Oct. 7, 2009 - New Way of Eating

This fall has found our family on a new adventure with a different kind of eating.  With some of the issues my husband has been having with his Stills disease we were led to start investigating how foods relate to your heath.  It’s been quite an experience!

It all started back at homeschool family camp in late August.  Chris was on some pretty significant drugs and having some pretty big side effects and pain from his disease.  In talking with someone he met there she mentioned she had a lot of success in curing her Rheumatoid Arthritis through her diet.  He talked with her quite a bit and had some names of books she recommended that we went home with.

Well long story short, we did a lot of ready in a short amount of time and felt like this was an answer or at least a possible avenue God was nudging us towards.  Basically the ideas presented from multiple sources (books by Fuhrman, McDougall and China Study) all support that people who eat exclusively plant based diets have virtually no chronic conditions.  In fact they site many instances of people being “cured” of MANY chronic conditions through food choices.  It is really interesting reading even if you’re skeptical.

We are starting on our 5^th week of eating this way and so far we believe it’s helping.  The thing with his disease is that he has ups and downs so it will be hard to tell positively for awhile but it seems to be helping.  He’s definitely not getting worse (which he was day by day until we started this) and he has reduced his medications considerably.  He would like to be off them completely but they are not the kind of things you should quit cold turkey so it’s a weaning process.  I do believe this is an answer from God.

Now, do me a favor, if you’re a believer stop reading right now and just send a bullet prayer to God.  You see every time we give God glory in this area Satan attacks so your prayers will help cover us.  Thank you!

Okay, back to the issue at hand… 

Now the hard thing for me has been cooking for this!  Those that read my blog probably know I’m big into freezer cooking and my lifestyle is not real condusive to figuring out each day what we’ll eat that night.  Frankly it stresses me out!  So I’ve been on a search for recipes that will fit his new eating plan that I can make ahead!

Thankfully, I do now have a few in the freezer which will make my life SO much easier.  Last week I did 50lbs of potato’s in various ways (all that he can do) that are now stashed in the freezer.  If you want to know what to do with 50lb’s of potato’s check out this blog.  This time I modified that plan a little (vegan cheese, soy bacon crumbles etc…) but did essentially the same.

Another recipe I modified and created last night was Black Beans and Rice.  It was incredible!  I made a double batch so we’ve got one in the freezer but next time I’ll definitely make 4 or more!  Even non restricted eaters would love this one!

Black Beans and Rice (this makes two small or one large)

2 cans black beans drained

1 can of corn (or you could use frozen, I was out)

2 cups uncooked brown rice

2 jars salsa (I used one mild, one medium each 16 oz.)

1 jar spaghetti sauce (think this was 20oz, I used Vegan friendly kind but use what you like)

½ t. cumin

½ t. oregano

Combine all the ingredients and pour into a large 10X15 or two smaller casseroles.  Bake at 375 for 50-60 minutes (till rice is done.)  Either eat right away or cool and transfer to freezer bags to store for future meals!  I served shredded cheddar on the side and I didn’t have sour cream but that would be a great side topping too!