It's Healthy to Tell God the Truth

Avoiding toxic substances in household products, personal care items, and processed food is a smart way to take care of our physical bodies. But we are more than a physical body. We have a soul and a spirit. As a woman of faith, I have to take care of my spiritual self too. It can be toxic to my faith to pretend everything is okay when it's not. It is good for my spirit when I'm honest with God. Hey, I might as well be. He knows everything about me anyway. It is liberating and healthy to truthfully tell God how I feel. Once upon a time, I had a day mixed with equal parts of frustration and gratitude. So I talked to God about it. I told Him my truth and He told me His. 

Dear Lord,

I've had it. I'm done.I think I am now officially allergic to everything but air.I guess that will be next. Okay, so I've gotten used to the shellfish allergy thing. Although it has limited my lifestyle considerably since it has progressed to the point that I can no longer walk into a restaurant that serves shellfish or a grocery store that sells fresh seafood because now even that tiny amount of exposure causes a severe allergic reaction. I've adjusted. I just don't go to those places anymore. I've tried to focus on what I can do instead of what I can't and be thankful that I can still eat out occasionally at the handful of restaurants that don't serve shellfish.

I'm dealing with the processed food issue and the lactose intolerance. I'm grateful that you showed me that eating processed food full of toxic chemicals was contributing to my fibromyalgia symptoms, really I am. Since I changed my diet by ditching most processed food and instead eating real food with lots of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, my symptoms have disappeared. I'm grateful and amazed. But it is so frustrating to not be able to go to a potluck dinner at church or out to eat with friends because I might be exposed to something that could make me sick, or you know, kill me.I feel so isolated sometimes. 

And why do I have to be allergic to all these insects? I live in the south for crying out loud.There are bees, spiders, gnats, and all manner of stinging, biting little critters everywhere. 

Today, today pushed me right over the edge.

This happens. A spider or a gnat or some other small creature I can't see bites me while I'm inside of Walmart. I take a Benadryl tablet and hope that will be enough to stop the anaphylactic reaction. I drag out to the car in utter disbelief. It's the second time it's happened.This month. Inside of Walmart. My soul is so utterly downcast. Will I have to become a hermit and never leave my house again?

I drive home and plop down on the couch completely defeated. My face, tongue and throat are still swollen.There is pressure in my chest. So I pop another Benadryl and get out my EpiPen and wait. I think about how it's beyond ironic that the epinephrine in the EpiPen is one of the many medicines that cause bad side effects for me.I won't use it unless absolutely necessary. I unscrew the cap and prepare to jab myself in the thigh if needed.The tachycardia I get from the epinephrine is less traumatic than the whole, you know, stopping breathing thing from the allergic reaction. While I wait, enveloped in a disorienting fog from taking two doses of Benadryl, I notice the Kindle on the table beside me and decide to look at my Facebook page.The very first thing I see is a Bible verse posted by a friend.

"Don't be afraid for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up." Isaiah 41:10

Oh. 

I see. I remember. You created everything: shellfish, milk, spiders, gnats, me. You are with me. You are my God. You give me strength and help. You hold me up. So, I choose to be hopeful instead of discouraged, grateful instead of complaining, trusting instead of afraid.  

The Benadryl works. I put away the EpiPen and meditate on your goodness, on all the ways you bless me.Thank you that I can pour out my frustration, my thoughts, my problems, my truth, my heart to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you that I can come before you with whining and afterward walk out into whatever else this day holds with singing.

Amen and Amen.


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Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for the Allergy Crowd

I am putting the final touches on my Thanksgiving menu plan.  My fibromyalgia symptoms have been in remission for almost a year now so making sure I have plenty of whole healthy foods for everyone to enjoy is important to me.  I recovered from my severe chronic illness when I eliminated chemicals from my environment, stopped eating toxic processed food, and started eating real, whole foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.  I want to keep right on feeling great during this wonderful food-centered holiday.

Dealing with my personal food needs is not the only obstacle I face in planning our Thanksgiving dinner. I am looking forward to having four generations of my extended family gathered around my table.  There will be laughter, hugs, long talks, games, and plenty of counting our blessings.  But there will also be enough of us in the room that have food allergies and food sensitivities that we could do group Public Service Announcements for the National Allergy Board.  One or more people in my family cannot eat dairy products, gluten, beef, nuts, corn, foods with a lot of roughage, bananas, spicy food, shellfish, pork, citrus fruits, kiwi, avocados, soy, or anything prepared in a facility that also prepares peanuts.  It's a good thing I like creative cooking and relish a challenge.

I want to encourage you that you can make healthy meals even during the holidays.  If I can prepare a delicious Thanksgiving meal for my food allergy bunch, I know that you can come up with some smart choices for you and your family too. You can eat healthy foods every day of your life for the rest of your life if you make eating well a priority. 

Here are a couple of ideas if you are cooking for a crowd that has food limitations.  

***Have one entree that everyone can eat and plenty of side dishes so that everyone can choose at least two additional foods.  If I tried to make every single dish something that every single person could eat, we would mainly spend the day sitting around the dining room table imagining what dinner might look like because it would be pretty much invisible.  

***Enlist some helpers.  My daughter is making two side dishes and a dessert.  And my mother is bringing four loaves of her wonderful homemade Portuguese country bread.

Thanksgiving Menu 2013

Roasted Turkey.  I fill the cavity with apple slices, onion, garlic and spices and baste with olive oil and everyone can eat it.

Crockpot macaroni and cheese.  The lactose intolerant folks have to pass on it but all of my grandchildren adore it.

Portuguese country bread.

Portuguese Country Bread

Baked sweet potatoes.  I serve them plain with a choice of toppings that include butter, soy- free dairy-free butter substitute, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger.  

Squash casserole without the cheese.

Fruit plate with enough choices that everyone can eat at least one of the fruits.

Salad greens with kale, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, and homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Apple, pear, cranberry crisp with oatmeal topping but no nuts.

Brownie pie with vanilla ice cream on the side.

Chocolate almond pie that is dairy free, soy free, and gluten free.

Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Pie

And there you have it:  a Thanksgiving feast we can all enjoy.  Oh, and by the way, my family will be here from Wednesday until Sunday so I will be cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the allergy crowd for five days.  And I will love every minute of it.  Because spending time with people you love is a gift.  And Thanksgiving is the perfect day to smile and count your blessings.