Saturday, February 12, 2011

Preservative Free Me...as much as I can be

So, it's been a week, ok fine a work week plus today, so 6 days. And I've been eating the best meals. All preservative free. Well, as close as I could get. I was out last night and wasn't too sure about the salad dressing, but most of the meal fit my new lifestyle.
It's like a light bulb finally turned on and I realized that though we ate healthy food in this house, it was still full of things that just simply shouldn't be in the human body. Made up, fake things that I can't even pronounce. And even things I don't really like - namely, meat. Why was I eating stuff that I didn't like? Why was I eating things I knew were making my health conditions worse?
So, my disgust in the food I was eating and in myself for eating it in the first place, pushed me to find the food I now eat. I was hesitant that there would only be a few things I could eat with these restrictions and my allergies all being taken into consideration. I was plesantly surprised to find that there were lots of yummy things that fall into this category!
I started by reviewing the new food pyramid. Then I made a list of foods in each category that I could/would eat without upsetting my stomach or allergies. There was a lot of things I could eat! Things I like - berries, fish, nuts, lots of veggies. Then I found that some of the things I was already eating and like were still going to fit this new life of mine. I mean, how was I going to succeed at changing my life if Mott's Natural applesauce couldn't be a part of it? Then I put it all on Facebook and tried some of my friends' suggestions.
Here's what I've tried and love (or will try this week because it's in my cabinet calling my name). Many of them are gluten free. All of them are dairy free. A few are soy free, but all of them are low in soy:

  • Mott's Natural applesauce (SO YUMMY!)
  • Green Giant frozen veggie mixes - Healthy Heart with the barley is my fave
  • Sunbutter Natural w/Omega 3 - sunflower seed butter similar to peanut butter - thanks Rebecca!
  • Dr. Praeger's veggie patties (don't think it'll taste like a burger, it won't, but super yummy!)
  • Agave nectar
  • Justin's Honey Almond Butter
  • Ezekiel bread & English muffins (they have tortillas too!)
  • Quinoa (and quinoa noodles)
  • Nature's Path instant oatmeal
  • Better Oats RAW instant oatmeal
  • Salmon and Tilapia (frozen, but the only ingredient it the fish!)
  • Earth Balance buttery spread (not sure on this one, but gonna give it a try)
  • Coconut milk - vanilla
  • Silk almond milk - vanilla
  • Blue Diamond almond milk - chocolate (I like the vanilla silk better and think I'd like the chocolate of the Silk brand best)
  • Flax Plus Hemp cereal
  • coconut milk yogurt
  • tomato sauce (don't remember the brand but it's all natural)
  • basalmic dressing (again can't recall which, but I could pronounce all of the ingredients in it)
  • veggie chips
  • edamame
  • SnaPea chips

So, all of this, plus the fruits and veggies, and I'm good to go. I even ate out last night and was satisfied with a salad with some grilled shrimp on it. I ordered fat free italian dressing, but would have rather been able to see the ingredients in it. I know there was preservatives in it. I only used 1/2 of what was brought to me though.
I'm hoping that once I get into the habit of eating these foods, I'll be able to modify it again and watch the fat content. I don't think it's any more than what I've been consuming. In fact, since nothing is fried I've got to guess that it's a least a little bit less than what I've been consuming. I want to make it less, but that Sunbutter is SO GOOD and not that low in fat. Not any more than peanut butter, but still.
What natural foods do you enjoy most? Are you going to try any of the ones I listed? If you do, let me know what you think!

3 comments:

  1. I love the Earth balance buttery spread! I am very impressed on your diet change!! Good for you! One thing you might want to try when you have salad out is oil and vinegar. Just add some salt and pepper (more pepper than salt). It is really yummy and you will learn to love it. This way you never have to wonder about the ingredients. Let me know what you think! Jennifer/Jenny

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  2. Sounds like a lot of good tasting foods. Good luck and I hope this is a success for you and you continue to keep feeling better. mom

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  3. where does one find cocunut milk yogart? Quinoa - good huh? I've been wanting to try that. If you messgae me ur address I'll send you some $1 of silk almond milk coupons. They expire 2/28 though BUT I ve frozen and thawed my chocolate milk and it tastes and fels the same when I drink it. -Anna

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