Eating Better with (CKD) Health & Money Issues

... And on a budget - if what I live on can be called a budget. It's more like a fudge-it.

I have been so focused on food lately that I can hardly think about anything else. When the average American - I'm talking about those in average-to-decent health - worries about the additives and potential toxins in food, people with certain health issues are making serious life decisions whenever they grocery shop. For the record, I have CKD 3b and, of course, neurosarcoidosis - which led to the CKD...

Thankfully, I have finally found a few resources for better food. Of course, better food often means more expensive food. I decided that it's worth eating a lot less on a safer diet than continuing making my health issues worse. A big gripe I have is that I have had almost no help from anyone on my healthcare team. I see 3 different doctors on a regular basis, but I have spent hours over the last few weeks compiling information on my own. 

I want to share what I have found for myself since it may encourage others to do their own research. Check with your doctors (if they will help) and research, research, research. My brain isn't always up to handling the information so I'm lucky to have neighbors and family to help out.

Foods I can and can't have (or have to limit)

I'm trying to do more fish, fruits and veggies. Also, I am more careful about the coffee/tea I drink and what I put in them. Although, I have been doing iced coffee with cream on the days I don't eat much. Is that a decent swap???

Because I really do like my fruits and veggies... I have to watch (mainly) for things high in potassium (so much in a lot of fruit/veggies!); phosphorous (dairy, sodas, nuts and - this covers so much: processed foods); sodium (more processed food and canned stuff, frozen, etc. - aka convenience); and calcium (oranges/OJ) because it can cause deposits. I am great about not drinking any soda. I prefer a sparkling water every now and then.

Source

I have been making a lot of my own bread with French flour. I love eating cereal and oatmeal, so I have to put those in my notebook with warnings.... And I have gotten back to preferring dairy milk over plant based. Oh boy.

Allowable (some with limits)

• Apples - Honeycrisp (my fave) Granny Smith (meh), Gala and Golden Delicious (ok, but boring).
• Berries - Rasp., blue, straw, and black.
• Watermelon - the safest melon because it's low in potassium 
• Seedless Yellow Melon
• Pineapple - I really don't love this unless I can mix it with apple juice!
• Dried fruit - raisins, dates etc. BTW, I love date and figs....
• Avocado - yum
• Mango - double yum
• Kiwi - they can keep that
• Cantaloupe - triple yum
• Pears - yay!
• Salmon (wild caught and with limits)
• Cauliflower - I have learned to make fake mash potatoes & love it
• Red bell pepper - great stuffed with garlic, onions and greens
• Cabbage - love the steaks but get bored with it
• Onions - I can roast an onion with garlic and be happy 
• Radishes- this should not even exist
• Cucumbers - good but gets boring
• Collard Greens - I love, love, love -but have to limit...

To be fair, I could have some really nice tropical fruits (if I can afford them) - even if I have to limit some of them

• Guava
• Papaya
• Lychee
• Cherimoya
• Mangosteen
• Cactus Pears
• Red and Yellow Dragon fruit - which is great because they have more flavor than the plain ones (which are super bland, IMO)
• Feijoas (cannot was to try these)
• Candy Hearts Grapes (ditto!)
• Royal Vine Grapes (ditto ditto!)
• Moon Drop Grapes (yep, ditto!)

I found some of these more exotic fruits over at Melissa's, Good Hill Farms, Miami Fruit, and Tropical Fruit Box. There are some other places as well. Problem is that some of the good stuff is out of my moolah range.

As far as meat and seafood, I am trying to stick with fish and stay away from red meat. It's tough because I am no longer in Alaska. Back home, my family loved fishing and our freezers were all stocked year-round with salmon, trout, hooligan, etc. All wild-caught. Here in the Midwest, I really have to shop around. I do not love Tilapia (most common in stores), although I can handle cod... Salmon is my favorite and I have to limit it - not hard when good, wild caught salmon is hard to find.

Source

I think the thing that bothers me the most is that, so much of our easily available and mostly affordable food is not good even for mostly healthy folks.

One solution I have found is finding grocers service Euro expats. Where I live, there is not a lot of diversity, but one of my doctors is 2 hours away. I have found several specialty grocers and stores in his area. So, I will have to budget fiercely and get as much as I can during the trips to the bigger cities. And still money is an issue. I am having to watch every penny I spend in the meantime so that I can stock up when I go to those other grocers.

Another solution I've come up with is to shop some of the local farms with a decent driving distance from where I live. That's going to be a lifesaver because these folks have a lot of clean veggies, chicken, fresh eggs, honey, and although I have to limit them milk and eggs. The good thing about that is I can split those items with my family.

The next thing on my list is to find some good authentic olive oils and condiments (I recently watched a video about olive oil). I guess I am just really frustrated. It should be easier to eat better. I'm already making most of my own baked goods - bread and rolls and the rare cake - using an imported flour. 

Source

One practice I use (and highly recommend) is keeping a notebook to track your specific needs. Not just if you have health issues, but even if you are trying to avoid the toxic and nasty ingredients that is allowed in so much of our food! 

I have a specific notebook where I keep a list of foods and beverages that are and are not healthy for me. I list the restrictions on daily nutrients I have to pay attention to. I also list places (local and online) where I can find the things I need. This really helps for grocery shopping. 

The notebook is so useful because there is so much information to be aware of and my memory is crap. It's helpful for family when planning my visits to them. What I need to be better at is keeping regular track of my intake. I use some apps, but they are not always handy, and I am not always diligent. So far, it has been easier for me to eat a lot of the same things on a rotation. For instance, I know that I can do a portion of salmon or cod with cauliflower and broccoli. I have other set meals like that for which I know the general amount to eat to stay within limits. It's boring but easy.

Source

It's a shame that so many of us with serious conditions don't have access to a nutritionist. So, you have to do the best you can with what you can afford. 

I hope that anyone else trying to eat better - especially because of serious health issues - will be encouraged. Research what you should and should have. Try to find better sources of consumables - even if you have to go online or take a drive. It's frustrating and expensive, but it might save you some health issues.

Peace

-- Free

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't even play one on TV. I have zero medical or any other healthcare training. In this blog, I simply share my experiences. I have 2 very important things to say to anyone reading this (or anything online):

1. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and
2. Talk to your healthcare providers before doing anything that could affect your health.

Coping With Life

 It's been a weird and wild few weeks. I finally know what stage I'm at with the CKD (3b); I found a new (and wonderful) rheumatologist since my last one transferred away; I am coping better with the loss of my best friend; I lost my cousin today.

Did I leave out anything? I don't think so.

Life comes at us so fast sometimes that we can't get a close enough look at the many things we pass through. I'm trying to be better about the whole "one day at a time" thing. I can't believe it's taken me so long to realize that I cannot change the past, can't always control the present, and cannot predict the future.

I was joking to one of my nieces earlier that the only thing good that happened in the past few days is that Walmart included my address in the grocery-delivery zone. Damn, that was a long-winded and awful sentence!

When I got the news about my kidneys, it was served up with a side order of "Oh, yeah, and as long as you are on these disease-controlling medicines, they won't get better".

I think I actually laughed when the doctor laid that one out for me. I think my new doctor might think I'm a little nutty.

I'm still upset that my very first nephrologist did not clearly explain dietary restrictions to me. At the time, I was still quite addle-brained from the sarcoidosis. I had so much trouble comprehending anything. Maybe he did say something? Whatever.

My kidney function has already improved since I researched and started eating the right foods. I miss my avocados, Greek yogurt, nuts, and all the green food but... My filtration numbers are so much better that I don't mind. These days, I'm eating many of the things I was avoiding because I didn't think they were as healthy. I still can't believe that my "healthy for the kidney" diet includes pasta, white rice, and white bread over all the whole wheat and green veggies. 

And while I'm talking about food and other ingestibles... Let me just say that oat milk is nasty in coffee. It's weird-tasting and has a slightly slimy texture. It ruins every good coffee I've ever loved. I'm now drinking my Kaladi Brother coffee with either rice milk or, on a good day, a tiny bit of half-and-half and brown sugar. Also, I'm so sick of tofu that I hate looking at those square packs of it. I've had it braised, baked, air-fried, and sauteed. I've fixed it as fake chicken, fake barbeque beef/pork/chicken, and I've even tried to make a stir-fry with it. 

I have discovered some tasty recipes and snacks. I am now in love with alfredo sauce. I like to make a chicken and pasta dish with it. And Boom Chicka popcorn is my everything. It's lighter and airier than my popcorn made in the Ninja. There is a dairy-free ice cream made with cashew milk that I will be erecting a shrine to at some point. 

So, yeah, there are some foods that don't completely disgust me. 

Maybe the best news this year has been the whole Walmart-delivers situation. I was able to order all my groceries and household goods in one go. However, my shopping trips have always been a treat because I get to hang out with my baby brother and lovely SIL. We still hang out. Especially since I now have to go almost an hour away to another town to see my rheumatologist. I'm not a person who loves long car rides. Also, I'm from Alaska where a long car ride is rare. I could get from Anchorage to halfway to the Alcan in the time that some of these Iowa trips take just to shop or get medical care. These people think nothing of driving 200 miles to do something. 

The only thing I don't really want to talk about today is my cousin. I can only say that she was much too sweet and sensitive for this crazy time we are living in. 

Anyway. That's been my life. That's why I have not been on here for a minute. 

Peace

--Free