Clean eating during the holidays...can we do it?

Ok so eating clean through the holidays is not going to be easy.  Let’s just get that straight right now.  If it were easy, everyone would do it right?

However, please remember 2 things:  

• You are doing this for your health, you are NOT on a diet!
• Its not as hard as you might think.  Keep it simple and you will be fine.

Start preparing your family and friends now!  Let them know you will most likely be cooking a separate meal for yourself and you could use their support.  Let them know it’s totally fine for them to have a separate meal and it doesn’t bother you, since food is your medicine.

If you are hosting the meal, you may ask for some help in preparing too!  And make enough for others to try “your food” if they’d like, most people are surprised that clean food actually tastes amazing!

If you are taking a dish to someone else’s dinner, pick something that is a traditional appetizer, dish or dessert and find a clean recipe and make enough for everyone.  If your family and friends support your healthy lifestyle, they should know you are bringing a clean dish, sometimes announcing it before everyone eats will keep people from trying it, but telling them afterwards is not only fun but you will see their surprise.  Especially when the dish is licked clean!!

The link below has some recipes you could consider for your holiday meals.  But it’s also simple to google Whole30 or Paleo dishes and find a ton of recipes.  Just don’t forget some will include nightshades which for us Fibro warriors and anyone with an autoimmune disease we need to stay away from.

Please feel free to post any recipes you try before the holidays that you’d like to share!  Wishing you the best for your holiday meals!!

https://lifehealthhq.com/whole30-thanksgiving-recipes/

Prep your favorites - you will be glad you did!

Prep prep prep!  You will be so glad you did!  When you cut up veggies or meats that you use often (for me this one is my go-to breakfast) go ahead and cut 2 or 3 days worth, put them in baggies and tomorrow when you can just pour them in the pan and have little or no cutting, your meal prep time is cut in half (at least) and you will be very happy with yourself!

This one is my default breakfast and if everything is cut in advance it’s about 15 minutes from pan to plate!

1 small or 1/2 large sweet potato 

1 Aidells chicken apple sausage

1/4 of an onion

1 small head of broccoli 

Sea salt

Pepper

Garlic (powder or granulated)

2 eggs (optional)

Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil and when melted add sausage and sweet potato chunks.  Add a little olive oil if you’d like and let cook for about 5 min.  Add onion and broccoli, sea salt, pepper and garlic (if you like) and another tsp of coconut oil if needed, cook for about 10 minutes until everything is the consistency you like.  Stir as needed while cooking.

*You can also fry 1 or 2 eggs and throw on top for a delicious and filling, and most importantly, completely “clean” breakfast.  Enjoy!!

If you must cheat....keep it clean!

One of the reasons I started this blog and fb page is because while faithfully following other clean eating pages, I was vilified when I posted something I ate that was a slight slip or a  cheat according to their rules, even though it was a “clean” food!  When you are using food as your medicine, you just don’t need that!  We aren’t doing this as a diet, this is a way of life if you are treating your fibromyalgia with food.

So my motto is “if you cheat (a little) but keep it clean...go right ahead!”  Don’t be so hard on yourself, just know the possible reprocusion and if you can live with it, go for it!  It’s hard enough living every day with Fibro and all the terrible side effects it brings with it without having to feel guilty when you want to treat yourself to something a little different.

Now, what do I mean by a treat or a little cheat?  I don’t mean a candy bar or a big bowl of ice cream, those things are damaging to your fragile Fibro body and you have to work way too hard to eat clean just to put yourself in bed for days because you went on a binge.  

So if you must, treat yourself to something that is still clean, but normally off limits like peppers, or maybe a white potato.  Just something that is different to keep your menu interesting, but not something that is going to really hurt you.  If an occasional dish with peppers doesn’t cause you a great deal of inflammation then you are still keeping clean and allowing yourself a little cheat which if you’ve been eating clean for very long, is really nice.

All that just so I can share this incredible recipe with you that includes 2 tbsp of Thai curry paste.  That’s my cheat and I enjoy it just as much as a big ole bowl of ice cream!  I don’t do this often, and I don’t encourage you to either but my point is, try to stay with clean foods because it’s going to keep you healthy and keep your Fibro symptoms at bay, but don’t be so hard on yourself that you can’t enjoy something different every once in a while.

Here’s my (cheat) recipe in case you’d like to give it a try every once in a while.  If you don’t have an Instant Pot (yet) convert this one for your slow cooker.  It’s really incredible!!

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/139586356888/pressure-cooker-thai-beef-curry

Cauliflower Rice is a great side dish...and great for you!!

You can substitute just about any side that isn't "clean" with cauliflower rice.  It's easy, heats great as a leftover and is super good for you!  (And this from someone who doesn't care too much for cauliflower.)  Try it you are going to love it!!

(Swanson has an organic Chicken Broth)

Anti-inflammatory foods - reduce inflammation and pain caused by Fibromyalgia

Check out this article by Dr. Axe and try to keep as many of these foods as possible in your daily routine.  Not only are they part of a completely clean diet, they will help reduce your inflammation which should reduce your pain from Fibromyalgia.

https://draxe.com/anti-inflammatory-foods/

Isnt eating clean so restrictive? Can you really do it?

Sometimes as I make my "go to" breakfast, I think how I would love to pull out a piece of fresh bread, pop it in the toaster and then just literally bathe it in butter and grape jelly!

Those thoughts last about 15 seconds and then I get back to cooking my favorite "clean" breakfast consisting of Chicken Apple sausage, sweet potatoes, carrots, some days broccoli (was in a hurry today) and 2 fried eggs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy that beautiful piece of toast and jelly, but I enjoy being practically PAIN FREE even more!  Way more!! 

So if you are already eating clean or thinking about trying it and someone says "I couldn't do that it's way too restrictive", just remember all the pain and fatigue are FAR more restrictive than having to eat only certain foods.

I have heard a LOT of Fibro warriors say other types of treatments have worked for some people and not worked for others but I have not heard one single person that is eating 100% clean say that it didn't reduce their pain and fatigue drastically!  Think about it, it's not only a way to reduce your symptoms but you will get healthy, maybe lose some weight, improve other medical conditions that may be effected by food, but most importantly you may get back to that place you used to know in life called "normal".

Meet my friend the DASH. You are going to want one of these!

When you are eating clean, eggs are a way of life!  (At least for me they are.). You will find many ways to be creative with them believe me!  I don't usually promote products but today I'm compelled to share this one because it makes eating clean so much easier.  It's called a DASH and they are sold on Amazon for a little over $20.

If you like hard boiled eggs but hate peeling them you gotta have a Dash!  This one makes up to 6 eggs in about 10 minutes and they peel practically in one piece.

A hint that I have learned is use a little more water than it calls for, leave in for 2 min after the buzzer and put immediately in ice cold water for 5 minutes.  Perfect every time!!!

I usually include eggs in at least 2 meals a day, and hard boiling ahead of time is a great way to have them to just grab for salads, sides, breakfast, a snack...just about anything!

If you try the Dash or if you already have one, I'd love to hear how you use it and how it effects your meal planning.  I hope it makes you as happy as mine does me!  I seriously think I'd give up just about anything in my kitchen before my Dash!

Consider "drinking" your supplements or OTC medicines.

I have fallen in love with this brand of teas because there are so many OTC medicines I can't take because they affect my Fibromyalgia.  Keep in mind that some of the inflammation that is causing you pain might be coming from OTC meds or even the capsules that they come in!  

I drink Breathe Easy instead of taking an allergy pill.

I drink Throat Coat anytime I have a sore throat coming on or a sore throat from sinus drainage.

And today I forgot ALL my supplements (my bottles mares "B"(breakfast), "L"(lunch), and "D"(dinner) so I tried drinking Turmeric tea with Ginger and I honestly think it worked better than the capsules which I normally take 3x/day.

So while you're improving the foods that go into your body, consider the pills too, they could be causing your pain and fatigue too!  Enjoy...and I wish you a pain free day ahead!

When it comes to seasoning...make your own

Seasoning is key when you are eating clean.  It's also where you find many hidden ingredients that can quickly turn your recipe from clean to Not So Clean. 

If you do buy seasoning from the store, be sure to check your labels for pure ingredients and no sugar!  You will be surprised how many have hidden ingredients.

And since you are fighting Fibromyalgia and need to reduce inflammatory foods, be sure you aren't using any spices with peppers of any kind.  

Yes that takes a lot of hot and delicious spices off the table but you can replace them and when your pain begins decreasing, you won't miss them!

Here is a simple homemade spice that you can keep on hand and use on so many meats, in soups and anything you want to give a little Italian flare!  I'm using this on a chicken soup that is cooking right now and it smells delicious!

For an even quicker Italian spice I make this without the marjoram and sage.  Play around and see what you like but try making this and other spices yourself, it's the sure way to know "exactly" what is in your spices. Not to mention, spices are expensive when you buy them already mixed!

Best of luck and happy "clean" eating!!  Your body is going to love you for it!

Eating clean is NOT a DIET when you are beating the symptoms of Fibromyalgia

It may just be me, but I really dislike when someone calls the way I eat a DIET.  I associate a diet with weight loss and eating clean to improve your Fibromyalgia symptoms is not about the weight loss. However, I will say, if you are overweight, which many with Fibromyalgia are because the fatigue limits your activity so drastically, you will possibly lose weight by eating clean because it balances your bodies natural response to good, clean food and if you are like me, you will probably lose weight until your body is at a good natural weight.  I like to say that the weight loss is a BONUS to eating clean because its not the main reason or purpose.  So call it whatever works for you but please remember the weight is not what's important here and you are really using Food As Your Medicine, you're not on a diet.  It's purpose is for you to be healthy and get relief from the debilitating effects of Fibromyalgia.

My personal experience has been a very consistent amount of weight loss the first 6-8 months I ate clean, and now it has tapered off to a much lower amount per month with no change in my eating habits.  It's my body telling me what my natural weight should be.  And along with reducing the pain, fatigue, brain fog, etc. I feel so much better just because I really needed to lose that weight.

ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED???  Check out this article to start removing the BAD and adding the GOOD foods to your diet!  

Eating Clean Can Significantly Reduce the Pain and Fatigue of Fibromyalgia

I wish you the same luck I have had and would love to be part of your journey!  Please let us know if we can help support you through this process, we would love to hear from you!