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?