The Challenges of Eating Right With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sometimes a little meal planning once a week can go a long way. If you know what you are having for dinner in advance, there is no scramble to figure something out and settle for less healthy foods. Then you can break your meal preparation into steps throughout the day when you are feeling better. For instance, if you are planning to have green beans that night, get them ready in the morning right after your kids go to school. You’ll feel compelled to make them that night since it’ll be easier and you already put forth some effort. It works for me! Good luck.

A lot of people don’t like to cook, whether or not they are sick. Figuring out what works for you and how to eat healthy with your symptom mix is key. Buying a freezer, planning ahead, always having things on hand you can eat when nauseous, healthy foods that require little/no prep, and phone numbers for inexpensive delivery (restaurant or grocery, or even online shopping), etc. are all some good first steps.

Relaxing and not worrying so much about cooking gourmet, or the way that they do on Food Network, goes a long way in helping you to throw together something simple, and even meatless or cold food (like salads or sandwiches). The mindset becomes free, easy and light to just throw together something simple and tasty, without the guilt of not having spent hours in the preparation of something gourmet and elegant.

I love fresh veggies, but don’t have energy to clean pots. I love the steam bags they sell now. You just slice up fresh vegetables, zip them in the bag and microwave about two minutes. I don’t remember the brand, but you can find them in the sandwich bag section.

I’d like to eat healthier. I’m a single mom of a 2 year old and my fibro has just gotten worse over the past few months. I have heard of pacing and all that, but it’s hard to do with a 2 year old. Anyhow, I just thought of it… I know how exhausting it is to go to the grocery store. I used to LOVE it. Now, I dread it. With the pain, fatigue, and crying toddler, it isn’t so much fun.

A list is imperative because of the fibro fog. I try to do that as I run out of something. It sits on my frig and I just write it down.

But, just now, I was thinking… why not pick up a quick meal to do on grocery days. Either at a restaurant or a rotisserie chicken at the deli or pizza. Pizza or fast food one day out of the week when you have had a chance to plan good for at least most of the rest of the week isn’t so bad.

Trust me, I know it’s difficult. I’m still not practicing what I preach like I need to. But I did want to give encouragement to everyone!

Blessings,
Heather

I must admit that living alone means I don’t have as many distractions (although I also don’t have people to help me so much either). I have a sweet tooth, so I have to come up with ways to outsmart my sweet tooth and eat healthier.

I just lost my 2nd good career job in 2 years last winter, so now I use work on my recipe database and cooking as kind of a catharsis (gee, I really can do something useful after all!).

One thing I did this summer was buy a dehydrator (ca. $40, so it’s not terrifically expensive). I’ve been dehydrating fruits mostly, but I’ve also begun dabbling in vegetables and dehydrated yogurt. I plan to try jerky after the harvest season is over.

One nice thing about this is that it’s not terribly mentally taxing or difficult. I’ve even started giving some away! My brother really liked the dried cherries I gave him, and my massagist said I could pay her in dried fruit since I don’t have any money (my car insurance was due and I wanted to get all-weather tires while they’re on sale), so I brought her a jar of dried kiwis.

Also, another thing I do is use a Food Saver. I got it last fall before I had major spinal surgery, so that I could cook up meals and freeze them ahead of time, since I’d be coming home from the hospital with no one to help me at home.

Now I always have 1-2 weeks of frozen meals in the freezer. For a long time I’ve been cooking meals and eating it all week, but now I just eat a couple meals worth while fresh, and freeze up the extra portions. Doing this really helps lift stress off me, because if I’m feeling really crummy I always know there area homemade healthy meals in the freezer. And when I’m feeling better and have time, I can stock up again.

I’d say that the dehydrator and Food Saver have been really worthwhile investments for me.

One other thing I do is just to keep routines. I think this helps me control my weight too. For example, I have this jumbo glass of water in the fridge, which I always drink with my breakfast and lunch. And for breakfast I always have cold cereal and decaf coffee (with flavored syrup!). So I don’t even really think too much about breakfast at all, it’s so routine.

I am lucky because despite working full-time my husband does the grocery shopping and cooking on the weekends. He will make big batches of stuff so he can freeze meals for through the week. He also buys frozen meals that have the health check symbol on them so we know we are eating healthy even though it’s quick. If he gets home from work early one day through the week he will cook that day and leave the quick stuff for me to make. We always keep really quick stuff in the house like beans and weiners. Having that once in a while isn’t going to hurt anybody. I also get the Kraft magazine which has a lot of good recipes that are easy to make without a lot of fancy ingredients.
Another idea would be if you have family or friends get together and get everyone to make their favorite dish and divide it in to single servings. If there are 6 friends then 6 servings and share. Like a cookie exchange.