But I will write what we're trying and my plan is for Riah to have food and only food. No pesticides, GMO foods, preservatives, hormones or chemicals. Those aren't foods and there is no room in his little body for anything that's not. No one can argue with that, right?
He may end up being the healthiest kid this side of heaven, even though he has MD.
So, a little about Riah and food.
Last Fall he started having all kinds of symptoms that we ignored until we just couldn't any longer, (why do we do that??) Severe constipation, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, temper tantrums, compulsive behavior, rhythmically bouncing his head against furniture...Not fun to see your child go through that when you know that normally he has a sweet, calm personality. His eyes were miserable, there was no reasoning with him and I knew he's not hearing us anyway. He couldn't focus. It was almost impossible to take him out in public-he couldn't handle the people and the noise.
We had to start somewhere and we choose testing for food allergies because that's something I have experience with. I took him to a local lab for a simple test-you don't need a DR's. prescription or anything,you just walked in and had it done. The results showed intolerances to gluten, dairy and peanuts.
We eliminated those foods and saw results within a week or two and they were huge. Everything improved, from the bouncing to the mood swings. He even started talking more, his eyes were bright and he very soon figured out which foods were going to make him 'sick'. I was so proud of him at my family's Christmas party that year when he was surrounded by cookies and candy, and fruit punch with ice-cream and he didn't complain once. He ate the gluten free snacks I gave him and he was happy. I decided if a 3 year old can do it, anyone can.:)
I did use some essential oils to help with the sleeping and digestion but other then that those were the only changes we made, and some results were almost overnight.
Unfortunately it didn't last and some symptoms started to reappear, although not as bad as before. Again, I knew enough about food allergies to know there could be more, so we retested, this time using the one from the Cyrex Lab. A Dr. has to prescribe it for you and its known to be the most accurate one available. I was prepared for a lot more foods he couldn't have but only oats were added to the list. I had been so carefully avoiding all gluten, dairy and peanuts.. but everyday he was eating granola bars with oatmeal in them and his body was reacting the same as it would to gluten. It only takes one food sometimes to make a big difference!
There's a list of foods that resemble gluten so well that your body will sometimes not know the difference. It becomes an allergy, right along with gluten. For me, its also corn and tapioca, along with eggs and dairy and a few other grains. It makes sense to me because if you look at gluten free foods such as pretzels or breads, the first ingredients to replace gluten are tapioca and corn and other grains. So they must resemble each other somewhat.
It can get worse as you age. For example, I didn't get tested until I was in my 30's. I might've been born with only a gluten allergy, but I think because I continued to eat it, and my health kept getting worse, with time I developed even more intolerances. I'm so thankful that we caught Riah's early. As badly as he reacts now I shudder to think how much worse it could be getting.
And that's how we discovered the muscular dystrophy, by doing more testing for foods. While I was dealing with that information, cooking healthy for my family wasn't on top of my to-do list. And my kids were majorly taking advantage of it.
Riah's symptoms have again been getting worse and when I a few weeks ago really paid attention to what he was actually eating, I was horrified. Its summertime, so we're more lenient with snacks..we felt bad for him because we're afraid he's in pain so we let him have food that makes him happy..and he had become extremely good at pushing his veggies around on his plate instead of eating them, dropping them onto the floor and all the other usual tricks kids do to get rid of them.
On his 1st birthday after eating his cake he got incredibly hyper, so that told us he can not handle sugar and since then he's proven it to us many times. There's been many nights when he didn't go to sleep until 12 or 1 in the morning. It might not always have been just the sugar.. but without a doubt those times when he did consume a lot we knew we'd be lucky if he fell asleep by midnight. So the sugar definetly does make a difference sometimes. I never watched sugar that much for myself because I can't eat packaged food anyway. But I had been buying quite a bit of gluten free foods for Riah and there's always sugar in it. I know I've said this before... Just because its gluten free does not mean its healthy!
So last week it was back to reality. Riah was one miserable kid the first few days. I felt so bad for him, and guilty too, because I knew sugar can be addictive! It just kind of sneaked up on me..
Lest you think I'm starving my kids, trust me I'm not. He was actually eating a lot of foods he likes, but they were homemade sugar free instead of bought packaged. Homemade chocolate cupcakes instead of bought cookies. Homemade smoothie popsicles instead of freezer pops. And even though he wasn't hungry anymore, he would still beg for cereal because he was missing his sugar fix.
It helped me to get inspired with whole foods all over again went I went to the community event a few weeks ago "Family days on the Farm." There you could learn as much about nutrition as you wished to. There were lots of local farmers advertising there wares of organic, non GMO foods so I made some connections and last Monday I set out to find the farms. I bought 2 gallons of milk, 4 dozen eggs and some chicken. All organic, non GMO, grass fed and every other title that goes along with it.
Expensive.... but not as bad as if I would've bought them at the Natural Food stores. Plus I was determined to milk it all out. (pun intended.)
We made yogurt with one gallon milk. Egg custard with coconut milk for Riah. He liked it, so now that's his 'yogurt'.
I baked the chicken for dinner the first night, along with a big tray of raw veggies so everyone can make their own salads. I've noticed if I let the kids help me with food prep, they will almost always eat more. And if they have a choice, they like that too, so that's why I let them make their own.
Another night we had a picnic lunch outside and I cut up some of the leftover chicken, mixed it with homemade BBQ sauce (sugar free) and made sandwhiches with a bread that I buy from a local bakery. Its made with black beans, brown rice flour, yeast, water and salt. No gluten or dairy or sugar and its really good. Veggies, fruit and popcorn popped in coconut oil on the side and cupcakes for dessert. Picnics are fun so everyone ate well.
Chocolate Cupcakes
1 Cup cocoa powder 1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp baking soda
4 large eggs 3 T. coconut oil
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes
If you cannot have eggs use an egg replacer. My favorite is chia seeds mixed with water until it forms a gel.
I'm convinced the reason we feel the need to take pics of the food we cook is to prove that we're actually telling the truth about all the work we do. I'm not a photographer but here's my proof.:)
I had saved all the chicken bones from the night before and the next day I simmered them slowly for most of the day in a big pot with a little bit of celery, carrots, onions, garlic and herbs and that evening our dinner was a stew with some rice pasta and veggies. I don't think anyone noticed that there wasn't much chicken in it at this point because the flavor was really good.
The cats got the final bones to lick and the dogs ate them after the cats were done.
How's that for being frugal?? I felt like Betty Crocker or Aunt Jemima or whatever those ladies are on the front page of the cookbooks. I was bragging about it to my sister-in-law. She wasn't at all impressed and said if I'd really be that good we'd eat the cat too. I got the hint, no more bragging.
So much work... but by the end of the week Riah was much happier. Yes, it can and does make that much of a difference, especially for someone as sensitive as Riah! And not only Riah, but my other kids too and even myself. I feel a lot better physically if I eat well. I don't know how the kids feel but I love knowing they are eating healthy. As far as my husband.. he's one of those that can eat dougnuts and pies for breakfast, feel great and never gain a pound so we'll leave him out of this discussion.
Another meal: Zucchini casserole.
3 cups zucchini 1 copped onion
1/2 cup quinoa 2 crushed garlic bulbs
2 or 3 TLBS flour (I used Almond)
1/2 cup coconut oil
4 eggs
Bake at 350 for one hour. I put cheese on top for the other kids but Riah loved it without. The original recipe had oatmeal instead of quinoa.
Chia seed Jam; we picked berries in the woods, mixed them with chia seeds and water, sweetened with honey and xolitol or stevia and that's the jam Riah uses right now. Any berries or fruit would work for this.
Egg Nog: For good quality protein for Riah, I made egg nog. Eggs, coconut milk and pumpkin pie spice. Everyone liked it and no, they didn't know what was in it. I blended it in my vita-mix until it was creamy and frothy.
Broccoli bites: Small pieces of broccolli, dipped in egg, rolled in your favorite breading then fried lightly in coconut oil. These really were good. I use rice flour crumbs. You can also use a mixture of coconut flour mixed with Italian seasoning. If you can't have eggs, dip the broccoli in water to wet it.
When I was at the community event listening to the speakers explain health and nutrition, GMOs and pesticides, my oldest daughter was with me. I did not drag her along, I promise. It was just total coincidence- she had been at a sleep over so her aunt dropped her off there to go home with me. But she listened to what was being said, was absolutely horrified and now checks before she eats; Is this raw, organic, non GMO? I guess that's one way to educate your kid.
She takes everything seriously with all manner of things in life and we always have to stay on top of whatever new she's learned or overheard. I wasn't very surprised a few days later to walk in on my daughters during a heated 'episode'. My oldest one almost ripping a bag of something (I think chips) out of her sisters hands and hissing at her " Stop eating those GMO's! You're going to get a disease and die!!" My second daughter who doesn't get excited easy and definitely doesn't have even a tiny bit of concern about GMO blandly kept stuffing her face and crunching. I think that's why the hissing.
My oldest daughter has a big sensitive heart, and she loves her sister, but she also knows when to quit. I once overheard another conversation between the two of them. One of them had been given a bottle of Pepsi. (Hard to come by at our house). She sold it to her sister for the price of $3.00. Both parties were well satisfied. I still don't know who came up with the deal because I can't talk to them about it without laughing hysterically. But I can imagine the scenario pretty well; One felt a little guilty drinking it because she knows the ingredients, plus it was almost bedtime. She didn't really want the Pepsi that much anyway. The other one lives for the moment, if she can't sleep tonight and the moneys gone and her teeth rot, well, we'll deal with it tomorrow. Plus dentist visits are fun, you get prizes.
So I guess if someone isn't heeding your wisdom anyway, and you know what they really want and what they'll fall for, you may as well make use of the opportunity and earn some money. I wasn't sure if I should be upset at her for ripping off her sister, or proud of her for her money making skills.
One day my oldest daughter will learn that we cannot push anything down anybody's throat. (Her sister will teach her well) Not everyone will choose to take your advice, eat the way you do, use the same treatment plans, and that's okay. Just because its working for us doesn't mean it will for you and my goal for writing about health issues, food and sharing recipes is for those of you who want ideas and inspiration and not to make you feel like you have to do what I'm doing!
I love sharing with others what I learn and I love when people share with me. I've received lots of advice and ideas about things to try for Riah and I'm thankful for each one! Keep them coming!:)
Love it! Now I feel inspired again.:)
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