I have recently become the bitch of the household. We basically live together at this time and I am primarily in charge of the grocery shopping, which includes snacks, dinner, breakfasts, lunches, anything. Eating to me is more of a job now than anything else. I do it because I love him and care what happens to him. He does it because he wants to be a roll model to his mother and father, brothers and sisters and most importantly his niece and nephew. I need you to realize the importance of eating healthy. I know that everyone had a wake up call when Cory went into the hospital and promised that they would change their ways and create a better future for themselves and their family. My family for instance, has only known Cory for a couple months, when he comes to visit they make sure to adapt to his food lifestyle and create meals and surroundings that are normal and give him options to eat and voice his renal diet needs to the chef even when we go out like my mom did. This is what I would like everyone to strive for. It is so hard for Cory to accept that he can't just go to the store and grab whatever he wants. Try going to the store and having to look at every label. I Google renal diet 800 times and double check what type of meat cuts he can have and how much phosphorus is in a serving of clams. Every single day I learn a handful of new things. I'll admit we are far from perfect but we are also far from where he started.
A week ago we went to Winco. He wanted a salad dressing, he put it in the cart because it said it was a "ALL NATURAL honey, walnut raspberry vinaigrette" to him, he sees "all natural" and fruits and nuts and thinks its ok. This is why it is always essential that you never ever ever ever trust a label. 1% may be natural and that is why they are able to false advertise and the other 99% could be high fructose corn syrup - which is like death in a bottle, causing everything from heart problems to cancer. Then you look at
The sodium - 7% of the daily value of salt @ 400mg - this is an average percentage of what the government thinks is a sustainably healthy daily sodium intake level. For Cory 400mg is almost half of his daily intake and the way the guy loves to smoother on sauces, well it could lead to excessive servings. Where I am going with this is - everyone has a breaking point and Cory had the only frustrating moment I've seen him have in this entire thing that day at Winco. He was so tired of hearing no and unfortunately I am the one that continues to have to tell him. Basically it is a choice and most definitely an on going battle. I told him I said I know you are angry and upset that you can't live normally but it is just a fact of life and you have to accept it and move on, create food that is similar but create it so that it is nourishing in some way. So, instead of fried sloppy, fattening chicken wings that he wanted and couldn't have on super bowl Sunday I spent hours finding the perfect recipe for baked spicy chicken wings with ZERO sodium. He has to ask himself if it is worth the struggle and frustration and of course it is and I have to ask myself if he is worth the hours at the grocery store and hours of just personal food and health education and you bet your bottom dollar he is.
My worry for all of you and I have seen it first hand is slipping back into bad habits. Sure the food may be more expensive but I guarantee your hospital bill will be less expensive in the long run. If you have children especially, create these habits from the beginning. Show them the pictures of Cory's catheter purging out of his neck and ask them if they want to end up like him in the future. It's tough love, it's the fact of life and everyone needs to ask themselves do you know what the hell you are putting in your mouth? Be an advocate for your local growers - go to farmers markets, read up on the incredible option of organic and free range products. I always tell my friends if it has a skin or if you are pealing the skin off there is really no need for organic buying such as avocado, orange, onion, etc., because primarily the pesticides stay on the surface but apples, pears, carrots, tomatoes and EspECIALLy lettuce and of course meat...try to shell out the extra for organic. I always buy free range eggs mainly because the eggs that do not come from free range animals ingest their own feces along with all of the other chickens in the same cage creating a potential disaster for your immune system, not to mention the amount of corn feed and hormones that these chickens eat. Also you may think your salad choices are lower calories and less sodium then they actually are. A southwest chicken salad at apple bees for instance has over 1,000 calories and a disgusting 3900 mgs of sodium - that is three days worth of sodium servings for Cory. Ask questions!!!!!!!! Ask for the nutritional facts - eat at home!!!!!! There is nothing safer than cooking your own meals - you know exactly what you are putting in your body! It is all about simple choices that make the most difference. I would LOVE to hear how Cory's illness has changed your life and what you and yours are doing to prevent the same thing from happening in your own life.
I am not trying to slander anyone or make anyone feel bad about the decisions they are making. I would just like to see everyone start making changes. Cory is affected by EACH and EVERY one of you. He sees what you are eating when you are around him and it's almost as if what happened to him didn't shake some of you into reality. I know I'll get some bad looks for that last comment but I will say I have seen improvements as well but everyday is another challenge and I just hope everyone would rise to the occasion not just for Cory but for your own health as well.
**Exercise regularly
**Educate yourself on your body
**Educate yourself on your foods
**Make the changes to better yourself
**Create a brighter future for you and yours
I will tell you a secret that we live by. Allow yourself one cheat meal a week. This not only helps to curve your cravings it also strengthens your metabolism. Try to plan it on a day where you will be active and that way you are never depriving yourself, that's not what it is about. It is all about sustaining your living standards so that you can continue your habits and live healthier.
This has been the hardest part. Is food. And I stress about it everyday about how I will feed him and how will I make sure he is nourished and also happy and full. It is an on going process that I hope you will all join me in trying. The benefits are endless...weight loss, longevity of life, clearer skin, more energy, self esteem, clearer mind body and soul, you will sleep better and your relationships will become stronger. Just try it. I promise once you get over all that you miss it will be completely over shadowed by what you have gained!
Good luck and remember I do love you :)
No comments:
Post a Comment