I've moved!

I am now using blogging at:
http://rd-tobe.blogspot.com/

Need a reason to try (or get back into) yoga? I found 38!

I will admit that I suffer from the inability to keep up a regular practice of one of my greatest loves-yoga. Sometimes it takes the onset of body aches and pains, or slight feelings of hopelessness, to make me realize that it's time to get back on the mat. Although I know that these things could be prevented if I only kept up a regular practice, I still struggle. For me, it's the fact that my current financial situation and schedule prevents me from attending classes on a regular basis. I crave the motivation of someone telling me what to do, the surprise as to what is coming next, and the energy of practicing with a group. However, the benefits of practicing yoga are undeniable, and are even beginning to be studied for their ability to treat and prevent disease. This article , from Yoga Journal, provides ample proof that yoga really can benefit every body.

Here are some ways I plan to incorporate yoga into my lifestyle:
1. Increase my library of yoga videos
2. Attend the free (donation based) yoga class that is offered through one of my local studios any time I'm off on a Sunday
3. Check out Yogatic.com on a regular basis. Esther always has new, and free, yoga videos on her website. Plus, she's adorable :)

How do you incorporate yoga into your daily lifestyle? What benefits have you experienced that made you a believer?

Vegetarian..for a day

I was recently inspired by an article that I read to look up some vegetarian recipes. Apparently there is a (not so) new movement called "Meatless Mondays" in which people eat vegetarian once a week. I think this is a good idea for several reasons. First off we, as Americans, eat way too much meat. The average (healthy) person requires about five to seven ounces of meat per day (that's the size of about 2 decks of playing cards). However, most of us eat at least twice that much every day. I think we could use a little break, if only once per week.
There are plenty of great substitutes for meat, and I'm not just referring to the soy based products that are made to resemble it visually. Any type of bean is the perfect substitute for meat, including one of my favorite legumes-peanut butter. In addition, nuts and seeds provide enough protein to be considered meat "substitutes" plus they pack on added benefits like vitamins, minerals, and essential (good) fats.
Some might argue that these sources are not good substitutes for meat because they don't provide complete protein, meaning that they do not contain all 9 essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein). However, those that are missing can be easily obtained from other commonly eaten foods-most notably grain products such as bread and cereals. Contrary to former beliefs, these foods do not have to be consumed at the same time to achieve this balance.
Another great reason to give the vegetarian thing a try is to incorporate more variety, which could make for more exciting meals. For example, when I searched for recipes I found several with Greek, Middle-eastern, and Indian flair-things I would not normally think to make.
Finally, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) published an evidence based position paper stating that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." Well, that's definitely enough proof for me!
I decided to have my meatless day on Sunday this week. My breakfast is normally vegetarian, so there was no change there. For lunch, I tried a chickpea taco recipe that I found on the Vegetarian Times website. I did add cheese as a topping (I'm going vegetarian, not vegan here-don't think I could give up the cheese!). They were quite delicious!
For dinner, I made a vegetarian pizza. I used my usual whole wheat pizza dough recipe, and topped with pesto sauce, spinach, broccoli, sliced tomato, mozzarella, and feta cheese. Yum!
I definitely did not miss the meat. I am going to continue this tradition weekly, and try a new recipe every week. Don't worry-I will share the vegetarian recipe love here.
Have you heard of the "Meatless Monday" movement? Are you up to the challenge of giving up meat once a week (or more)?

Match Day

My hand was literally shaking as I clicked refresh over and over again. I watched the seconds count down to when I would know my future. I can't believe it all comes down to this-all the work I have done-just to find out from a website how I will spend the next year of my life. Then I get to the final seconds and, of course, the page hesitates and takes several seconds, which felt like hours, to refresh. And there it was:

I am pleased to inform you that you have been appointed (computer matched) to Bowling Green State University Distance Education.

All I really had to see was the "you have been appointed" part and I could breathe again. At least I had something. But then I realized that I had received my number one choice! Even better!

Why thank you for informing me, D&D digital, that I will be able to move on rather than just sit idle for the next year until there's another chance to apply.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some celebrating to do.

A walk in the park!

My "core and more" class is on break this week, so I am going to have to get motivated to exercise on my own.
The weather is finally nice enough to walk outside again, and I couldn't be happier! I don't know about you, but I get totally bored exercising indoors. There's just so much more to look at outside! I am lucky enough to have a nice park less than a mile from my house, so that's where I usually go. It's not a huge park, but if I circle around a couple of times I figure it's about 3 miles including the walk there and back. There were a lot of other people out for a Tuesday morning, which is always nice to see!
Even walking outside can sometimes get monotonous when you do it often enough. I'd rather walk with a friend, but of course that's not always possible. I really rely on my music to get me through it. Today I started out with some Death Cab for Cutie, which you might think isn't upbeat enough for walking, but somehow it worked. Then for the second half of my walk I rocked Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor album. I grew up on songs like Lucky Star and Borderline (showing my age here) and a lot of her newer stuff doesn't really make the cut for me...but this album totally rocks!

What's your workout "soundtrack"?

The countdown has begun!

In exactly two weeks I will find out the news about my internship! I can't wait-this is going to be the longest 14 days ever. For those of you out there who are not dietetic students, the internship is what stands between me and becoming a registered dietitian and they are extremely competitive to get. In fact, so competitive that last year only half of those who applied got one. So it's really my future I'm waiting to hear about! Scary, huh?

So, I will just have to try to keep my mind off things by trying out new recipes :)

I am a real sucker for would-be sinful foods turned healthier. This pasta carbonara recipe used nonfat Greek yogurt to make a creamy and delicious, but light, sauce. I used half the amount of pasta the recipe calls for, and I still had a ton of leftovers. I also used fat-free half & half since that's what I had on hand. It worked just fine and turned out great. And, it was Matt-approved, even with turkey bacon!

Here's the recipe ,from Self.com.
















I thought it needed a little extra something on the side, so I served with some roasted asparagus. I drizzled a little olive oil, salt and pepper and placed in the oven at 425 degree for about 15 minutes, then sprinkled with a little Parmesan when it came out. Delicious!

Spring Break Wrap Up

I certainly had every intention of posting each and every day during spring break this week. I did, however, remember to take pictures of some of the new dishes I tried out so I can offer those now! Better late than never, right?

Pollo Montecristo From Self.com
This was a really good recipe! Self.com is one of my new favorite sources for recipes. They don't have as many available as Cooking Light, but those I have tried so far have been great.












Spaghetti with Chicken and Thai Peanut Sauce from CookingLight.com
YUM! Ever since I have taken a liking to Thai cuisine, I have wanted to duplicate the chicken pad thai that we get from our favorite restaurant. I have to say, this came pretty darn close! It was also not too difficult to make. I did have to invest in some fresh ginger, but I just bought a tube of the minced that I found in the herb section of the grocery store. Well worth it, because I will definitely be making this again and again.












Baked Goat Cheese and Roasted Winter Squash over Garlicky Fettuccine from CookingLight.com


I honestly wasn't sure about this one-that's why it sat untouched in my "saved recipes" file on Cookinglight.com for so long. I was really glad I finally tried it though, because it was actually quite good. A bit labor intensive-I have to say, one of my least favorite activities is cutting up winter squash-but well worth it. I don't know why I sat on this one for so long...how can you go wrong with goat cheese?!













We also had a couple of excellent dining out experiences. Last Saturday, we went to the new Mai Lee (Vietnamese cuisine) that opened in Brentwood near Hanley/Eager. It is the same restaurant that used to be near Delmar and 170, but boy has it improved! The menu was still very similar, but with a few new options. We have always been a little intimidated by their menu because there are soooo many choices. This time, we asked the waitress for suggestions and the ones she gave were great. Matt had steak with a peppery sauce and I had chicken with vegetables. Yummy!
Here's their website


Last night I was craving Greek food, so I searched for a new restaurant to try. Instead I came up with a great little Russian place (which I never realized is actually very similar to Greek) in Webster Groves called Dvin. It was the most adorable and charming place, run by a mother and daughter. It's so small I have never even noticed it before, but I'm so glad I found it! The food was absolutely wonderful. They don't have a website, but their menu and address is posted here

We got the Armenian dip as an appetizer, I got the meat blinztes and Matt had a pork steak which was served with mashed potatoes. Everything was awesome, and the prices were very reasonable-I can't wait to go back and try more!

Have you had any interesting food adventures this week, either inside our outside of your kitchen?

Renal Diet - Final Reflection

Aside from the obvious goal of gaining empathy for patients on this diet (which I did), the most positive aspect of this experience was the fact that it forced me to go outside of my comfort zone and try some new foods that I don't normally include in my diet. I found some new recipes that I will definitely keep around! I also realized that I don't have to be perfect and follow the rules I have established for myself all the time. For example, I started this blog as a challenge to myself to meet the MyPyramid recommendations every day for a month. I gained some really good habits from that which I have tried to continue as much as possible. However, on this diet, I was not able to do so seeing as I wasn't allowed to have any whole grains or anywhere near an adequate amount of milk products. And guess what - I didn't die and neither will anyone else who doesn't meet their recommendations every day. It is great to follow those recommendations for a general healthy lifestyle, but when you're on a diet for a major medical issue that becomes much more important. It's better to keep your kidney function and avoid dialysis than to have your 3-a-day dairy servings!

The most negative aspect of this diet was the difficulty of meeting my goals, especially for protein. It was stressful for me to try my best to follow the restrictions but still wind up going over. Perhaps I was obsessing over the numbers a bit - I suppose the important thing is that I made the effort and definitely included less protein than I normally would have had. Another negative aspect was being hungry all the time. I am not used to being starving between meals, at least not to the extent that I felt so on this diet.

I have learned some important things through this experience and definitely have some tips I might share with patients in the future.

1. Rice milk-not worth the money. I paid nearly $4.00 for a small carton and hardly used it all week. I did not find it to be a good substitute for milk at all, and it made my pudding flop. It's better to just stick to 1/2 cup of actual milk every day and just plan the rest of your meals without it.

2. The Davita website! What a great source for recipe ideas. And they were all submitted by RD's :) (not that I am biased). There are lots of other great resources on there too, including information about renal disease, blogs, and support from peers through discussion boards.

3. Don't be afraid of fat. It is the one thing you get to eat that will keep you full on this diet! I had to get over my "fat phobia" this week and add more than I normally would have.

4. Spread out your fluid consumption. If you have a cup of coffee in the morning, don't also have juice with your breakfast. Take sips of water throughout the day rather than drink it all at once.

5. You seriously have to limit your meat servings to stay within the allowance for protein. I'd recommend only having meat at one meal so it looks like a decent size portion.

Thanks to those who followed me this week, and to Matt for being supportive and always being open to trying the foods I make!

Renal Diet - Day 7

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast (8am):

8 oz cup coffee

2 tbsp fat free half and half

1 1/2 cups Special K Blueberry cereal

1/2 cup skim milk

6 oz glass of blueberry pomegranate juice

I went back to the Speciak K cereal this morning, despite the fact that the last time I had it I almost passed out a few hours later! I had a bigger serving this morning but still only used a half cup of milk. I'm not too into milk by itself anyway, I just use it to moisten. I never did try the rice milk in cereal. I used it all up last night in an attempt to make pudding from it, which did not work out at all, by the way. I made the instant kind and even used less rice milk than the directions call for (a tip I saw on Davita)-but two hours later the pudding still had not set. So much for my big idea of using rice milk as a milk substitute this week.

Snack (11:30am):

6 unsalted crackers

2 tbsp whipped cream cheese

I made it until 11:30 for a snack today-hooray! But I was pretty hungry by then. Instead of having my normal "at work" snack of a muffin, I went with something that includes fat so hopefully I'll be able to feel full longer.

Leftovers for Lunch (1:30pm):

3 oz pork chop

1 cup lemony rice pilaf

3/4 cup asparagus

I walked again during lunch today, this time inside at the fitness center. I was just starting to feel very hungry as I was finishing up on the treadmill after 45 minutes. It was better than realizing I was dying of starvation and still being a half mile away from my lunch! By the way, this meal was just as delicious the next day.

Snack (4:30 pm): Not much different from yesterday

8 oz cup of coffee with 2 pkg coffee mate non-dairy creamer

6 vanilla wafers

Dinner: the final challenge!
From Chinese Express, affectionately titled "the Blue Hut" (right by the big Amoco sign near 40 and McCausland):
Egg drop soup
Buddhist Delight (about 2 cups veggies) with 3/4 cup steamed white rice
2 crab rangoon

I realized tody that I had actually made it through the entire week without going out to eat, so when Matt suggested chinese for dinner I was definitely up for it. Our favorite chinese place does not look like much from the outside (or the inside), but I really believe their food is better than some of the more upscale places in the area. I usually order the broccoli chicken, but tonight I went for the Buddhist Delight all veggie dish since
I already had most of my meat servings for the day. The food here is not very salty as one would expect- especially not this dish. The egg drop soup is great too, and even has pieces of FRESH tomatoes in it. Now, I find that impressive! Chinese food is actually not a horrible choice for the renal diet. There are already no milk products (unless you count the cream cheese in the crab rangoon) and most places use white rice anyway. You just have to watch out for the sodium, but if you have done well all day you could probably get away with it.


Dessert:
1 slice strawberry bread (from Davita again) : http://www.davita.com/recipes/Rice,_pasta_and_breads/a/1762
3 tbsp Cool Whip Lite

This bread was super easy to make. I actually substituted apple sauce for 3/4 of the oil. It turned out great!









Misc. H2O Record:
10 oz (morning/early afternoon)
6 oz (afternoon)
8 oz (early evening)
4 oz (with dinner)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1947 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1830 mL out of 1861 mL allowed
Protein: 75 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 1113 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 2952 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 3192 mg out of 3000 allowed

Well, these numbers show that I was not very compliant today, but I am going to rate myself as good because I'm still not sure I totally trust this analysis. I stuck to the plan today and even had less of my meat servings than I was supposed to. I am positive that the sodium was not this high based on my tastebuds, and lack of being able to enter the exact items I ate at the restaurant into MyPyramid. But hey, it's the end of the last day! I survived the week!

Renal Diet - Day 6

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast:

8 oz cup of coffee

2 tbsp fat free half & half

1 pkg (1 oz) cream of wheat, made with 2/3 cup rice milk

1 tsp Smart Balance Light

1 tsp honey

2 tbsp dried mixed berries (blueberries, cherries, raisins and cranberries)

a generous sprinkle of cinnamon

I'm still trying to like the cream of wheat. It was better with the dried fruit, but the texture is just so grainy! Two more days and I can go back to my oatmeal :)

"Second" breakfast:

blueberry muffin (1 1/2 oz)

small hardboiled egg

I had a late "second" breakfast at work, because I knew I was walking again today and would need the energy.

Lunch:

1 1/2 oz turkey on 2 slices white bread

1/2 oz slice colby jack cheese

1 oz Baked Ruffles potato chips

1 small apple

Despite my attempt to eat closer to when I was going to walk, I was still super hungry when I returned. I was talking with a friend in the office today, and she said she was gaining more sympathy for our renal patients by reading about my experience. It's pretty cool that the patient empathy is even reaching beyond me!





Late afternoon snack:
8 oz cup of coffee (regular mixed with french vanilla latte)
6 vanilla wafers

I was getting really tired by late afternoon, so I grabbed a little coffee to have with my cookies. Our french vanilla latte is a no-no for our renal patients, I guess because there is milk powder somewhere in the mix, but I probably only used about 1/4 of a cup of it. It makes a nice flavoring for our lovely hospital coffee (really, it's not that bad when it's fresh but I couldn't wait until they made a new batch).


Dinner: More goodies from Davita

3 oz Baked Pork Chop - http://www.davita.com/recipes/Meats_and_seafood/a/617
1 cup Lemony Rice Pilaf - http://www.davita.com/recipes/Rice,_pasta_and_breads/a/1284
3/4 cup asparagus, tossed in olive oil

These recipes were awesome. I have been eating more pork lately (my Jewish half is disappointed, I think) and am always looking for new ways to prepare it. I will definitely keep this one on hand. The rice was perfect with it, and of course asparagus is always good. I tossed it in olive oil, sprinkled with a little salt and pepper, and baked at 350 for about 15 minutes. I added a little Parmesan cheese and lemon juice right before it was ready.

Misc. H2O record:

6 oz (morning)
12 oz (afternoon/early evening)
10 oz (with dinner/evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1788 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1370 mL out of 1861 mL allowed
Protein: 68 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 1022 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 1963 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 2489 mg out of 3000 allowed

My compliance was very good today. I was within my limits in all categories except protein, but I've realized that's nearly an impossible feat.

Renal Diet - Day 5

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast:
8 oz coffee with 2 Tbsp fat free half and half
2 frozen blueberry waffles (about 1 oz each)
3/4 cup blueberries and strawberries (thawed from frozen)
1 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light
1 Tbsp lite syrup
1 tsp powdered sugar
1/2 cup orange juice

I can't believe it's day 5 already!! I waited until about 10am to eat breakfast this morning, since I'm working today and won't get lunch until around 2. I was absolutely starving, but that was to be expected. I know orange juice is a no-no (high potassium) but I've restrained from it all week, and I only had half a cup.




Lunch:
1/2 cup chicken salad (from http://www.davita.com/recipes/Meats_and_seafood/a/404 )
1 tbsp whipped cream cheese
on 2 slices of white bread
12 baby carrots with about 1 tbsp whipped cream cheese













I could not wait until 2 to eat today, plus we were having a meeting at that time so I decided it would be better to not be starving at that. The chicken salad recipe came from the Davita website again, and it was very good. Matt even had some for lunch at home today and had good feedback about it. I was so disheartened about eating the carrots that by the last six, I actually started dipping them in the cream cheese! Looking back on it, it wasn't really very good but sounded more palatable than eating them plain at the time. Plus, I was starving! My yummy waffle and fruit breakfast just did not hold me over the way that my oatmeal with bananas usually does on work days.

Snack:
1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail with 1/2 cup of its juice (pear juice)
9 vanilla wafers



I went for a walk today during lunch, outside! It was so much better than going to the workout room on the boring treadmill. The wind was still a bit chilly, but I just walked faster and warmed up. When I got back, it was time to start answering phones but I had to eat my snack between calls because I was definitely starving again after that walk.



Another quick snack:

6 unsalted crackers


I had the sense to grab something just in case I got hungry again before the end of the evening. I thought, surely our hospital kitchen has something for renal patients! I saw the saltless crackers sitting there and thought that would be perfect. I held out until nearly 7, and was really glad I had them at hand.


Dinner: another good one from Davita!
http://www.davita.com/recipes/Meats_and_seafood/a/2698


1 pita bread
2 tbsp BBQ sauce
1/2 cup diced cooked chicken
1/4 cup feta cheese
2 cups salad (bagged, Asian style) with 1 tbsp dressing





These BBQ chicken pitas were amazing! I will definitely make them again, even when I'm not a "renal patient".

Dessert: no more Jell-o, please!
1/2 cup raspberry sherbet
3 tbsp cool whip lite












I went back to sherbet tonight, but added the Cool Whip because I've really taken a liking to it. Somehow, it makes it more special :)

Misc. H2O record:
4 oz (morning)
16 oz (all day, at work)
8 oz (evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1640 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1440 mL out of 1861 mL allowed
Protein: 56 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 971 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 2533 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 2495 mg out of 3000 allowed

I would say my compliance was very good today! This was the closest I have come to my goal on protein all week, and although I was over on potassium (could that orange juice this morning have done me in?) I was well within my limits on everything else. Plus, I tried two new recipes that were tested and approved by someone not following this diet. So, hooray for me!

Renal Diet - Day 4

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast: Giving the cream of wheat another go
8 oz cup coffee
2 tbsp fat-free half and half
2 pkg (1 oz each) instant cream of wheat cereal, made with 2/3 cup water and 1/2 cup rice milk
added: 1 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light, 1/2 pkg Equal, and cinnamon
3/4 cup canned fruit cocktail

I used less fluid in the cream of wheat to make it thicker, like oatmeal, and it was a lot better. It's still not "hearty" enough for me, but what can you do. The Smart Balance and cinnamon actually gave it a pretty good flavor, and I'm hoping the addition of fat helps me feel a little fuller. I probably should have used the regular Smart Balance though, since the "Light" is called that for a reason.



Snack: Pre and post workout
Pre: 6 oz apple juice
Post: Fiber One bar


I had weight training class again today, but instead of the bagel I just brought a Fiber One bar, which is my normal snack after workout. According to the label it only has 2 g of protein, as opposed to 4 in half of a bagel. It's more satisfying too, because of the fiber. The label doesn't show potassium or phosphorus content, and I doubt the exact food will be in the food database on MyPyramid-but oh well. Protein is my main concern because that's where I keep going over.
I was absolutely starving again by about 10 minutes before class ended. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but I was really glad I actually brought something that might fill me up.

Lunch: Nothing too exciting
Turkey sandwich on white bread:
1.5 oz Healthy Ones turkey
1/2 slice colby cheese
3/4 cup cooked baby carrots
1 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light (on bread and carrots)
3 vanilla wafers (an afterthought...not pictured)

Snack: Well, now I've done it!
8 oz chai tea

Matt and I went for a walk in Kirkwood today and stopped by Kaldi's for coffee. I ordered a Chai tea, thinking here's a good choice, it's just spiced tea. I didn't realize that chai tea is tea brewed in milk (and I thought I was being good not ordering a latte!). It was very good, though. However, I've probably blown the diet for the day since I already used my "milk allowance."

Dinner: Something new for a change!
Chicken and Apple Curry
from: http://www.davita.com/recipes/Meats_and_seafood/a/3009#
4 oz chicken breast
1/2 cup sauce (made of onions, apples, garlic, Smart Balance, chicken broth, rice milk, flour)
1/2 cup potatoes
3/4 cup rice


I was really feeling at a loss as far as what I should make for dinner the next few nights. I went online and found some really great recipes for renal patients on the Davita website. They even say whether each recipe is good for pre-dialysis, dialysis, and diabetic patients (or all of the above). This curry turned out pretty well, and it's something I would have made anyway. I added the potatoes for Matt, but I had to have a few of them. I limited it to a half cup, though.

Dessert: Jell-o again
1/2 cup cherry Jell-o with 2 tbsp Cool Whip Lite


Misc. H2O record:
4 oz (morning)
8 oz (late morning/early afternoon)
4 oz (afternoon)
8 oz (evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1924 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1830 mL out of 1861 mL allowed
Protein: 76 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 1156 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 2547 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 3271 mg out of 3000 allowed

I would have to say that I wasn't very compliant today, and rate myself as poor. I went over pretty badly on protein, potassium, and sodium and came pretty close on phosphorus. I kind of messed up with that chai latte, but boy was it good. I am, however, beginning to question the nutrient analysis I've been using because I added up the calories in my breakfast myself as I was making it (yes I do that kind of thing), and MyPyramid told me it was about 200 calories more than it should have been. So, I wonder how accurate it is after all. I don't know if I'm going to be able to put all of this into a more reliable analysis program before Monday, so I'm just going to have to go off of this.

Renal Diet - Day 3

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast: blueberries are my new best friend
8 oz cup coffee with 2 tbsp fat free half and half
1 cup Special K blueberry cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk and 1/4 cup blueberries
1 slice white toast with 1 tsp Smart Balance Light



I tried Special K because it's one of the cereals allowed for renal patients at the hospital. When I looked at the label, I saw that it's very low in protein and potassium, so I suppose that's why. I decided to use my 1/2 cup of milk serving for my cereal today. I wasn't sure if just the cup of cereal would be enough (it's very low calorie, they market it as a weight loss product of sorts), so I made a slice of toast to go with it.

Snack: Need...sugar....now
4 oz apple juice

I was so hungry by 11 am that I was actually feeling shaky! Maybe I didn't eat enough calories for breakfast, or it just wasn't filling enough. Either way, I felt like I needed something right away or I wouldn't make it until lunch!

Lunch: A sense of normalcy

1 cup rotini pasta tossed with:
1 cup steamed (from frozen) peas and carrots
1 1/2 tbsp pesto sauce
1 tbsp (imitation) lemon juice
1 tsp shredded Parmesan
a dash of pepper



This is pretty similar to a meal I would normally have, so it was very welcome. The only difference I would have made would be to use whole grain pasta and a little more Parmesan cheese. Sometimes when I make this I add chicken too, but I'm saving all of my meat servings for tonight.

Snack: In need of more sugar?
9 vanilla wafers

I went to the store hungry (never a good idea, right?) to get dinner for tonight, and went down the cookie aisle (also never a good idea when you're hungry). I was going to get some graham crackers, but when I saw the vanilla wafers they sounded good for some reason. Like white bread, I also haven't had vanilla wafers in about 15 years. They are nice and sugary though, and do the trick. They are also low in protein (1 gram lower than the graham crackers-bonus!) and cheaper too. I must be getting hungry so often because on this diet I am eating a lot of simple carbohydrates-or refined grains. Therefore everything is lower in fiber and protein-both things that aid in keeping you full. I'm seriously thinking of adding some metamucil to my next glass of water because I don't like this feeling of starvation between meals!

Dinner: A burger without the cheese
4 oz sirloin burger patty
Healthy Life white bun
1 tbsp ketchup
1 cup steamed asparagus
1 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light



Oh, what a sad fate for a burger to be without its cheese! Am I being a bit dramatic? Well, I used my 1/2 milk allowance for my cereal this morning-so I had to forgo the cheese. I was not willing, however, to give up the ketchup! It would have been much too dry without it-perhaps even a choking hazard. At least that's my excuse. One tablespoon can't make too much of a difference anyway. I was happy, at least, that one of my favorite vegetables was on the low potassium list. I love asparagus, so I wasn't even jealous that Matt got to eat potatoes with his burger.


Dessert: I really am reverting back to childhood!
1/2 cup cherry jell-o
2 tbsp Cool Whip Lite

Misc. H2O record:
8 oz (morning)
8 oz (afternoon/early evening)
10 oz (evening/dinner)
8 oz (evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1524 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1650 mL out of 1861 allowed
Protein: 69 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 893 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 1839 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 2960 mg out of 3000 allowed

My compliance was very good today. I saved all of my meat servings for dinner so I could have a normal sized hamburger, but I still went over on protein. I'm not sure how much less meat I could really eat. I'm guessing the little amount of protein in other foods really add up, or something isn't coming up right in the analysis I'm using (MyPyramid Tracker). Since it doesn't give me the breakdown for each food, and it's usually impossible to find the exact food item in their database, I'll either have to trust it or try another source. Well, I'm pretty proud of myself today anyway. Oh, and I had an interview this afternoon that went very well. So that's something to be proud of too :)

Renal Diet - Day 2

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast: Okay this isn't so bad
8 oz. cup of coffee with 2 tbsp fat free half and half
2 frozen blueberry waffles with 1 tsp. Smart Balance Light, 1 tbsp lite syrup, 1/2 cup (frozen/thawed) blueberries & strawberries, and 1/2 tsp powdered sugar
1 oz. turkey sausage patty

This morning I skipped my glass of water and went straight for the coffee. That way I can save my liquid consumption for later today when I will need it (I'm working out today). My breakfast was more like something I would have as a treat in my "normal" life. I actually felt pretty full afterward because blueberries and strawberries contain a good amount of fiber.




Pre and Post workout snack
before-6 oz glass apple juice
after-1/2 bagel with 1 tbsp whipped cream cheese

I had my weight training class today. I figured if I drank my juice right before I would have enough energy and hydration to make it through. I still had a few sips of water here and there, but I only drank about 8 oz total by the time I got home (I measured what I put in my water bottle, then checked how much was left). I have noticed that bagels really don't fill me up that much. I ate it before I went to my next class, but I was really hungry halfway through. I would have rather had my banana or FiberOne bar like I usually have.

Lunch
1 TJ's Masala (Indian spice) veggie burger patty
1 slice white toast
1/2 slice mozzarella cheese
1 cup steamed (frozen) mixed peas and carrots
1 tsp Smart Balance Light

I'm not really sure how great this was for this diet, but I had a masala veggie burger patty from TJ's. All I could really tell from the box was that it was low in protein (1 g) but a little high in sodium (440 mg). It's strictly made from veggies, not soy, but I know there are potatoes in it so it might have been high in potassium. I'm thinking it will be unlikely that I'll find the exact product in the nutrient database, so I'll probably just have to use something similar. I put it on one slice of white toast, since I didn't have any buns and two slices seemed like too much.

A Greek Feast Slip-up

We had some visitors in class tonight who showed us how to cook some authentic Greek cuisine! We made roasted lamb, spinach, rice, and cheese stuffed filo dough pockets. Forgive me for not remembering the actual names of the foods. It was really hard to restrain myself, but here's what I sampled:

1 small chunk (cube) of feta cheese
1/4 cup rice
1 tbsp of cooked spinach
a 1 ounce piece of lamb
1 filo pocket
1/4 cup Greek style yogurt with honey and walnuts
Everything was wonderful! I suppose this is one of those "unexpected" situations that can't really be planned for. I think the guests would have been upset if we didn't try the foods they made.

Dinner: What a sad looking plate
3 oz chicken breast
3/4 cup cooked (from frozen) corn
1 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light
1 tsp imitation lemon juice

Since I had all those snacks in class, I just made some simple chicken and steamed corn for dinner. I sauteed the chicken in Smart Balance and lemon juice, and also added some to the corn. The plate just looked so empty! But I didn't really want to eat anything else. Plus, I'm pretty sure I totally blew the diet for today.




Snack: Sweet Craving-I couldn't resist
3 Chips Ahoy Reduced-fat chocolate chip cookies

Misc. H2O record:
8 oz (late morning/afternoon)
8 oz (late afternoon/early evening)
18 oz (evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1672 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1470 mL out of 1861 allowed
Protein: 81 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 1317 out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 1947 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 3343 mg out of 3000 allowed

I'd say I my compliance was fair today-I was over in 3 out of 6 categories. The protein is really confusing me the most. I did not eat that much more meat than I was supposed to, so it must be coming from other sources. I think the bagels might be a problem. According to the package one bagel has 9 grams of protein-so every time I eat a half it's 4.5 grams. I did much better with spreading out my fluids today, in fact so well that I don't think I drank enough. That might be why I was feeling hungry-maybe I was mistaking it for thirst. Maybe what I need is a "drinking schedule."

Renal Diet - Day 1

I am undergoing these dietary restrictions for the purpose of a project meant to teach patient empathy which will last for one week. I am not suggesting that anyone follow this diet unless it has been prescribed by their physician.

Breakfast-cream of wheat and oatmeal are not created equal!

8 oz cup coffee
2 tbsp fat free half and half
1 pkg equal
1 pkg cream of wheat cereal made with 2/3 cup water, with 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup rice milk, cinnamon and 1/2 pkg equal
1 large egg fried in 1/2 tsp Smart Balance Light
6 oz glass apple juice

This was a tough morning to start my diet. I had an internship interview which I was totally nervous about, and changing up my morning routine was even more nerveracking. I just wanted to have my usual bowl of oatmeal, but made cream of wheat instead. I had never tried cream of wheat before today-it is nothing at all like oatmeal! I made the packet with water and thought I'd add some rice milk to it (another new one for me). After opening the rice milk though, I realized I should have just made the cream of wheat with that instead of water. It was not creamy at all-in fact, it was even more watery than skim milk (and I like skim milk!). It's flavor was sweet though, which is why I think I'll use that next time instead of water. I do not think the rice milk would be a good substitute for half and half in my coffee either, so I stuck with my usual 2 tablespoons of fat free half and half. I don't think it will make that much difference in my diet, but I will verify using nutrient analysis.

Lunch-white bread?!?
grilled turkey and mozzarella sandwich on white bread with pesto sauce:
2 slices white bread
1 tsp Smart Balance Light
1.5 oz deli turkey
1/2 slice (1/2 oz) mozzarella cheese
1 tsp pesto sauce
1 cup raw baby carrots

This was the first time I have had white bread in probably ten years! I thought if I made a grilled sandwich, I would miss the cheese less (only 1/2 cup of dairy is allowed per day on this diet). I tore up the half slice and distributed it over the turkey so that it would melt together. I also added some pesto sauce for extra flavor and calories, hoping the fat will help me feel fuller. I still feel a little hungry. I will definitely be packing a snack to bring with me to school today. The carrots were good, but not a great substitute for my usual potato chips. Those baked ruffles were staring me in the face as I put the carrots on my plate! I know I can have them in small amounts, but I am going to try to be very restrictive for my first day and see how I'm doing.



Snack-I'm starving! (no picture-forgot to bring my camera):
1/2 plain bagel with 1 tbsp cream cheese
1/2 cup applesauce with cinnamon

I brought my snack to school with me, but I left it in the car and didn't get to eat it until 4:00. I was absolutely starving! In fact, it's almost 7 now and I'm starving again. Oh, and by the way I'm also watching my fluids, which are usually another way of helping me stay full longer. I have to stay between 1595 and 1861 milliliters per day (one for each of my calories), which translates to just under 8 cups of fluid per day. I've already had close to six, because I have to count all liquids-not just straight water. Maybe I should cut down on my morning beverage consumption tomorrow morning, since the first thing I always do is drink a glass of water, then a cup of coffee, and then a cup of juice.

Dinner-finally!
1 cup steamed white rice, made with about 1 tsp Smart Balance Light
1 1/2 cups mixed stir-fried veggies
1.5 oz chicken breast
1/2 tbsp reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup raspberry sherbet for dessert

I was so hungry by dinnertime. We don't usually eat until around 8 because that's when Matt gets home from work. I made a stir-fry to disguise the fact that I was only eating 1.5 ounces of chicken. I picked through the veggies and got mostly peas and green beans, less broccoli (even though that's my favorite!) but it is very high in potassium. I was so hungry I even ate the parts of the stir fry I would normally push off to the side-the water chestnuts and red peppers.
























Misc. H2O record:
6 oz (morning)
8 oz (mid-morning)
12 oz (afternoon)
8 oz (evening)

How compliant was I today?
Total calories: 1587 out of 1861 allowed
Total fluids: 1740 mL (7.25 cups) out of 1861 (or 7.75 cups) allowed
Protein: 57 g out of 53 g allowed
Phosphorus: 902mg mg out of 1200 mg allowed
Potassium: 2221 mg out of 2127 mg allowed
Sodium: 2596 mg out of 3000 allowed

I did pretty well, and would say my compliance was very good-I followed my meal plan exactly and still ended up high on protein. I knew that aspect would be the most challenging.
I have a huge headache right now, which I'd love to blame on the fact that I've been hungry all day and haven't had enough water-but I was awfully stressed out this morning with that interview. Tomorrow is another day!

An endeavor in patient empathy

Next week I will be beginning an endeavor in patient empathy. Well, actually it's an assignment for school-but doesn't the term "endeavor" make it sound more exciting?
I have chosen to follow a pre-dialysis renal diet for one week, and will be journaling my experience here.
The purpose of the pre-dialysis renal diet is to ease the amount of stress put on the kidneys in hopes of restoring their function. The diet limits the amount of protein, calories, fluids, sodium, potassium and phosphorus that a person can consume.
This diet is very different from my own, and will be a challenge for me in many ways. First, I will not be able to consume whole grain products since they are high in protein. Milk products are also a problem not only because they provide too much protein but because of their potassium and phosphorus content. I strive to consume only the most nutritious fruits and vegetable, but these are often the highest sources of potassium. I will have to strictly limit some of my favorites, like broccoli, sweet potatoes, bananas, and orange juice. Also, sadly, my nightly treat will be affected. Both chocolate and frozen yogurt are restricted. I am going to have to find a new dessert for the week!
Today I am planning to go shopping for many of the staple items I will need throughout the week. I will most likely plan meals around these items.

My renal diet grocery list:

grains (refined only):
Cream of wheat cereal
bread
bagels
pasta (not whole grain)
Frozen waffles

fruit:
frozen blueberries and strawberries
apple juice
canned fruit
applesauce

veggies:
baby carrots
frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, asparagus)

meats:
chicken
lean ground beef

dairy (substitutes):
rice milk
non-dairy coffee creamer

Other:
cream cheese
jello
sherbet or sorbet
pesto sauce

I hope you'll tune in this week and see how compliant I am with this diet restriction!

Renal groceries!

"You're not supposed to be eating that."

I have been studying up for internship interviews, and one of the sample questions I was given is:

If someone saw you eating a burger and fries and commented that "you're not supposed to be eating that." What would you say?

I thought this would be a hilarious, and strange, question to ask on an interview-mainly because at my house, we eat burgers and fries all the time! I suppose the expected answer to this would be that all foods can fit, and maybe something about the importance of portion size, etc. But for me, the real answer is: it's all about how you prepare it. First of all, I only use extra-lean ground beef (93/7). I mix it up in a bowl with a generous teaspoon of minced garlic, some dry oats (about 1/4 cup per pound of meat), a little pepper, some Mrs. Dash seasoning (my favorite is garlic, basil and tomato), and an egg white (to hold things together). Our fries are usually homemade, which is easier than you might think. Just slice up a couple of medium-sized potatoes (at fat or as thin as you like-but they thicker they are, the longer the bake time). I toss these with about a tablespoon of olive oil, garlic powder, various spices (I like basil and oregano) and a little salt and pepper, then bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until golden.

I served my burger on a whole wheat bun with a slice of reduced fat cheese and (a must for me) extra ketchup. A burger and fries is nothing to be ashamed of, especially if you prepare it right!

Taking time for yourself

I ran into an old friend last Saturday night who I haven't seen in awhile (she's also in school), and she told me about how she has, on many an evening, fallen asleep buried under homework and textbooks. It reminded me of myself, up until a few years ago when I made a promise not to let myself do that anymore. I would spend every waking moment (literally) studying. It made me lose sight of who I am. Although I am going to school to better myself and arrive at a career I love, that extreme level of studying was just not making things any better for me. I have found that I actually succeed more in school when I put myself on my schedule. What do I mean by this? I make time for the things I enjoy that make me feel good, and feel like me. I read (non textbooks). I work out. I do yoga.
After giving this advice to my friend last weekend, I realized that I have not been all that great at taking my own advice lately. I have three books sitting at my bedside that I have hardly touched the past few weeks, and I have not done an adequate amount of yoga.
I rolled out my mat last night and did a yoga DVD that I picked up from the library, which is almost due back. It was a bit slower of a practice than I usually go for, but that ended up being a good thing. I actually relaxed. What?!

































Then, before I went to bed, I read a chapter of one of those books that has been collecting dust at my bedside. Today I felt much more focused, and I actually feel like I accomplished more homework by getting up early after a good nights sleep than passing out in the midst of studying.
So, my suggestion to my friend, and you, is to take an inventory of the things you really like doing and place time in your schedule to DO them! Schedule everything else around that, and you will get more out of life.
What are you going to do for yourself this week?

13 Sun Salutations a day...

I just found out about something really cool, and had to share it. Apparently, there is a yoga challenge beginning tomorrow which involves doing 13 sun salutations per day until the end of the month. My local yoga studio sent me an email about it, and linked me to the group's website
Whether you've never done yoga before, or are a long-time practitioner like myself, this challenge is a great way to introduce you, or refresh your practice (and mine needs some refreshing lately!).The sun salutations are a sequence of about ten simple poses which can be done as slowly or quickly as you like. Although they are called "sun" salutations, this sequence can also be done in the evening-although it is a great way to wake your body up first thing in the morning. This video shows the most simple version, but there are lots of variations-the most important thing in yoga is to do what feels right to you.
I am definitely going to give this challenge a try, since I have been trying to get back into practicing yoga every day. Hopefully, this will carry over into the following month as well!
If anyone else is up for doing this, post a comment!
Happy yoga practice!
Namaste