knife for veggie chopping will inspire you alot. I treated myself to a CERAMIC knife, if you can afford it I highly recommend it. Just remember not to pound garlic with it! It cost me about $60 and it stays sharp they say for around 3 years and mine is about that old and still going strong. (They can be sharpened too, but you can either buy a sharpener or send it in for sharpening when the time comes.)

[Longhorn]

56. I've been making some changes for the better but still have room for improvement.

My last scans showed tumor growth so my chemotherapy drug was changed which seems to have had an effect on my appetite. But that's a good thing because I'm still eating good meals but have much less interest in snacks. The prepared frozen meals have worked out very well.

I'm considering going to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois. They focus on treating the whole person so they work with patients on diet, exercise, and other healing techniques to keep them strong enough to withstand the cancer treatment. So I may get some good advice from them as well.

Thanks for the suggestions! :hi:

[shireen]

57. you're in my thoughts

please keep us updated on your health and culinary adventures.
:hug:

[sandnsea]

59. Oh no

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope you find something at the Cancer Treatment Center. :hug:

[Longhorn]

61. I should be going up there soon.

I'm very interested in what they have to say. But in the meantime, I'm going to a private yoga lesson today and then starting classes next week. :)

Thanks! :hug:

[elleng]

58. Quit the diet sodas.

I drink ice water, and juices with ice and seltzer/club soda. I drink constantly. I fear 'pretend' sugars.

This is my issue.

GOOD LUCK!


edit: Just noticed how 'old' this thread is. Keep up the good work!

[Longhorn]

60. I've really cut back on them a lot.

I'm drinking more juice. Still not into water, though. That's next. Thanks! :hi: