As the next step in my last-ditch effort to improve my health, I am starting a new diet. This diet is titled “The Anti-Inflammatory Diet” (if this link doesn’t work for you, see below) and should really be called the “Eat the Same Thing Every Day Diet.” So here’s what I’m asking from you:
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some people will look at this diet and think it’s easy, but there are a few things to consider:
- This was a huge accomplishment for me. Until 3 years ago I could hardly cook. Now I can cook a handful of meals decently and a few really well. And none of them will be allowed on this diet. Learning those took a long time and now I need to start over.
- I don’t like to cook. I will do it because I have to, but I won’t spend hours at it.
- Some people have a natural ability to understand which foods can be substituted for others, and which flavors will go well together. I don’t have that. I have the opposite of that. I have no clue. I can’t make things up. I need solid, explicit recipes.
So yeah, it’s a bit intimidating and overwhelming. Oh, and one more thing is that I won’t use the oven for the next few months. I react 
badly to heat and humidity, both of which Boston has plenty of in the summers. I’ll use the stove, but I won’t stand over it for long periods of time. Last summer I did 90% of my cooking in the crockpot and I’d love to do that again, so crockpot recipes are especially welcome. But at the moment, I’d love anything that will add to the contents of my currently-pathetic refrigerator.
Having said all of that, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me any recipes or useful web sites that could help me with this new challenge. This is the first week and I’m already out of ideas!
I’m looking for three things:
- Main courses
- Snacks besides fruit and nuts, especially snacks that can survive a day in a purse
- Easy small meals for when I just don’t have the energy to cook, and I’ve already eaten whatever was in the freezer. I used to do eggs (they’re on the bad list now) or oatmeal (that’ll be my breakfast every day now) with peanut butter (also on the bad list.) I need something that would be that level of effort. You know, for days like this.
I will be unbelievably grateful to anyone who can help me out. And if cooking isn’t your thing either, any messages of support will also be gratefully accepted. You can comment here or tweet me @CIRants or email me at msrants at gmail
This isn’t about complaining, it’s just about being overwhelmed. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work… as soon as I figure out how.
Thank you in advance for your ideas!
- No gluten
- No dairy products
- No refined sugar products
- No Corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- No pork, cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, canned meat, sausage, shellfish
- No alcohol, caffeine-containing beferages, soy milk, soda or fruit drinks that are high in refined sugar
- Foods high in fats and oils, including peanuts, refined oils, margarine, shortening, hydrogenated oils
- Additional specific foods to avoid: oranges, corn, creamed vegetables, soybeans and other soy foods, peanuts, peanut butter, cashews, cashew butter, mayonnaise, spreads, canola oil, ketchup, mustard, pickle, relish, chutney, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, white or brown or refined sugars, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, all artificial sweeteners, all candy
***Note: This diet was suggested to me by a licensed naturopath. I am not suggesting or recommending it for anyone else. To be honest, I’m not certain that it will even work for me, but I’m taking a shot at it. If you think it makes sense for you also, please speak to a trained practitioner.***
Chronic Rants 
Hi,
This sounds quite a tough diet. In England we have flapjack type biscuits which are made from oats butter and syrup plus raisins or dried fruit. I wondered if you could still make these using the black molasses, oats, dried fruit and the sunflower oil? These would be okay in your bag.The original recipe is
170g unsalted butter
110g demerara sugar
55g golden syrup
225g gluten free oats
I don’t know whether it will work but I send lots of hugs of support your way.
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/news/diet_antiinflammatory
I found this website above which seems to have recipes and ideas.
Lorna x
Thanks so much for the help and support! This web site looks AMAZING!
I have heard of the anti-inflammatory diet by Dr OZ and a few other websites. Also heard this by some experts that treat R.A.
I tried it for a while and honestly couldnt keep up. I work full time and didnt have the time or energy to get the few things I could eat and prepare decent meals.
I also had some stomach issues that prevented me from eating anything, so I had to eat whatever my stomach would tolerate for a while. Which at times was just Ensure.
After the stomach problems calmed down I went back to eating some of the foods on the Not list. I do believe it works, but I just couldnt do it. Although I do have to say that my diet has changed significantly over the last few years, due to the scleroderma.
For one I eat very small meals. I eat what I consider to be “soft foods” (yogurt, soup, pasta, anything that doesnt require too much chewing). I try not to eat too much breatd because it takes a while for my stomach to digest. I generally dont eat a lot of meat, because I’m not great at cooking it and it requires quite a bit of chewing.
I try to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. This can be a challenge when you want quick n easy. Cutting and prepping veggies can be hard on my hands. Even cold fruit can be hard on my hands because of the Raynauds.
I’ve also started to eat more fish. Although I do like some white meat seafood, I dont like the smell of raw seafood, so I am still working on that.
Overall I think that vegetarian and even vegan diets are good if you can do it. It is very hard for many people to give up meat or animal products. I do what I can. I also try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. I also cant give up my coffee. Just had to cut back a lot. Good luck with your diet.
I have found many How To videos on youtube that I have found helpful in learning to cook.
I’m glad you’ve been able to find a diet that generally works for you. I hope you can work out the rest of the quirks. And thanks for the youtube idea!