9 Months of Learning

Trip to California

Tomorrow Ethan turns 2 1/2 years old.  It's been about 9 months of living on a mostly whole foods plant-based diet.  What an interesting ride it has been.  We have learned so much it is hard to know where to begin.

Food
Ethan has been able to return to eating fish and cooked egg whites without issue.  Soy, beef, and egg yoke still are troublesome (dairy and nuts haven't been attempted) .  After months of trials with cinnamon we have confirmed it causes issues (bright red cheeks that are really hot to the touch and stomach pain).  Our pediatrician says an issue with cinnamon is more common than we think.  It still doesn't make sense to me.

Travel
On car rides to see family we meal plan and bring all of our food with us.  We've had too much trouble finding anything Ethan can eat on the road.  For longer trips/vacations, we are keeping to locations where there is a Whole Foods store.  They are very allergy friendly in the products they offer.  Without that store we struggle to find breads and other items that are dairy and soy free.

Cleaning
We changed all of our cleaning supplies and laundry soap to those rated well by EWG.org (Environmental Working Group) for the chemicals in them.  I was hoping this would eliminate the last of his eczema.  I haven't noticed any changes but will keep at it.  On a related note, I feel like my seasonal allergies are better with the change in cleaners.  The real test will be when April arrives.

Cleaners we use:
-50/50 mix of water and vinegar plus some citrus (vinegar sits in orange peels for a few weeks)
-Green Shield Surface Wipes
-365 Glass Cleaner
-Green Shield Laundry Detergent Free & Clear

Family Impact
My husband and I really enjoy the changes in our diet.  I feel much better eating this way as long as I stay away from simple carbs which can be vegan too.  It is easy to ignore the whole foods part of the plant-based diet when there are so many delicious vegan options out there for desserts.  My older children (Lillie 6, Vivian 5) get frustrated with the diet at times.  Discussions about how the food we eat is the fuel that goes to our muscles, brain and entire body seem to get us through tough times.  We talk about diet as it may relate to why my mother has Alzheimer's.  This seems to really help them understand.  Plus, on occasion, I sneak dairy cheese into their school lunches.

I see this trial of a whole foods plant-based diet as a long term one.  The more I read of Dr. Andrew Weil's work the more I see us following a modified version his food pyramid (ours would be eggs and fish as only animal proteins).  Will I still splurge on a local farms grass feed, humanely raised rib eye?  Of course, but rarely.  I really thought I'd miss some foods but with the right recipes it is a filling and delicious diet.

Next Steps....Sugar
Given recent headlines about Alzheimer's Disease being insulin resistance in the brain (Google "alzheimer's diabetes"), the amount of sugar in our diet is now more of a priority than ever.  We aren't big sugar consumers compared to the average American but we could still use some work in this area.  My life has been forever impacted by watching my gifted mother waste away into an infant-like state.  If providing a whole foods plant-based diet low in sugar gives my family a better chance at healthy aging then count me in.

1st haircut goes better with a snack.

I hope you have enjoyed my food therapy blog thus far.  I make no money and am clearly not in it for fame.  It provides an outlet for me.  If I've helped one other person dealing with similar issues it is worth the effort.