This blog is a little different...not a full meal recipe but one of my favorite snacks I make to keep in the fridge during the week. Broccoli is a great vegetable to eat regularly for everyone but especially great for lupus patients, leafy greens are key food groups for us! Many people that make this broccoli salad use alternative items than I do, it just depends on what you prefer. Personally, I'm the only one that eats this in my house so one cluster of broccoli is plenty for me.
> Cut the flower head off the stem and chop it all up so there aren't large chunks of broccoli.
I add the following but other options are great too-again it's preference.
> Red onion
> Shredded cheddar cheese
> Chopped tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)
> Raisins or craisins.
> Almonds (many people use sunflower seeds, walnuts, etc...I prefer almonds)
> Some people add bacon bits (I leave this out because of high sodium in the bacon)
For the dressing:
> Greek yogurt (about a cup- I start with less and add as needed)
> Lemon juice (to taste)
> Honey (to taste- don't put too much or it will make it too sweet)
> Fresh dill (to taste)
> Pepper
I'm terrible at measuring stuff out so I start small with the amounts and work from there depending on how I want it to taste. Mix all this together in a bowl with a lid and eat on it for snacks instead of potato chips or cookies during the day. Enjoy. :)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Selfish vs. Silver lining.
Before verbally hearing the news about the dangers of conceiving I had begun preparing myself for the worst. I thought about, of course, my dreams of carrying a child not coming true, the effect it would have on my husband, and the effect it would have on our marriage. Many times news such as this can drive a wedge between a husband and wife. Thank goodness I have the most wonderful husband that, on a daily basis reminds me that it doesn't matter if I'm swollen from head to toe, breaking out from the medicine like a 13 year old girl going through puberty all over again, or can't personally carry our child, he still, and always will, love me regardless. I struggle with this because I don't always love me so how could someone else feel so strongly about me when they know how I'm feeling?
Given the information the doctor told us and knowing how much my dear husband wants a child as much as I do I often feel selfish. I'm not sure I'm willing, at this point, to risk putting my body through the stress it would undergo with the IVF treatment, with the risks of carrying our own child, and sometimes even the emotional toll it would take with any decision we make. It goes without saying, I obviously want to make my husband the happiest man possible, but at what cost will my body have to pay?
I have always been the type to make jokes and be silly to cover the pain I feel emotionally everyday. Some may see it as me just being positive so we can call it that! ;) I told my husband that the positive of me not being pregnant...he won't have to deal with the hormones that come with pregnancy, he won't have to listen to me complain about my body changing, and he won't have to run out in the middle of the night to get ice cream, or whatever it is I might crave. More positive notes, I can, for once in my life, really focus on me. I can finally take the time to make my diet the way I know it needs to be and the way I want it to be as well as focus on getting the body I have always dreamed of having without anything holding me back, including carrying extra weight to make sure we could conceive. He laughs at my jokes of course but I can't help but feel that I'm still being so selfish because I know his dream as well as mine.
At this point all we know to do is turn to prayer. We pray for God's will in our lives. We have started searching for devotions to help us cope and we have learned to rely on each other. We have to be the strength where the other is weak and pray for each other as well as our future!
Given the information the doctor told us and knowing how much my dear husband wants a child as much as I do I often feel selfish. I'm not sure I'm willing, at this point, to risk putting my body through the stress it would undergo with the IVF treatment, with the risks of carrying our own child, and sometimes even the emotional toll it would take with any decision we make. It goes without saying, I obviously want to make my husband the happiest man possible, but at what cost will my body have to pay?
I have always been the type to make jokes and be silly to cover the pain I feel emotionally everyday. Some may see it as me just being positive so we can call it that! ;) I told my husband that the positive of me not being pregnant...he won't have to deal with the hormones that come with pregnancy, he won't have to listen to me complain about my body changing, and he won't have to run out in the middle of the night to get ice cream, or whatever it is I might crave. More positive notes, I can, for once in my life, really focus on me. I can finally take the time to make my diet the way I know it needs to be and the way I want it to be as well as focus on getting the body I have always dreamed of having without anything holding me back, including carrying extra weight to make sure we could conceive. He laughs at my jokes of course but I can't help but feel that I'm still being so selfish because I know his dream as well as mine.
At this point all we know to do is turn to prayer. We pray for God's will in our lives. We have started searching for devotions to help us cope and we have learned to rely on each other. We have to be the strength where the other is weak and pray for each other as well as our future!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Unfortunate News
Starting at a young age, a girl dreams of two days, her wedding day and the day she has children. For many years I've always worried about my chances of conceiving, as well as being able to carry my own child safely. Being diabetic and having hypothyroidism, doctors were already concerned with the safety of me along with how safe the pregnancy would be for the baby. We had began trying to conceive December 2012 and in April 2013 we discovered why it wasn't working when I was diagnosed with lupus. When I was diagnosed with lupus this added an entire new level of concern. There are two types of medicine to help control lupus symptoms, one is safe for young patience still wanting to have children in the future, the other not so safe. Currently, being that I am only 25, the doctors want me to try the "safe" medicine to hopefully have the chance at having a family in the future.
Before even discussing the new dangers of pregnancy with a doctor, Paul and I discussed the many issues we may face in the future and what options we have and want to consider. Of course there is adoption, surrogacy, freezing embryos, and we even discussed not having children at all, which we both agreed we didn't want to not have children. We asked the doctor what her thoughts were about freezing embryos to have stored in case to allow me to still carry our child later, even if the medicine had to be changed. She agreed with freezing and storing the embryos but referred me to a specialist to find out more details. Being a fan of the reality show, Giuliana and Bill, I presented the idea of a gestational carrier, or surrogate. If I can't safely carry our child, we could possibly freeze embryos to later have implanted into another willing and able body to carry for us.
All of these options range anywhere from $10,000-$50,000, which we knew would take a financial toll on us but we were willing to sacrifice to be able to have our dream of a family. We finally met with the fertility specialist and got some not so fortunate news. First, he informed us of the extreme danger my life as well as the baby's life would be in if I tried to carry myself. Diabetics alone can go into labor as early as 29 weeks, which decreases the chance of the baby surviving, as well as putting my life in great danger to the point it could kill me. Hypertension is dangerous for pregnancy as well and can also cause premature birth and even more issues for the mother. The lupus could possibly flare up mid-pregnancy due to the stress it places on the body causing possible birth defects from the medicine as well as, yet again, premature labor. So what now?
"Is freezing and storing embryos a better route for us to go?" We asked the specialist. He told us we could try but for two perfectly healthy individuals the freezing of embryos is a 50/50 chance of success and ours would be a great deal lower. He told us I would need to get off most of my medicine to retrieve the eggs not to mention the IVF I would have to take could also make me relapse and push me back in accomplishing remission. He told us it wasn't completely out of the question but he would run some test and see if he could even retrieve my eggs.
We had a lot to think about and pray about. Knowing my health issues could be passed down to our children is a major concern if everything else went smoothly. We need a great deal of support and prayer to help us in this decision making over the next few months as we decide what our future would look like.
Before even discussing the new dangers of pregnancy with a doctor, Paul and I discussed the many issues we may face in the future and what options we have and want to consider. Of course there is adoption, surrogacy, freezing embryos, and we even discussed not having children at all, which we both agreed we didn't want to not have children. We asked the doctor what her thoughts were about freezing embryos to have stored in case to allow me to still carry our child later, even if the medicine had to be changed. She agreed with freezing and storing the embryos but referred me to a specialist to find out more details. Being a fan of the reality show, Giuliana and Bill, I presented the idea of a gestational carrier, or surrogate. If I can't safely carry our child, we could possibly freeze embryos to later have implanted into another willing and able body to carry for us.
All of these options range anywhere from $10,000-$50,000, which we knew would take a financial toll on us but we were willing to sacrifice to be able to have our dream of a family. We finally met with the fertility specialist and got some not so fortunate news. First, he informed us of the extreme danger my life as well as the baby's life would be in if I tried to carry myself. Diabetics alone can go into labor as early as 29 weeks, which decreases the chance of the baby surviving, as well as putting my life in great danger to the point it could kill me. Hypertension is dangerous for pregnancy as well and can also cause premature birth and even more issues for the mother. The lupus could possibly flare up mid-pregnancy due to the stress it places on the body causing possible birth defects from the medicine as well as, yet again, premature labor. So what now?
"Is freezing and storing embryos a better route for us to go?" We asked the specialist. He told us we could try but for two perfectly healthy individuals the freezing of embryos is a 50/50 chance of success and ours would be a great deal lower. He told us I would need to get off most of my medicine to retrieve the eggs not to mention the IVF I would have to take could also make me relapse and push me back in accomplishing remission. He told us it wasn't completely out of the question but he would run some test and see if he could even retrieve my eggs.
We had a lot to think about and pray about. Knowing my health issues could be passed down to our children is a major concern if everything else went smoothly. We need a great deal of support and prayer to help us in this decision making over the next few months as we decide what our future would look like.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Merlot Pork Chop Recipe
Cooking with wine sauce is dangerous for individuals watching their sodium intake. Cooking wine is loaded with salt to make it taste better in the food and if you use regular wine to cook with, often times it makes the food have a bitter taste. Being Italian, many recipes call for cooking wine...so how exactly can I modify these recipes and make it healthy for me to enjoy? My mother-in-law discovered a new line of cooking seasonings and sent us a box full of healthy goodies for us to try. One of the seasonings is a merlot sauce made by Tastefully Simple. this sauce has a full merlot flavor but not the crazy amounts of sodium like other cooking wines.
This sauce can be used on a variety of different meats but remember red meat needs to be limited, or in my case never eaten unless for a special occasion. For this recipe I use pork chops, I prefer the small cut boneless ones the most. After the chops thaw out I poke holes in the meat, shake some minced onions on both sides, and then pour the merlot sauce on both sides. I usually try to let this sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow it to marinate.
While I wait for the meat to soak up the great flavor I start my side items. I like to make baked sweet potatoes with the pork chops and some sort of green vegetable, we will use asparagus for this dinner. Sweet potatoes are full of potassium, so I have to be careful not to have too much, but is also a great fat burning food to assist in losing weight (of course if you don't load it full of brown sugar). I wash the sweet potatoes, put a small amount of butter in some foil, and wrap the sweet potatoes in the foil, the butter helps keep the potato from drying out. I set the oven on 400° for usually about an hour because the sweet potatoes are so large. While the potatoes cook I wash and prepare the asparagus. If you like a crisper texture, place the asparagus on a cookie sheet in a thin layer, season with lemon, pepper, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice and let them bake on 375° for about 10 minutes and then check them. Another way I like to make my asparagus is in a skillet and saute them with basil, garlic, parsley, and pepper. The asparagus doesn't take long so wait until the meat and potatoes are almost finished before you start them to prevent them from getting cold.
To cook the pork chops, we love to use the grill but also have a grill pan that is used on the stove top. It still gives the meat the beautiful grill marks and taste wonderful but doesn't have that grill flavor. The pork chops are not that thick so we keep flipping them until the center is white which usually only takes about 10 minutes total. Lastly, I top my sweet potato with cinnamon, which is also great for many things-like helping lower blood sugar.
To find this delicious sauce plus other great seasonings that are healthier visit:
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/dmajkowski
This sauce can be used on a variety of different meats but remember red meat needs to be limited, or in my case never eaten unless for a special occasion. For this recipe I use pork chops, I prefer the small cut boneless ones the most. After the chops thaw out I poke holes in the meat, shake some minced onions on both sides, and then pour the merlot sauce on both sides. I usually try to let this sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow it to marinate.
While I wait for the meat to soak up the great flavor I start my side items. I like to make baked sweet potatoes with the pork chops and some sort of green vegetable, we will use asparagus for this dinner. Sweet potatoes are full of potassium, so I have to be careful not to have too much, but is also a great fat burning food to assist in losing weight (of course if you don't load it full of brown sugar). I wash the sweet potatoes, put a small amount of butter in some foil, and wrap the sweet potatoes in the foil, the butter helps keep the potato from drying out. I set the oven on 400° for usually about an hour because the sweet potatoes are so large. While the potatoes cook I wash and prepare the asparagus. If you like a crisper texture, place the asparagus on a cookie sheet in a thin layer, season with lemon, pepper, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice and let them bake on 375° for about 10 minutes and then check them. Another way I like to make my asparagus is in a skillet and saute them with basil, garlic, parsley, and pepper. The asparagus doesn't take long so wait until the meat and potatoes are almost finished before you start them to prevent them from getting cold.
To cook the pork chops, we love to use the grill but also have a grill pan that is used on the stove top. It still gives the meat the beautiful grill marks and taste wonderful but doesn't have that grill flavor. The pork chops are not that thick so we keep flipping them until the center is white which usually only takes about 10 minutes total. Lastly, I top my sweet potato with cinnamon, which is also great for many things-like helping lower blood sugar.
To find this delicious sauce plus other great seasonings that are healthier visit:
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/dmajkowski
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
When I grow up...
In high school, individuals are asked to think about their future and make huge decisions at such a young age. Where will you go to college, if you decide to go that route, what will your major be, what job are you hoping to acquire after college, what does the future look like to you and what goals are you wanting to achieve? Of course seven years ago I did not see my life where it is now. I decided I wanted to go into the fashion industry, probably in marketing, hopefully be working for my Bloomingdale as a buyer, or something very lavish where I live and breathe all things fashionable. Once in college and coming up on the time to declare my major I realized I needed to focus, think realistically, and really think about what my short and long term goals were. I've always enjoyed helping people, working with children, and obviously fashion. I decided to study early childhood education because I realized I could help students learn, possibly be the only positive role model in their lives, and hopefully help change their mind about school and learning-so many children have learned to dislike school and learning and I even became one of these students at a young age, why not change this?
During my last two years of college I had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing teachers Coweta County had to offer and learned so much from each of them. The last year I was able to stay with the same teacher the entire school year and considered her my mentor. She was a veteran teacher and I knew I would learn so much more from her, even more than I already had learned. After college I wasn't able to have a job lined up due to the uncertainty of where I would be living while my future husband was deployed. I decided to substitute while he was deployed and then moved to North Carolina, where I was hired on with DODEA as a substitute in dependent schools. I worked with special needs often and was working with Pre-kindergarten through second grade students. I absolutely loved working with the special needs children to the point they became my "babies". I became sick a week before the school`s spring break and was hospitalized for almost the entire week of spring break. I wasn't well enough to finish the school year with substituting but was still on the list for the next year. When discussing work with my doctor she informed me that I could go back to work, which I was afraid my new found illness would hinder me, as long as I wasn't around small children because of the auto-immune disease. WHAT? Working with small children is my job, what my degree is in, and what I love. So what now...?
Thankfully, I am well enough to start back substituting this new school year but I am considering going back to school for a career change. I have had several months and a lot of time to really think about what I want to be "when I grow up" and how my goals, short and long term, have drastically altered. But what exactly can I do that still allows me to help people and not expose myself to the germs the young children can give me? Then I remembered how frustrated I got during each diagnosis because no matter what dietician I met with, I left feeling as confused as I was before the appointment and still didn't know what I could and couldn't eat. So this is one option, I can help patients like me come up with a healthy new diet hopefully allow these patients the confidence that I lacked with eating. Another option I considered was to study physical therapy. After watching my sweet husband deal with all of his war related health issues and having to visit physical therapist for months at a time I realized they help people restore their body to the condition it was before, or as close as they could at least. Many of these options I consider would take an extended amount of school again but I am willing to do what it takes to accomplish a new goal that is safe for me to live in everyday.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated for this as well. :)
During my last two years of college I had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing teachers Coweta County had to offer and learned so much from each of them. The last year I was able to stay with the same teacher the entire school year and considered her my mentor. She was a veteran teacher and I knew I would learn so much more from her, even more than I already had learned. After college I wasn't able to have a job lined up due to the uncertainty of where I would be living while my future husband was deployed. I decided to substitute while he was deployed and then moved to North Carolina, where I was hired on with DODEA as a substitute in dependent schools. I worked with special needs often and was working with Pre-kindergarten through second grade students. I absolutely loved working with the special needs children to the point they became my "babies". I became sick a week before the school`s spring break and was hospitalized for almost the entire week of spring break. I wasn't well enough to finish the school year with substituting but was still on the list for the next year. When discussing work with my doctor she informed me that I could go back to work, which I was afraid my new found illness would hinder me, as long as I wasn't around small children because of the auto-immune disease. WHAT? Working with small children is my job, what my degree is in, and what I love. So what now...?
Thankfully, I am well enough to start back substituting this new school year but I am considering going back to school for a career change. I have had several months and a lot of time to really think about what I want to be "when I grow up" and how my goals, short and long term, have drastically altered. But what exactly can I do that still allows me to help people and not expose myself to the germs the young children can give me? Then I remembered how frustrated I got during each diagnosis because no matter what dietician I met with, I left feeling as confused as I was before the appointment and still didn't know what I could and couldn't eat. So this is one option, I can help patients like me come up with a healthy new diet hopefully allow these patients the confidence that I lacked with eating. Another option I considered was to study physical therapy. After watching my sweet husband deal with all of his war related health issues and having to visit physical therapist for months at a time I realized they help people restore their body to the condition it was before, or as close as they could at least. Many of these options I consider would take an extended amount of school again but I am willing to do what it takes to accomplish a new goal that is safe for me to live in everyday.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated for this as well. :)
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Is Anything too Hard for God?
Strong...how do you define this word? Physical strength? Mental or psychological stability? What about tough? I've been told I am strong and tough however some days I feel like the weakest and most selfish person I know.
With lupus, everyday can present a new ache or pain, new levels of exhaustion, and often times great fear of relapse. Many people do not realize how extremely painful lupus can be. The disease itself attacks your organs, sometimes focusing on one particular organ alone. Certain movements and activities can sometimes cause unexplained pain. When I was first diagnosed and starting my medicine I had terrible pain in my feet, ankles, an elbows. The pain was so severe I could barely walk at some points but would go as fast as it came and I would be able to walk fine a few minutes later. My elbows would hurt so bad that brushing my hair would kill me and vacuuming was out of the question. Lately, working out has made the pains go away however, while I've started to increase the weight I've experienced excruciating pain under my ribs to the point of being doubled over. This alone scared me to the point of tears because of fear that the lupus is relapsing. This pain I have been experiencing is identical to the pain I had before I was diagnosed but never went to the doctor about. How do you explain some random pain that you aren't really sure where it is exactly or what causes it to a doctor? And just because you have a pain doesn't mean you run to the doctor every time. Many times we have unexplained pain and discomfort so I just told myself that's all it was. This time I knew better. I called my doctor after three days of the pain during lower body workouts with my concern. She said she's worried about exhausting myself to the point it can push me back in my remission. One word came to mind, SCARED!
The religious side of me knows nothing is, nor ever will be too hard for God but the flesh, human side of me struggles with the understanding of his purpose many times. It's a humbling thought to know I have been part of God's plan and upper story from day one, as small and "unimportant" I am to this world but I have to remind myself I am important and part of the great master plan for a reason. As hard as it is to swallow, diseases and illnesses all happen for a reason and I'm excited to see what the future holds for me and my life. I've had so many people tell me that God can heal me and can cure my body of all these autoimmune diseases...as strange as it may seem, I feel like God doesn't want me "healed". Sometimes it's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he can, although I know it's possible, but I feel like I'm a better witness and story for him with these issues and struggles I deal with on a daily basis.
Daily I pray for guidance and daily, I feel like God has provided more opportunities than I could ever imagine on my own, whether it be to just make it through the day without having a pity party, which does happen-not often but it does, or by giving me the opportunity to help someone with my story.
I love reading and have begun searching for really great devotions to help me when I'm having a weak moment. One great friend has already recommended one. I would appreciate your feedback as well! :) That's all for tonight. Goodnight!
With lupus, everyday can present a new ache or pain, new levels of exhaustion, and often times great fear of relapse. Many people do not realize how extremely painful lupus can be. The disease itself attacks your organs, sometimes focusing on one particular organ alone. Certain movements and activities can sometimes cause unexplained pain. When I was first diagnosed and starting my medicine I had terrible pain in my feet, ankles, an elbows. The pain was so severe I could barely walk at some points but would go as fast as it came and I would be able to walk fine a few minutes later. My elbows would hurt so bad that brushing my hair would kill me and vacuuming was out of the question. Lately, working out has made the pains go away however, while I've started to increase the weight I've experienced excruciating pain under my ribs to the point of being doubled over. This alone scared me to the point of tears because of fear that the lupus is relapsing. This pain I have been experiencing is identical to the pain I had before I was diagnosed but never went to the doctor about. How do you explain some random pain that you aren't really sure where it is exactly or what causes it to a doctor? And just because you have a pain doesn't mean you run to the doctor every time. Many times we have unexplained pain and discomfort so I just told myself that's all it was. This time I knew better. I called my doctor after three days of the pain during lower body workouts with my concern. She said she's worried about exhausting myself to the point it can push me back in my remission. One word came to mind, SCARED!
The religious side of me knows nothing is, nor ever will be too hard for God but the flesh, human side of me struggles with the understanding of his purpose many times. It's a humbling thought to know I have been part of God's plan and upper story from day one, as small and "unimportant" I am to this world but I have to remind myself I am important and part of the great master plan for a reason. As hard as it is to swallow, diseases and illnesses all happen for a reason and I'm excited to see what the future holds for me and my life. I've had so many people tell me that God can heal me and can cure my body of all these autoimmune diseases...as strange as it may seem, I feel like God doesn't want me "healed". Sometimes it's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he can, although I know it's possible, but I feel like I'm a better witness and story for him with these issues and struggles I deal with on a daily basis.
Daily I pray for guidance and daily, I feel like God has provided more opportunities than I could ever imagine on my own, whether it be to just make it through the day without having a pity party, which does happen-not often but it does, or by giving me the opportunity to help someone with my story.
I love reading and have begun searching for really great devotions to help me when I'm having a weak moment. One great friend has already recommended one. I would appreciate your feedback as well! :) That's all for tonight. Goodnight!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Lemon pepper recipes
With my recipes, I use my Paula Dean skillets almost every night and sometimes all three sizes. If you don't have a good set I highly recommend investing in some great pans because it can determine how your food turns out. 🍳 Most of my recipes take about 25 minutes for preparation and cooking time total which is great because my husband doesn't eat the same thing. I usually cook two separate meals every night.
Lemon pepper is a very common seasoning for many types of food like wings, fish, chicken, etc...the only problem, it's very high in sodium. For people with hypertension, this is a problem! Also, if you are trying to lose weight too much sodium in your diet makes you retain fluid which, in turn makes the scale read higher 👎. My recipes using lemon pepper are modified for people trying to lower blood pressure, lose the water weight, and still be able to have that yummy lemon pepper flavored food! 🍋
First, decide what type of protein you want, my personal favorite is tilapia but I also use chicken, salmon, and flounder sometimes. Use all natural extra virgin olive oil in the bottom of the pan with the protein, some lemon juice, and fresh ground pepper to taste. If you want to still use the delicious lemon pepper seasoning, use only a pinch and sprinkle on each size of the protein...very lightly though. I also put garlic powder or fresh garlic on top along with fresh basil, from my garden, and parsley flakes. I usually cook the protein on medium heat and let it get a nice golden brown color on each side. Just because you can't have sodium doesn't mean your food has to be flavorless!
While the protein is cooking, I start my veggies. My usual vegetable choice consist of zucchini and squash but if I have asparagus, snap peas, okra, bell peppers, etc...I throw all of it in there with the all natural extra virgin olive oil again. Remember, the more color on your plate the better it is for you! To add some extra flavor I also use garlic, sweet Vidalia onion, basil, parsley, lemon juice, and fresh ground pepper. I let my veggies sauté until they are tender and starting to brown. You can also use this same recipe but add a lid and a little water to the pan. This will steam the veggies rather than sauté them. If I have cherry or grape tomatoes, when the vegetables are almost done, I throw a few in the pan and roll them around to get the great flavor on them but don't leave them in as long. They get a nice roasted flavor without making them soggy or tomato paste.
Lastly, presentation is key. Humans eat with their eyes first and decide before the first bite if they will like it or not. My food pictures turn out great because I take time to arrange the food in a way the person eating it can't wait to dig in. The last step before serving the dish, I top it with a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and voila! Dinner is served. Enjoy 🍴
Lemon pepper is a very common seasoning for many types of food like wings, fish, chicken, etc...the only problem, it's very high in sodium. For people with hypertension, this is a problem! Also, if you are trying to lose weight too much sodium in your diet makes you retain fluid which, in turn makes the scale read higher 👎. My recipes using lemon pepper are modified for people trying to lower blood pressure, lose the water weight, and still be able to have that yummy lemon pepper flavored food! 🍋
First, decide what type of protein you want, my personal favorite is tilapia but I also use chicken, salmon, and flounder sometimes. Use all natural extra virgin olive oil in the bottom of the pan with the protein, some lemon juice, and fresh ground pepper to taste. If you want to still use the delicious lemon pepper seasoning, use only a pinch and sprinkle on each size of the protein...very lightly though. I also put garlic powder or fresh garlic on top along with fresh basil, from my garden, and parsley flakes. I usually cook the protein on medium heat and let it get a nice golden brown color on each side. Just because you can't have sodium doesn't mean your food has to be flavorless!
While the protein is cooking, I start my veggies. My usual vegetable choice consist of zucchini and squash but if I have asparagus, snap peas, okra, bell peppers, etc...I throw all of it in there with the all natural extra virgin olive oil again. Remember, the more color on your plate the better it is for you! To add some extra flavor I also use garlic, sweet Vidalia onion, basil, parsley, lemon juice, and fresh ground pepper. I let my veggies sauté until they are tender and starting to brown. You can also use this same recipe but add a lid and a little water to the pan. This will steam the veggies rather than sauté them. If I have cherry or grape tomatoes, when the vegetables are almost done, I throw a few in the pan and roll them around to get the great flavor on them but don't leave them in as long. They get a nice roasted flavor without making them soggy or tomato paste.
Lastly, presentation is key. Humans eat with their eyes first and decide before the first bite if they will like it or not. My food pictures turn out great because I take time to arrange the food in a way the person eating it can't wait to dig in. The last step before serving the dish, I top it with a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and voila! Dinner is served. Enjoy 🍴
Monday, August 5, 2013
Dreaded Doctors
Let's be honest, no one likes going to the doctor, especially when usually it only means finding out more bad news. Well today had a follow up with both, my rheumatologist and nephrologist, both in one day, YIKES! Luckily, the rheumatologist, my lupus doctor, said all my lupus levels were normal and I wouldn't have to see her again for three months! Thank goodness! I then went to my nephrologist, which manages my kidney disease (I really don't mind seeing her at least), and she had pretty good news as well. I have been extremely anemic for quite some time, which, if you don't know, can cause you to feel tired all the time...I am finally in normal range for my iron count! Hallelujah! About two months ago, my potassium levels were dangerously high to the point that, while I was in California for a wedding I had to immediately find a lab to draw more blood to recheck the levels...my potassium level is better than ever at 3.9 now! My creatinine and kidney function were also normal...except one problem....my protein count has gone back up to over 2,000 again, which is what it was about four months ago before going into partial remission. The doctor didn't seem to be as concerned as I was about this reading because she said it can be caused from working out as much as I do. As long as I don't begin to swell again or feel bad the protein isn't as concerning she said. The levels will be checked again in four weeks to find out how the protein levels are and hopefully we see improvement. To be in full remission from kidney disease my protein level has to be around 500. About a month and a half ago it was at 800. I know everything happens for a reason, I just wish I could understand things sometimes. Good news, I still feel better than ever, still going to the gym everyday, and still eat clean. If you don't take care of yourself, you are the only one that will suffer and feel bad. I tell myself this all the time when I really don't want to take 19 pills a day or I just want to eat something bad...it will only hurt myself!
That's all for today! Recipes of my favorite meals soon to come!
That's all for today! Recipes of my favorite meals soon to come!
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