U R what U eat-Lesson 1

 

07.01.05 (8:17 am)   [edit]

A couple weeks ago, my daughter decided that she was going to try the "veggie only" type lifestyle. I am guessing she had got the wild idea from a friend. We know how the teen fads work.

She stuck to it better than I expected. She had salad and fresh fruits and veggies. I had explained the importance of protein, so she got her protein from nuts and peanut butter. I forewarned her that she would feel the effects if she starved herself of nutrients.

About 10 days into project veggie, she starts feeling yucky. Tummy ache, head ache and weakness. Sleeping all the time to escape the tummy ache. Pissy whiney attitude to boot.

So I encourage her to eat. I am asking her for a run down of what she has eaten. The responses I get are that she has not eaten because she was away with a friend, going out to eat and nothing on the menu fit her eating style so she would have a salad.

We aren't rabbits. We can't survive on rabbit food. Hence her misery. Now that I have been a mom for a few years, I know that insisting she eat will meet with resistance and defiance. So I continue to monitor her and drop suggestions on how she will feel better.

By day 14, I am done with it all. She is miserable. She is struggling to get around. It is obvious that despite her drama queen manner, this is no act. We had all gone to the park, on returning home it took her forever to get up our 3 flights of stairs. She flops on the couch and I swear she was delirious. By now I am totally over it. So as she wallows on the couch, I proceed to heat up some left over ham. Knowing ham is her weakness hehe

I recite “Eat the Pig!  Eat the Pig!”

I force her to eat the pig. It was hard for her because she felt so miserable, but she cooperated before she fell asleep. 2 hours later she awakes and low and behold, the headache is almost gone. The tummy ache has nearly vanished and she has color back in her cheeks.

It took another 2 days of eating a balanced diet for her to feel like herself again.
Amazing how much damage can be done by the food choices one makes. We are what we eat.