Meal Planning

[Guest guest]

Sonja,

I appreciate your post, as I am challenged with the same thing. Food has

gone from being the primary focus of I frequent dinner parties to a very

un-pleasurable solitary chore.

November 2003 I had a full mouth dental extraction following fours years

frequent contact with emesis 2nd intractable nausea and vomiting. The immediate

dentures never fit; they pop out frequently as soon as I consume liquid or

solid food. Ofcourse, like my pain, no 'power that be' believes me. The

original dentist and consultants since, insist I am not using pastes, etc. Now,

this post isn't about the woes of my dental journey, but it plays a pivotal

role

in my ability to simply eat, forget whether I tolerate the food choice,

which is the focus of this post.

Without an ability to properly chew solid foods, I am limited to liquids or

semi-soft foods. But,

since I have only tolerated soft foods during the last six years with

pancreatitis, this isn't new. Determining which foods to eat, the amount, and

the

frequency of eating has been purely trial and error. My food choices are based

on several different factors and with input from each member of my health

care team.

The following are considerations affecting food choices & meal planning.

* The physical body is like a machine, it operates at its optimum when

fed the same foods, in the same amounts, at the same time every day. It puts

less stress on both the endocrine and exocrine pancreas.

* Speaking of .....I immediately have a 'gut reaction' to stress.

Whether I am the recipient of or simply witness stress, my stomach gets tight,

nausea sets in, and I begin to hurt. I, therefore, avoid stress at all costs,

listen to Wayne Dyer tapes, and meditate, meditate, meditate

* Regular food intake makes for regular output, if you know what I

mean.

* Any living tissue feels better when hydrated. A moist mouth improves

saliva production and saliva contains amylase, which is important for early

digestion. So, as Poncho says, it's all about, " Water, water, water. "

* Vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids are essential

for the body's metabolic process, among others. I use the same principal I was

taught in my first nutrition class at thirteen to ensure that I achieve the

RDA, which is to eat colorfully. By this I mean preparing meals that include

red/orange, green, yellow, and brown foods It's the same concept used when

people choose to eliminate 'white' foods.

* If I am unable to eat much, I supplement my diet with liquid

vitamins/minerals. I also add protein powder to my beverage or soup.

* When I am caught away from home at my scheduled meal time, I take a

a moment to eat a soft, protein plus, low fat nutrition bar, which I have in

my purse at all times.

* To maintain a consistent blood glucose level as possible, I avoid

foods with a high glycemic index. In addition, to avoid a rapid peak and trough

of my blood glucose, I make sure I compliment any carbohydrate intake with

protein, which slows the breakdown of glucose.

* Recent research showed that a good night's sleep is necessary for

certain hormone production which can only occur when the body is in a sleep

state. For that alone, I schedule my mealtimes to occur between 7am and 7pm.

This eliminates late night snacking, which has a negative effect on sleep. The

research also states that a good night's sleep eliminates 'junk' food cravings

the following morning.

* Adequate sleep also allows you to be more conscious of what the body

needs and is asking for. Often this is known, especially when we are thirsty

and nothing will work but water. As the body moves towards homeostasis, it

isn't as obvious. Therefore, I use energy muscle testing to determine this ...

a different topic.

* Lastly, it is important that I change my perspective re: food. As

long as I see it as an un-pleasurable solitary chore, guess what, it will be an

un-pleasurable solitary chore. There is biochemical proof that if you change

the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Literally.

Therefore, I know and believe that when I eat food my body wants and needs, I

will

feel good.

Karyn E. , RN,

Exec. Director PAI / 1-

KarynWms@...

http://www.pancassociation.org