When I learned I had breast cancer, I got serious about my health. I knew that I needed to change my lifestyle and incorporate more healthy foods in order to give myself the best chance at preventing a recurrence of this terrifying disease.
The real challenge for me has been finding recipes that both would benefit my health and please my family. In the process of discovering what needed to be done in order to improve my health, I uncovered that fact that I am also allergic to dairy products and eggs. Before giving up cheese, I was addicted. My goal was to incorporate recipes into our lives that would eliminate any residual cheese longing.
Giving up dairy for health reasons turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Little did I know that the majority of the migraine and sinus issues I had suffered from for years were a result of the allergies to dairy with which I was plagued. Simply by cutting out dairy and eggs, the occurrence of migraines dropped substantially. Plus, I stopped needing the Afrin nasal spray to which I had been addicted to for years.
To optimize my health, I wanted to get serious. I cut out processed foods, refined sugars and anything containing white flour. My meals now consist mostly of organic ingredients and I make them from scratch. No additives, no preservatives, no saturated fats. Only pure ingredients and heart healthy fats like those found in olive oil, avocados and wild caught deep-water fish, such as salmon. One step I took to improve my health was taking fish oil supplements.
Through trial and error, I realized that combining elements from both the raw food and vegan lifestyles, I could come up with workable food choices that would meet all of our needs. On my website, Cheap Healthy Meals, I discuss the reasons that I chose to model both vegan and raw lifestyles as well as share recipes that I have adapted or developed that quite my health concerns and please my family as well.
