chia seeds anyone???

Okay, so this is Tuesday's post on a Saturday

If you have spent much time with me, you know that over the past 10 years I have been on several diets in search of optimal health.  I deal with a skin issue that is related to inflammation and possible autoimmunity.  I worked with a Naturopath several years ago and with food changes, hormone replacements, and other practices, the skin disorder went into total remission.  After that, I let my eating habits be less restricted.  Even though I saw indications of the skin patches returning about a year ago, I focused more on the hormone part, believing this had been the key factor and was wishy washy about my diet.  When I was given the coolest vegetarian cookbook in January, I decided that a Flexitarian lifestyle was the one I really embraced.  I was eating lots of legumes, whole grains, and some dairy leaving the meat at the grocery store.  I limited my meat to mostly when I was not at home.  I was eating homemade granola daily with nut milk or yogurt and fruit and LOVING it.  I loved the food of a more vegetarian lifestyle as well as the impact on the environment and the lower cost at the grocery store.

HOWEVER, Indications are that my particular body is not quite as in favor of this style of eating.  I began to deal with increased fatigue and mood issues. But the deal breaker was a development of upwards to 100 granuloma patches on my skin (Sarcoid). After consulting with my beloved Naturopath/ Dietician guru, it was decided that it is highly likely embracing the vegetarian life style full of legumes, gluten, nuts, eggs, seeds, and dairy could be a major player.  So here I am back to cutting out these beloved favorite foods focusing on specific oils (coconut, olive and avocado), meat, fruits and vegetables (minus the nightshades.) Currently I am in the restrictive elimination face where much is removed from my diet with the intention of adding them back in individually to see what seem to be trigger foods.  

Although I miss my ice cream, granola, chickpeas, cheese and grain dishes, the lack of these foods is not the hardest part.  The hardest part is that I am "that woman."  The woman I first learned about when the movie When Harry Met Sally came out.  I am High Maintenance. I have constantly fought to not be her.  I want to be the easy going, go with the flow, whatever works for everyone else, girl.  Once again I am the chick who is limited as to what restaurants work for eating out, is asking you for ingredient list when you offer her food, and orders a menu item with multiple alterations.  I am embarrassed by it.  But I choose it because I am a believer in food having an impact on my body and it's ability to thrive well.  I am willing to make the sacrifices (even of my pride) to be at my best so I can do the things I believed I am called to do.  And I won't lie, trying to heal my "spots" without medication is the big motivator!  In addition to the food I am really trying to improve my sleeping habits, drink less tea/coffee and more water, and get in daily walking. I do believe these all have impact as well yet doing these things do not come without a cost of other things.  It is a balancing act.

As I moved towards the Vegetarian style of eating I stocked my pantry with whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Thus I find many of these items are no longer part of my diet.  I am back to stocking a coconut overload (milk, oil , shreds, Mana, flour) in my pantry.  So if anyone is in need of some whole wheat flour, lentils or chia seeds, let me know.