Wake-up Call

I recently had the chance to do some unofficial but serious nutritional counseling for a friend of mine. She hasn't been able to figure out what to eat since she has diabetes, is close to renal failure, and is taking a heart medication that has certain dietary restrictions that go along with it. She sees a different doctor for each health problem, so she wanted some help combining it all. We had her over to research, talk, and look through my cupboards and fridge to give her a visual sense of what she might be able to do.

It was really scary.

At first I didn't really believe her description of what her doctors have told her to avoid, but I've been researching and it seems like she's right. Right now (and presumably for the rest of her life) she has to avoid all sugar and salt, as well as all whole grains, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, fresh peaches, plums, oranges, melons, peas, and legumes. And that's just a short sampling. She can still eat limited amounts of white bread, rice, and pasta, iceberg lettuce, apples, carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, zucchini, canned fruits, cranberries. And that's about it. A small amount of dairy and meat, and there's an intensive method of acceptably preparing potatoes if she wants a little bit of those.

Basically, she has procrastinated the day of her healthiness until it's everlastingly too late. Her body no longer has the capabilities to digest the foods that would otherwise help her get well; her organs have been taxed to the point of near-failure and now have to be coddled along with medication and a few handfuls of saltless Saltine crackers.

I'm using her as an example, by the way, not because I want to vilify or blame her. She has sincerely done the best she can under some of the least favorable circumstances possible, and I respect her for that. (Plus I plain love her.) It was just very sobering to work on her specific limitations and to realize that many, many others -- millions? -- are facing or will face this same scenario.

As I said before, this scares me.

It also motivates me to continue undaunted in my own kitchen efforts, grateful that my kids are starting out as well as they are. (And my husband wipes his brow with relief that he's switched tracks for his own body, thanks to his intense efforts.) Speaking of him, here's a picture of Sage eating his recent birthday dinner. He requested grilled veggie kabobs so that he could eat as much as he heck wanted. Yum.

And on that note, here's what we're eating this week, including breakfasts:

Monday: Oatmeal with fresh apples, cinnamon, and cream.

"Goulash" for dinner (lentils, alphabet pasta, some split peas, onions, a tad of hamburger, tomato sauce, garlic, carrots, peas, all mishmashed together and served with ketchup).

Tuesday: Hash browns from some leftover baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, mandarin oranges.

Beef and veggie stir-fry over rice.

Wednesday: Muesli -- homemade plain yogurt over raw oats, with dried fruits and nuts and sugar to taste.

Sesame noodles with cucumbers and carrots, green beans.

Thursday: Cracked wheat with real maple syrup, tropical mixed fruit, fried eggs.

Tuna-broccoli-rice casserole, corn.

Friday: Butterscotch oatmeal, dried apricots.

Pizza, salad.

Saturday: Whole wheat pumpkin muffins, milk.

Leftovers.

Sunday: Cold cereal, scrambled eggs, tropical mixed fruit.

Sourdough pancakes, bacon, applesauce.