A One Page Diet...

I liked the diet that my HCP gave me because it is all on one page. There are just a few rules to follow and I didn't have to read a 300 page book before I could start. No induction phase, maintenance phase, etc. Just a set of rules to remember. I was able to take the one page sheet of paper, head to the grocery store, and get started on my new way of eating that night. I won't say that it was super easy. I was into eating processed foods—they are quick and easy. So, I spent a long time at the grocery store reading the labels to make sure that they weren't sneaking in some sugar or grains. Needless to say, sugar and wheat were in just about every processed food out there. That was about nine years ago. Today, it is a bit easier. A lot of foods are labeled gluten free.

I can't really remember what I did end up eating—just what I didn't eat. A lot of time has passed since then and I've spent that time reading every book on life-style diseases that I can get my hands on and find time to read. I do remember that I tossed out all the foods from my pantry that contained any type of sugar. Wheat flour, bread, and any other baked goods went straight to the trash can. I had been eating a lot of white rice. That and potatoes were no longer in my pantry. I really wasn't happy about giving up pizza or desserts. It was at that time that I became an “apple expert” because that became my dessert. I would slice up half an apple and smear it with chunky peanut butter—had to be chunky! Peanuts are not listed as one of the recommended nuts (in fact, they are not even nuts) but after I lost my 20+ pounds I did add peanut butter to my diet.

I would try one of each type of apple at the store or farmers' market. I liked the crispy, sweet-tart ones the best. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are my all time favorites. I discovered that it is important to find out if the apples had been stored over the winter or if they were from a current season crop. The way apples from a previous season are stored will also affect the quality. I've thrown away quite a few mushy apples. Yuck!

'Til next time...