Showing posts with label foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foods. Show all posts

Friday, July 15, 2011

Food Friday- New Addiction



New non food addiction- art edits

 
New food addiction
 First I'll address my new photo- let's have fun- addiction.  Believe it or not both of these photos started out with the same shot.  It has been so hot outside that I have spent more time inside on my computer.  While alot of this extra time has been in reinstalling and organizing the data I put back on my computer after having to reinstall Windows, but I have also taken some time to play.  I have been playing with different aspects of the picnik.com editing program and learning how to fine tune some of the different aspects of the program.  I've been working with this because I don't have to download the program it stays on the Internet and therefore it does not take up memory on my computer; a big plus for a photo editing program.  Add the biggest plus is it's free and does some really cool edits.  They do have a premium program with more features for a small yearly fee, I just never felt the need to use the features on the premium plan.  But fun it is and there are so many variations that I could use it for a long time and still be having fun.  In fact I have to restrain myself from saving to many of the variations.  Fun, fun.
Now on to the new food addicton, since I have given up sodas, I have started to drink lots of herbal teas sweetened by Stevia in the Raw (check out the ingredients some stevia products have additives).  I drink a great variety especially those from Celestial Seasonings.  When I open the packages I put them in ziploc bags to save the flavor and also because they take up less room.  I have a good size container filled with these bags.

My collection of teas
 As you can see I really do have lots, most of them I drink for the flavor but I have also been researching medicinal teas and there are some that I drink for that reason.  I believe that they are slowly but surely helping.
Since so much of my life right now is taken up on developing new eating habits and having fun doing it I have decided to do a post on Fridays on my food lifestyle changes and the things that make this change easier and/or more fun.  That's the reason for for this photo as it shows some of the things I have found to be useful.  First is a wide variety of flavors so I don't get bored. Second is the teabag strainer cuz it keeps my fingers from getting burned when I squeeze out the tea bags after they steep. Third is the mesh tea ball as alot of medicinal teas come loose, not in bags. Fourth I had to make sure the containers I use to steep my tea have a big enough mouth so that the ball will fit in it I use Rubbermaid servin' saver bottle.  Its nice to use 'cause of the lid which keeps the flavor in while it steeps and I can use it to drink from when it's done with very little spilling.  Nice when your hands shake.  They also hold a two cups of water and since I like my tea a little stronger I can put 3 bags in the 2 cups instead of 1 bag per cup and then it can be heated in the microwave.
Fifth I also use insulated sports bottles for iced herbal teas, the ones shown holds the containers worth of tea plus the ice from one of the ice cube trays shown. Sixth is the flexible ice cube trays as they flex to get the ice cubes out easier and the cubes fit through the small necks of soda bottles and sports bottles.  And of course you have to have your favorite mug, mine is 'Winnie the Pooh' from the Disney Store.  I try to make everything as fun as possible.
Try some I think you'll like it.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lifestyle changes

Eggs Dijon
The seizures that I have been having have cause multiple drastic lifestyle changes.  I can not drive so I am basically housebound.  I carry my cell phone on my person constantly so I can call for help because even if there is someone else in the house once a seizure starts even with being conscience; I can not talk well enough to shout for help or walk well enough to go for help so I call our land line to get someone to help.  I now have to have someone in the house just in case. Hopefully this is only temporary, only until the seizures are under control.
Since the doctors tend to agree that at least in part this is due to all the medications I take, I am coming off some meds and changing others.  The doctors and I are working on using less toxic meds even if they do not work  as well and using supplements instead or to enhance the effectiveness of the less toxic meds.
This was causing havoc with my system until recently as I am now adjusting to the new medications.  In fact now I am starting to feel better than I have in quite awhile.
However I'm about to embark on a drastic lifestyle change; changing the way I eat.  All my research has mentioned that adults with seizures have been helped by a low carb diet.  After I check this out with a couple of my doctors and learn how to manage my insulin shots to control my diabetes I going to give it a try.  Of all the suggestions on meds and supplements this seems to be the safest alternative and beneficial in other ways too.  I want to make this diet as healthy as possible and if this may be a permanent lifestyle change I want to enjoy it.  To this end I have pulled out my cookbooks and am looking through them for new recipes and I hit up the library for low carb cookbooks.  I am having a delightful time looking for new and exciting ways to cook and recipes I might not have tried before.  I discovered that I can make this change and truly enjoy the process.  I think I had gotten into a rut with the way I was eating and instead of trying to adapt my old recipes I am going to find a new and delicious way to eat.  I love learning and am going to make this an exciting new voyage of discovery by trying a new recipe every day.    If I can figure out how to put my new recipes from my cookbook program to my blog; I will share them with you.  Even if you are not on a low carb diet you might enjoy the dishes anyway.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺