#i would love to be vegetarian but the allergy to nuts and most legumes really gets in the way

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

me trying to force myself to eat various meats for protein even though they always make me feel gross: this is fiiiiiiiiiiiiine

[kindandketo-blog]

Keto Diet For Vegetarians

What is a vegetarian keto diet?

We get asked quite often about a keto diet for vegetarians. Funnily enough, many years ago before I became a full-blown vegan I was basically, unknowingly vegetarian keto. It’s a great diet for a vegetarian, really effective and so much easier to reach the magic state of ketosis with the increased protein and fats.

Now, with a little Kind & Keto collective knowledge we can help you out with some killer keto diet for vegetarians info - served with some friendly advice, and a little vegan sprinkle in the mix.

Unlike the strict nature of the vegan diet when it comes to animal products, vegetarians do eat some animal products . Dairy and eggs are go to’s for vegetarian and many vegetarians will add fish occasionally to get their omega 3s. 

Typically though, like a traditional vegan, the vegetarian diet is packed with carbs. If you’re a vegetarian with a high carb intake it’s my guess that you experience some, or all of the below gripes...which is why you’re here seeking out a better way - good for you!

Tired & lethargic Bloated & gassy Difficulty losing weight Craving carbs & sugars

Why is it so? You think you’re doing the right thing trying to eat all the ‘healthy’ foods right?

A nice balanced diet of all fruit and veggies, legumes, rice and pasta, eggs, dairy and soy products. Our bodies break down carbs into glucose to create energy. Apparently our system can be lazy as it’s easier to burn carbs and glucose if they’re around, rather than breaking down our fat stores. The ketogenic diet principle employs a high fat, low carb diet to encourage your bod to burn fats rather than carbs.

But wouldn’t high fat consumption make you put on weight?

Isn’t fat bad for us? If your goal is to lose weight, feeding your belly with fuel that would discourage it from burning fats isn’t likely to work. The low carb high fat keto diet aims to enter the body into a state of ketosis, where it metabolizes fats for energy.?

Ketosis is not only effective for losing weight, when reached and maintained correctly, it feels amazing.

In a ketogenic state your body changes, insulin levels reduce and fats are broken down. Your liver supplies energy to your brain via ketone production which can result, incredible clarity, increased energy and alertness. Which is really handy for a writer!

The right balance of fats, carbs and protein  

The trick is to load your fork with good fats - as you likely have been trying to do as a vegetarian. Think avocados, good dairy (more on that below), nuts and seeds.

?Avoid processed, chemically altered trans fats altogether such as margarine, bakery goods and junk/fast food. Burger King veggie burger - Na Ah, no way..

When we consume good fats we feel satisfied for longer - sugary food, fruits and carbs simply make us crave more sugary foods, fruits and carbs.

What has to go? A vegetarian keto diet cuts out a lot of sweet high carb fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges and grapes. Most berries are here to stay - hooray!

You’ll need to bid farewell to starchy high carb veggies such as Potatoes, yams (sweet potato), beets and other below-ground growers. But lovely leafy greens, mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower are all good guys.

Bread, pasta and grains. “WHAT?!” Says the vegetarian; “That’s three of my favourite foods!” Yep.

Hello vegan/keto bread, zucchini noodles and cauliflower rice, goodbye bloated gut and lethargy

Is soy good or bad? I’m soy confused Typical veggie diets are very high in soy. It’s a great source of protein, and who doesn’t love a stir fry? Tofu, soy milk, miso, tempeh and edamame are all veggie staples but some research suggests that woofing down the soy can wreak havoc on your hormones and gut health?. ?To avoid this, read more about  Soy Free Vegan Keto Diet.

?The reason for this is to render the crops resistant to Roundup, so it can be sprayed with more Roundup in order to battle the bugs, without killing the bean. Makes sense - sounds suspect for us.

Unless you have a diagnosed allergy or reaction to soy, it’s a keeper in your meal plan. But the most important thing is to ensure your soy products are “Non GMO” organic. Our advice is to stick to minimally processed soy forms and cultured soy products - that is organic tempeh, tofu, miso and edamame.

Soy proteins to avoid or consume very sparingly are highly processed soy bars, yoghurts and meat analogs.

Check the labels closely - no soy bacon for you! Good news though, coconut bacon to the rescue ??

Egetarian Keto With Dairy? Here’s where you should be wary with your dairy. You know all that GMO soy we were talking about earlier? Corporate cattle are stuffed with GMO feed. How could it not wind up in their milk and cheese? If you love your cow’s milk you can find varieties made from humanely raised “no GMO” grass fed cows.

There are plenty of tasty Kind & Keto approved milks you could try. Almond milk and hemp milk are always on my shopping list. There’s also coconut, cashew, flax milk and many more keto-friendly varieties.

Cheese is a tricky one. .Mass produced pasteurized cheese kills all the good bacteria. In an ideal world (we’re working on it), try to find unpasteurized full fat cheese from a local farmer, made from humanely raised grass fed cows minus the GMO feed.

Then you can confidently keep the cheese and crackers! We have a cracking keto vegan flax cracker recipe. Remember to keep your eye on the carb intake. Harder cheeses generally have fewer carbs.

Alternatively, you could look at some vegan cheese alternatives that are super tasty. Just like milk, we can make cheese from nuts and seeds such as cashews, my personal fav macadamia, and coconut oil. Just check the labels for GMO soy or nasty additives.

So, Are You A Vego Ready To Go Keto? ?It takes a bit of trial and error and careful planning to get the balance just right. Due to the change in how our body creates energy we also lose a considerable amount of water stores - this causes us to lose electrolytes rapidly in ketosis and feel rather grim.

So you really need to concentrate on this diet, keeping up your fluids and salts. Listen closely and respond to your body along the way. Like every epic journey, there can be some twists and turns. Food is a blessing.

The most important things is to enjoy and be thankful for the earthly gifts we are so lucky to have access to.

[benjamingarden]

Making The Switch To A Whole Food Plant-Based Lifestyle

This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links come at no extra cost to you. These links allow me to share the products I authentically recommend (and use) and support Cobble Hill Farm by receiving a small commission. When I was 13 years old I declared myself a vegetarian over dinner one evening.  This news did not go over very well.  At the time we lived on a hobby farm in Washington State where we raised pigs and cows for meat and chickens for eggs.  I had come home the day before to see something that changed my world.  The bus dropped me off at the end of our quarter mile long driveway.  As I walked down the driveway, alone,  I could see a strange vehicle backed up to the barn.  I panicked.  I had no idea who it was, where I should go, or what I should do.  We lived in farm country which meant acres and acres of crops between houses. As I got closer I started to develop a game plan to sneak around my house so that I could (hopefully) enter without the person/people noticing I was home.  Just as I was coming around the corner on the driveway, a man walked to the back of the vehicle and swung the back right door out. And there it was. An animal carcass. And I knew it was one of my animals.  MY animals – the ones I was responsible for taking care of every single morning before school and every single afternoon after school.  MY animals – the ones my parents let me name.  MY animals – my friends, because I was an only child, that I would spend afternoons with, telling them my hopes and dreams that I couldn’t share with anyone else. I was absolutely devastated. My plan to discreetly enter my home was now gone by the wayside and I ran, full speed, to my house, grabbed my house key with my shaking hand, and flung open the door to call my mother at work.  This time, rather than the usual “I’m home” phone call, I was crying and screaming and downright angry.  Angry that I’d lost one or more animals in this manner, angry that the animals were my responsibility yet no one bothered to let me know the grand plan, and angry that I had no idea which animals were now gone, only to end up in that bland white freezer paper in the stand-alone freezer. So, that evening at dinner, still angry from the events of the day, I declared myself officially a vegetarian.  My mom and step-father chuckled, not understanding why I was so upset.  Not surprisingly, this upset me even more.  Their callous response to my devastation was certainly not making me feel any better about the situation.  My mother smiled and challenged me with “you can’t be vegetarian – you’ll eat meat, you like chicken”.  I responded by telling her she was wrong.  And then, in my 13 year old wisdom, I came up with what I thought was a legitimate statement that would put them in their place.  I stated “if Michael Jackson can be a vegetarian then so can I”.  And with that, I was a vegetarian for the next 13 years. The problem with having been a vegetarian was that I wasn’t a healthy vegetarian.  This means that, although I didn’t eat meat, I still ate junk – French fries, candy, chips, etc.  Although I’ve always loved vegetables, I didn’t eat a majority of my meals plant-based and I certainly did not eat a healthy amount of legumes and/or whole grains. And this is the problem with the terms “vegan” or “vegetarian”.  That although it may exclude animal products, it doesn’t concentrate a lifestyle based on plants and whole foods, leaving you with an unhealthy, albeit meat-free, lifestyle.

Switching To Plant-Based Whole Foods Lifestyle So why, after eating meat for 20 years have I now switched to a plant-based whole food lifestyle?  For health reasons. It all started with Netflix….. I’ve been told, since the age of 22, when I was first diagnosed with allergies that would result in severe sinusitis, that if I would just cut out all dairy products I would notice a significant difference in how I felt.  I thought it was absurd.  First, I’m not allergic to dairy.  Second, who can give up cheese?  Third, what would I put in my coffee if it wasn’t going to be milk or half and half? And so I’ve suffered with constant congestion and 2-4 severe sinus infections annually for the past 24 years.  I’m severely allergic to dust, cats, and some molds and mildews and test positive for a minor allergy to dogs.  As you know, I have a cat, 2 dogs, and many chickens whose litter is full of dust, molds and mildews……I certainly don’t help myself out at all.  Two years ago I’d about had it with sinus infections.  I just couldn’t catch a break.  Each time I would go on antibiotics to get rid of one, someone in my office would come down with a cold, and I’d immediately get another sinus infection.  The dairy thing kept playing in my head. Last year I ended up with 3 severe sinus infections in a row.  When I went to urgent care with the first one, I was told I had fairly high blood pressure.  I'd been told it was on the high end of normal at my last annual appointment, which was new since I’ve never ever had high blood pressure before.  On the second trip to urgent care, I still had high blood pressure which told me it wasn’t a fluke.  The third time, after hearing the news again, and being so sick I couldn’t even stand myself, I wanted to figure out what I could do to take control over my own health.  I’m sure the blood pressure is very much related to the amount of stress I endure from juggling everything, regardless, since I wanted to continue working outside the home as well as our own business and needed to figure out how I was going to holistically treat this. Sitting at home, head pounding, coughing constantly with a nose running like a faucet, I had nothing to do and nothing to watch.  So I watched Netflix.  I didn’t feel like watching a series or a movie so I watched documentaries.  I watched them on both Paleo lifestyles as well as plant-based whole food lifestyles.  And that’s when I decided that I would give up dairy (I never have had it again since that day) as well as meat.  Although I do eat chicken or fish from time-to-time, for the most part, I now only eat plants and whole foods.  Although I didn't salt my food often, I also stopped adding salt (although I still add a small amount when cooking).  And I feel great!!  My blood pressure dropped significantly and I’m no longer in danger of needing medication to decrease it.  I have more energy, feel more "awake"/clear-headed and no longer have the daily congestion.  All because of a dietary change. I opted for plant-based whole foods as opposed to paleo because I wasn’t convinced paleo was healthy.   It’s a personal choice that I believe was the right one for me. Switching my lifestyle wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be once I had a few ideas for meals.  My big hang-ups were:

what would I put in my coffee, and 

would I have to make 2 meals since J wouldn’t be switching? 

I have yet to be satisfied with any of the milk alternatives, as it relates to coffee, so I drink it mostly black with a splash of Betterhalf (unsweetened).  And yes, I am making 2 different meals since J told me he has no interest in changing to the same lifestyle.  Some of my main dishes I can serve him as a side dish, but others he has no interest in so I make 2 completely different meals. Eating out was a tad difficult since almost every single vegetarian option is loaded with cheese.  I tried eating a bit of cheese once and I could feel it in my sinuses immediately.  So I usually eat chicken or seafood when we go out if I can't find a better alternative.

coffee is a must!

What I Eat I’m a huge believer in Dr. Michael Greger’s advice in his book ��How Not To Die”.  The book is quite voluminous as he speaks to many health conditions including what specific foods can harm as well as what can help.  His cookbook, also called “How Not To Die”, gives a much smaller synopsis of his actual book in addition to over 100 recipes.  One of the nice features of Dr. Greger’s books is that he has his list of recommended “daily dozen” which helps me with what I should be eating. Dr. Greger's daily dozen: • 3 servings of beans (I typically only do 1 or 2 at lunch and/or dinner) • 1 serving of berries (this I eat with breakfast) • 3 servings of other fruits (I eat fruit after every meal) • 1 serving of cruciferous vegetable (I incorporate cabbage, kale, broccoli or cauliflower in lunch or dinner) • 2 servings of greens (I eat at lunch and dinner – breakfast if I have a vegetable & bean breakfast burrito) • 2 servings of other vegetables (I eat at lunch and dinner) • 1 serving of flaxseeds (I eat with my breakfast) • 1 serving of nuts (I eat in my oatmeal for breakfast) • 1 serving of spices (turmeric every day) (I drink 1 cup of turmeric tea everyday) • 3 servings of whole grains (I eat oatmeal almost every morning for breakfast, have grains with a salad or soup for lunch, and a grain with dinner) • 5 servings of beverages (I drink hibiscus tea twice a day, turmeric tea once a day, usually a juice of greens and ginger once a day, and water) I realize this list looks overwhelming but remember “servings” are ¼ - ½ cup (depending on the item), so it really isn’t hard once you start to vet it all out.  Dr. Greger recommends going oil and sugar free as well.  So I’ve taken his outline and added my “occasional” items – chicken and seafood, olive or coconut oil, and (rarely) sugar (I try to use dates/date suger, coconut sugar, maple syrup or honey). My typical day: Breakfast – almost always oatmeal with berries, soaked raw nuts and flaxseed, and coffee (coffee is always) Snack – fruit + hibiscus tea Lunch – soup or salad incorporating beans, greens, other veggies and whole grains.  If I don’t eat greens with lunch, I usually drink a “greens” juice (no fruit juice because it spikes your blood sugar without the fiber – just greens, ginger, and a squirt of lemon) Snack – fruit + turmeric tea Dinner – comprised of beans or (wild caught) seafood or (free-range organic) chicken occasionally plus vegetables & whole grains Snack – fruit + hibiscus tea

The reality is - I feel better than I could have ever believed.  I didn't have any aches, pains, etc. but I believe that any internal inflammation I had is gone or at least significantly decreased leaving me feeling good.  Also, animal products give you a fullness beyond satisfactory fullness, in my opinion, and I no longer have that.  I would guess that these two factors are a big reason for my increased alertness and overall general health. What I Don't Eat:

I don't eat any grilled meat any longer.  There's just too much research pointing to the high levels of carcinogens carried in grilled meat.

I don't eat, in general, any "replacement" meat.  I am not a fan of non-sausage sausage, or non-chicken chicken (tofu or tempeh).  If I want tofu or tempeh I add it to the dish, but I don't make or purchase any of the mocked up replacements.

I try to stay away from anything not on the Real Food outline.

I try to avoid carrageenan.  And it's difficult......it seems to find it's way into nut milks and non-dairy creamers.  Although I suspect in a small (and infrequent) consumption it's ok, it worries me to consume it regularly.  You can read more about it on Wellness Mama.

I've heard from many of you that after 8 months or so of only plants, legumes & whole grains you no longer felt your best.  I believe eating a little bit of meat/seafood protein as well as a little of the oils (based on the real food factors) from time-to-time is what has helped me.  I did not eat any meat at all for the first 8 months and would feel a bit "off".  I'm not sure how to describe it.  Since I began eating meat/seafood at least twice a month (only a small portion each time) as well as cooking a little bit with oils again, I have gone back to feeling great.  I also found that eating meat twice in a week was a bit too much.  You've got to listen to your body.  It's all trial and error I guess....

How about you?  Have you made any significant changes to your lifestyle in the past year?  I'd love to hear what you've found works and doesn't work.

Making The Switch To A Whole Food Plant-Based Lifestyle was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)

[govegantees-blog]

Vegan T Shirts: A Way to Publicize Your Stance

The word vegan brings to mind a whole lot of ideas and topics for conversation, but what does it really mean? Vegetarians are known to not eat meat in simple terms. They eat a lot of plant-based foods and some even fish. I have my own ideas about what I would like to have in my diet as a vegetarian, it is a way of staying away from animal products but having allergies means I cannot enjoy certain plant foods as well. But hey! That does not stop me in any way from enjoying a healthy meal like I should. I actually figured I was alone till I came across an article that showed over 32 celebrities- including Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Ellen Page, Ariana Grande- being veggies. That sure felt good!

What does it mean to be vegan?  

Followers of the ideology and followers of the diet can be referred to as Vegans. We believe solely that we need to refrain from eating or using up anything made from animals. No milk, no refined white sugar, no leather, no honey- simply no animal stuff whatsoever. The word vegan could also be an attribute or adjective used to describe a meal or food item of some sorts.  

Health Benefits… 

There are so many benefits we gain from all angles. The worldwide known one is the health benefit. First of all, being a vegan gives you as an individual the assurance of a healthy mind and body; since veggies also consume less cholesterol and fat as compared to meat lovers. Every meal in one way or another supports and promotes growth in every aspect of your body, maintains and improves existing healthy organs or activities in your body.

People who thrive on veggie diets have a low risk of a heart disease. Statistics show that they are 25% less likely to die of a heart disease. The Heart protective foods are whole grains with high fibre content and legumes. These have a low glycaemic index; therefore, keeping the blood sugar level steady. Nuts are also a try-out.

Cancer. Vegans have a lower risk of cancer than non-veggies. This is because they consume a whole amount of fruits and vegetables and this makes them have lower chances of having carcinogenic substances in the colon. Soluble fibre also reduces heart cholesterol. Walnuts are also rich in omega 3 acids which can also be found in the fish.

Fractures also have a way of showing us that we actually need to consume more fruits and vegetables due to how delicate the bones are. We need calcium to keep our bones fit and strong at all times. Some vegetables that supply this calcium are broccoli, kale, Chinese cabbage etc.

What do Vegans eat? 

question has most vegetarians on edge. They aren’t quite sure what answer to give because a few claim it is really dependent on you and your style or health benefit you desire to acquire. The vegan diet basically is made of all plant-based stuff, legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables as well as all the foods that can be made by a combination of all these foods.

There are also vegetarian diets that are made similar to the familiar foods around us which I think will be easier for consumption for someone who is just becoming vegan. Wonderful examples are the vegan burgers, vegan hot dogs, vegetarian ice-cream (I know what you are thinking) and even vegetarian mayonnaise.

Other common foods that people take like soy milk, green salad, spaghetti, salsa, and Tofu are also vegetarian. Most bread are vegan, pasta with tomato sauce, veggie burritos and no cream all fall under veggie meals that can easily be enjoyed. I even heard of Veggie Thai curry made with coconut milk, I haven’t had it before but I sure intend to try it someday.

Easy Much?       

It may or may not be easy to move from being a meat-eating lover to a strict vegetarian. It is quite a struggle for some and for others it is just wonderful. If you find yourself on the struggling end just relax and omit some foods slowly. I was once a meat lover. Bring up meat and anything meat and you would find my mouth there. I was completely engrossed in it. Changing my mind and deciding to be vegan was a very big step for me. I considered veggies too expensive and too much work to find and cook. I suddenly stopped eating meat and it felt like an addict on crack. I went back to my meat after two weeks but I decided I needed to get rid of it and slowly took it off my meals. One by one they all gradually fell off. That is the beauty of actually coming up with it; and also, read! Do not use hearsay as a basis for deciding what to say and all that.

The Twist…...  

 T Shirts! I love my t shirts on any day at all warm or rainy. No cold though. They make me feel special. Designing them and rocking them is what I do best and it fits my style quite easily. On some days though, wearing just a t-shirt isn’t enough. I want something that expresses my thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions in that moment. Having it beautiful just isn’t enough.

What correlation do T-shirts have with being a Veggie?

Everything. I am well aware of how my life goals also express who I am. My cloth style will and can definitely express this. Tees with inscriptions always make a statement, whether subtle or loud, it gets the job done.  The world we live in has a constant cycle of reproduction occurring. There is always the use of something to recreate something. Plants are used to recreate and make stuff for human consumption. Same as animals.

But will we as humans always have to get rid of animals in order to survive? I think it is time to make a change and I think my change can definitely start from showcasing my thoughts through what I wear. Bringing up the topic of being vegan in any public setting is weird and does have that uncomfortable feel to it. I mean walking into a pub and saying, “Hi, I’m Kelly and I think you should be vegan” is like saying “Hi, I am here to force you to be something you are not”.

Humans naturally do not enjoy or like change. Most people you would come across are either change resistant or in favour of change over a period of time. It is important hence, not to impose but suggest new and acceptable ideas using subtle means.

By wearing my vegan t shirts, I am now saying simply without speaking, “Hi, I am Kelly and I am Vegan.” Cool huh? Not only does it allow the atmosphere to stay relaxed but it helps people to analyze and probably further ask questions if they are interested. It even works as a conversation starter still without a word being uttered from you.

You can choose as usual to design your own tees or probably look out for places that sell cool vegan t shirts. Either ways make sure the Tees are a perfect representation of who you are and what you think.

As Rachel Zoe said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” And I must say, I am a vegan – who loves her vegan t shirts and is stylishly proud

[thenaturalnester]

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor, and I don’t pretend to be either.  This is just a post about what worked for us.  This is a post that is past due too.  I have several friends who are asking for help, especially at this time of year.  A couple years ago my son, age 3, developed a small patch of eczema behind one knee.  It developed out of nowhere, the day we returned from an annual vacation with my in laws.  When it first started it was the size of a dime, and I don’t think it got any bigger than a half dollar.  The problem was, in addition to this quarter sized, come and go again rash, he had a bloated come again go again belly.  While he didn’t really have potty issues, he tooted like a grown man (he is going to love me for this one when he grows up).  He had his first ear infection.  My mommy instinct knew this wasn’t right, especially since I have an older son with no issues like this to compare.  I knew what healthy looked like, and something wasn’t right.

Don’t get me wrong, he was still a very healthy kid.  He just wasn’t at the level of healthy I was used to.  Every time I think I have something figured out…I eat HUMBLE PIE.  How could my kid have eczema? I nursed him YEARS.  As in beyond 3.   We ALWAYS ate organic.  I mean, literally 98% of what we buy is organic.  I soaked and sprouted all my grains and beans, cooked from scratch, etc.  There weren’t any chemicals, dyes, none of that.  But 3 was far beyond the age when eczema normally develops.  Beyond the age of ear infections.  He was a ridiculously healthy baby and toddler.  Why all of a sudden?

Notice that little bloated belly? This is right when it started.  Lots of great vacations with lots of not so great food.  

  Most children, 75% as per studies, develop eczema from cow’s milk around the age of one year.  The other 15% is from wheat. 10% is the “other”, but usually part of the nasty nine that make up food allergies.  But unlike most families, ours makes a conscious effort to not drink cow’s milk period.  I don’t buy any dairy whatsoever.  So clearly that wasn’t the cause.  We don’t eat much wheat either, although not religiously.  I took my son for bloodwork, to several doctors, nothing showed up.  I was told by a pediatric allergist in Princeton that eczema behind the knees, on the back of the arms, and/or face was a definite reaction to food.  However, after extensive testing, no allergies ever showed up.  His conclusion was he was a healthy boy and a small spot of eczema was not a big deal.  Thanks.

I had a major issue with this.  There is this “trifecta” that all in the medical field know about.  Eczema, allergies, and asthma.  I didn’t want my child to have anything to do with that trifecta.  Doctors prescribe steroid creams to shut down a child’s immune system to make the rash go away.  This totally disrupts a child’s hormones.  What happens when this child is older?  What are the effects?  Skin discoloration? Is that all?  How about, FIND OUT WHAT THE HELL IS MAKING A HEALTHY CHILD HAVE A RASH?

I am have the utmost respect for physicians.  They dedicate a huge portion of their lives towards education in making people better.  While most of us are out living our lives, having fun, spending time with family; they are working long and hard hours selflessly.  Doctors are good.  They see so many diseases, viruses, disorders, bacterias, etc…I can see how in the scope of things, a small patch of eczema is harmless.  They are seeing things FAR FAR worse.  Some children have eczema that is severe enough they need steroids.  If my child’s eczema was causing him severe discomfort, I probably would do anything to give him relief.  His really wasn’t awful, or consistent…it just drove me crazy.  This blog is not to shame anyone for doing what is best for their baby nor doctors for giving some kids much needed relief.  Some are perfectly fine with a cream or a pill.  Everyone does what is right in their own hearts for their child.  For me, steroid cream was not an option.  I can see how it would be for others and how it would be for doctors.  I GET IT.  I was NUTS, HYSTERICAL, OBSESSED for months over this tiny little rash.  I literally went off the deep end trying to figure out what was different.  I kept food diaries, journals, you name it.  The problem was, it was a tiny patch that came and went.  It wasn’t even always there.  I was literally scoffed at by doctors for making such a big deal over it.  My brother, in med school at the time, said he was going to sneak in while he was sleeping and put a little hydrocortisone creme on it to stop the madness.

So to make a long story short, a few years back…I totally WHOLE THIRTIED my kid.  Actually my whole family.  Mind you I was raised a vegetarian.  I still haven’t eaten any meat at all.  The rest of my family sure does.  I do my very best to be sure I buy the highest quality, ethically raised food I can for them, that makes a big difference in comparison to factory farmed meats.  We eat lots of WILD fish, never farm raised.  I DID NOT RESTRICT carbs or sugar what so ever.  I would not in anyway, shape or form recommend cutting carbohydrates from a child’s diet. I simply followed the Whole 30 rules, kind of loosely. We never really ate much plain sugar, but I sweetened things with maple syrup or honey.  I did the best I could to keep him grain, dairy, and legume free.  I wanted my boy healthy.

 NO GRAINS.

 NO BEANS.  This includes soy and peanuts.  Peanuts are legumes, not nuts.

NO DAIRY

This sounds insane.  What is left, right?  My take on how to make this, and any other dietary change for that matter feasible is to ALWAYS FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN EAT, NOT WHAT YOU CANNOT.  After a few short days of doing this my son’s belly went from descended to flat.  No rash.  Gone.   Years later we still loosely follow this protocol.  Let me emphasize EXTREMELY loosely.  We do eat sprouted bread and whole sprouted grains a few times a week at this point.  It has been almost a full two years and he has not had any issues since.  Knock wood.

We eat whole foods.  My Jesseism on why this works is minimal exposure to genetically modified foods.  I cannot believe there is not a total UPROAR about what is going on with our food supply.  Kids are DYING from anaphylactic shock from mild allergies out of nowhere.  1 in 13 is thought to have a food allergy.  In a group of ten immediate friends, about half of the kids have food and/or seasonal allergies.  This is just my anecdotal observation.  My parents can’t even fathom this.  This was not the case with my generation, nor was it with theirs.

So this is for my friends out there and all the mommies and daddies who are not cool with steroid cremes and medications.  Those who have reached out to me and are on a mission.  I found this super easy after a month or so.  Here are 10 go to breakfast, lunches, dinners, and snacks.  Keep in mind, my kids literally will eat anything.  I rotate meals like crazy.  This ISN’T really necessary.

As long as it is approached with a child as, “we are going to eat these healthy foods to make your skin feel better”, it doesn’t really matter if a child eats the same one or two meals for breakfast everyday.  Keep in mind if a child has a nut allergy, there are always alternatives. I listed some below, but feel free to ask questions in comments.  Make sure the child knows why they are eating certain foods.  If possible, take kids to an apple orchard, grocery store, farm, berry picking, grow veggies…it peeks their interest in the food itself.

  BREAKFAST

 Fried Eggs and Plaintains

Grain Free Granola (all nuts and/or seeds) with Bananas and Coconut Milk– This is our “cereal”.  I buy Trader Joe’s Grain Free Granola, or I grind up pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.  Add a dairy free milk of choice, a fruit,  a little honey.  YUM.

Sweet Potato Toast with Nut Butter-Loads of Pinterest ideas on this one.

Chia Seed Pudding with Fruit

Turkey Bacon and Roasted Potatoes

Grain Free Pancakes-Eggs blended with banana, or squash, or plantains and fried. Again, a simple Pinterest search and there are lots of recipes.  I don’t even follow the recipes, I put everything in the blender, add milk until its the right consistency, and cook over low heat.  The low heat is KEY.

Coconut  or Almond Yogurt with Nuts, Seeds, and or Fruit

Whitefish Salad or Smoked Salmon with Tomato with Scallions and Capers and Grain Free Crackers

Flax Seed Pudding with Berries

Roasted Butternut Squash with Maple Syrup or Pumpkin Butter and Chicken Sausage

LUNCH

 Hard Boiled Eggs with Carrots and Guacamole

Organic Turkey Roll Ups with Grain Free Crackers and Coconut Cheese

Salmon Salad with Diced Carrots, Scallions, and Celery

Tuna Salad with Diced Celery, Scallions, and Dried Cranberries

Chicken Soup-I use cauliflower rice in ours and potatoes in ours.

Cauliflower Rice Sushi

Apple and Sunbutter or Nutbutter Sandwiches

Organic Hot Dogs and French Fries

Chop Salad with Nuts and/or Protein of Choice

Salmon Burgers, Fresh Veggies, Sweet Potato Fries

DINNER

This is easy.  This protein and veggies.  Every night. These are some of my family’s favorites.

 Roasted Chicken and Vegetables 

Sautéed Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Onions, Spaghetti Squash

Sautéed Flounder in Lemon, Thyme, and Capers with Spinach and Mash Potatoes.

Grilled Mahi Mahi Collard Wrap Tacos, cabbage lime cilantro slaw, cauliflower rice and sweet potato salad.

Grass fed Burgers, French Fries, Roasted Veggies

Seafood Cioppino over Zucchini Noodles

Wild Shrimp, Onions, Garlic, Spinach, Zucchini Noodles

Grilled Scallop Kabobs with Vegetables

Zucchini, Onions, Tomatoes, Ground Turkey with Spaghetti Squash

Coconut Milk Curried Vegetables and/or Protein of Choice

SNACKS

 Plantain Chips or Banana Chips

Grain Free Crackers

Trader Joe’s Handful of Nut Packs

Coconut/Almond Milk Yogurt or Rubie Rockets

ANY FRUIT with Nut Butter

Roasted Seaweed

Fresh Fruit and Veggie Smoothies

Larabars or Homemade “Fudge Babies”

Apple Sauce and Veggie Pouches

Potato Chips, Kale Chips, Broccolli Bites, etc.  Any chip that doesn’t have grains or beans.

  *If a nut allergy is an issue, the following substitutions can be made:

NUT BUTTER-Sunbutter (I love Trader Joe’s despite the added sugar, it is minimal and makes a HUGE difference in taste.)

MILK-Rice, Hemp, or Flax Milk

ANY NUT-Sub Hemp, Chia, Flax, or Sunflower Seeds

COCONUT OIL-Ghee

YOGURT-Rice Milk Yogurt

The good news is little man can pretty much eat anything at this point without that rash appearing.  So after following this strictly for about 10 months, we reached the point where he can occasionally eat whatever he wants with very little issues.  In simpler terms, I still loosely follow this protocol as mentioned above, but when we are out to eat, at a party, etc…he eats things like pizza without the cheese, grass-fed burgers with buns, etc. I do occasionally buy wheat from ITALY, because that does not bother my husband or son. Italy has banned genetically modified foods, this may be why.  We realized this after my husband noticing a local brick oven pizza place didn’t bother him at all.  The wheat was from Italy and fermented three days.  Non-GMO!!!

What I am UBER strict over is dairy.  His ear infections were on the holidays, literally Christmas and the day after Easter.  I let my kids eat whatever they want on the holidays, but after making this very easy correlation, we stay CLEAR of dairy.  Ear infections suck.  Totally not worth it.  He doesn’t even want anything to do with it himself.  Smart boy.

I shared what I have done with adults, and adults with children.  Each I shared with who followed religiously have had successes.  In fact, some husbands who simply followed what their wives and children were eating figured out how allergic to some foods they actually were, without even actively trying!  A site that has a plethora of information regarding ECZEMA is solveeczema.org  This mama was on such a mission, she is actually being published in several medical journals.  There are two types of Eczema, and she addresses how to figure out which your child has.  Some children actually have BOTH types.

I really hope this information helps some loved ones, sorry it so overdue!

    How We Said Goodbye to Eczema with the WHOLE FOODS Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor, and I don't pretend to be either.  This is just a post about what worked for us.