Food preparation has become my zen, not by choice. It’s labor intensive, definitely on the opposite spectrum of fast food. How many people can resist the urge to go the easy way out with their meals?
I’ve waffled over the years from a staunch healthy diet to relishing the gustatory pleasures of local restaurants. I’ve never had to actually change the way I eat by doctor’s orders, it was always because I either wanted to lose weight, get more healthy, or was feeling fine and really let go with the baking and the fried, fatty foods.
Now, my pain has become so severe and I want to heal naturally, not be stuck on evil prescriptions that come with more side effects than benefits. I was recently diagnosed with several things, all related to digestion, that explain the pain. I have a hiatal hernia, moderate to severe antral gastritis, distal esophagitis, and mild colitis. So, I had to make an immediate and strict lifestyle change and choice.
I’m a little over one week into the process and I thought I would document a typical day and what it involves. Thank goodness I’m retired but if you have to follow this same routine, it’s not too hard to prepare things in advance on the weekends and have your meals ready to go during the week.
I purchased the book titled The Acid Watchers Diet, not specifically for those with a hiatal hernia but often quoted by someone with HH as being most beneficial. I typed up the list of ingredients in chapter 9, The Healing Phase, and took it with me to the grocery store. I don’t specifically use the recipes in the book but I read through them to get ideas. There is one grocery store about 25 miles from me that carries a lot of fresh and organic ingredients, thank goodness. I hadn’t been grocery shopping in over a year because I was doing curbside pickup from Walmart due to the convenience. That practice has ended.
Today is Saturday, July 3
With this diet, you are supposed to eat 5 small meals a day. Hence all the constant preparing and clean up all day long.
7:30 Breakfast
I made a smoothie in my Vita-mix with the following ingredients (note: I never measure anything when I cook so these are all guesstimates).
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup frozen fruit (strawberries, peaches, mango), partially defrosted
- 1/2 cup non-fat milk, reconstituted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 T maple syrup (the good kind)
10:30 mini-meal
I made a “dip” and sliced some organic carrots, celery, and cucumber
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup olive oil mayonnaise diluted with coconut oil (I shake it up in the mayo bottle before measuring out)
- 1/4 tsp Mrs. Dash seasoning
Mash together with a fork and stir well.
12:30 Lunch
I took some leftovers that were made with:
- diced baking potato
- red pepper
- celery
- baby Bella mushroom
Cooked in water and coconut oil a few days ago.
I added the following to the Vita mix:
- leftover potato mixture (about 1 to 1 1/3 cup)
- 1/8 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 cup chicken bullion (I use Better Than Bullion)
- 1/2 cup non-fat milk, reconstituted
I took this soup and microwaved for one minute.
3:00 Afternoon mini-meal
1 no added sugar fruit cup (cherry, peaches, pineapple, pear) with Simply Granola on top
5:00 dinner
The day before, I had prepared two tilapia fillets and saved one for today.
Set oven to 350 and grease a glass baking dish with coconut oil. Dip defrosted tilapia fillets one at a time into first a mixture of beaten egg and water and then a plate with cornstarch and nutritional yeast. Place fillets in the baking dish. Turn over once after 10-15 minutes. When fish is flaky and not pink, remove from oven (about 20-30 minutes, depending on thickness).
For dinner tonight, I combined the following:
- 1 cup chopped kale
- 1/4 cup chopped red pepper
- 1/4 cup grated carrot
- 4 small baby Bella mushrooms chopped
- 1 tilapia fillet, pre-cooked, and shredded
- 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 T Bragg’s aminos (tastes like soy sauce)
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
(Note: celery is nice too but I ran out). Cook in a nonstick pan with a small amount of water. Add more water as necessary until everything is cooked through and hot. This usually makes two meals for me.
Here’s to health. Enjoy!
Tina Mischke 