Life's Changes

[GrannyG]

It seems as we age, we also have to face so many new challenges and changes in life, and so it is with us....we love the land, love to grow our our food as much as possible, enjoy our animals, and now we have to learn to adapt to changes.Since Benny has started having heart and kidney problems,and surgery, brought him home yesterday, he will have to limit himself on the hard work he does, which can be hard for him, he is so independent and loves to do so much. I told him tonight I would drive the tractor to plow the garden this summer..."No, I can plow the garden"....Well, we will have to limit the chickens, you are going to have to eat egg whites mostly, and egg beaters..."I may just stop eating eggs altogether"....You know you have to drink skim milk now..."I hate that old Blue milk"...Well, if it is good and cold, you can handle it !...SILENCE...No more ice cream and cookies, cakes..."Well, I like sherbert"...I can fix you Angel Food cake...and Jello....He gives me that look...the evil eye one..."Well, maybe so"....No more chocolate for you, Mister !..You will have to watch serving sizes as well, one portion does not mean a whole bowl full of cereal..."Yeah"....No red meats, No more steaks, No ham, bacon or sausage, you are going to have to be a turkey man now...SNEER....'Well, I could have chicken fried steak twice a year maybe"..I have to laugh, he knows he will have to do this routine from now on...I have started a food diary and list his foods each day...I asked him if he wanted to read it..."Why ?" "I already know what I ate !" Oh yes, this is going to be so much fun !

[Tonnymonk]

Sorry to hear about his health issues, but I had to giggle at his responses! Reminds me of my grandfather when he has similar issues! Only his response was- "I'm 70 damn years old- I didn't get this old listening to someone else tell me what the hell I could and couldn't eat!"

Hope he adjusts well to his new diet and doesn't fight you too much on it!

[ghoststomper]

Sorry to hear about that, my thoughts are with both of you & with lots of love and laughter it will all work out fine .

[mckenzygirl]

Sorry to hear about the changes in eating habits.
I do have recipes for a healthy Heart. I could post recipes if you would like. I have a list of a few items to keep on hand and to cook with. I have recipes from Soup, Meat 'n Taters, Salad, Bread, Sweet tooth section Snack section and weight loss section. It could really help you out. And maybe help Benny not feel deprived, not having the good food! Just a thought, let me know! I'd be happy to post my recipes

[mckenzygirl]

Instead of Milk chocolate Benny could have dark chocolate. Instead of Ice cream, try "Ice Milk" For cheese use "Farmer's cheese"

[mckenzygirl]

Just another thought!
Maybe Pharmer Phil could make a section called Healthy Heart in the Home cooking?!!!!!

[GrannyG]

Thank you MickyG...would love to check out the recipes. I have been eating so much chicken, I told DH I had feathers growing on my rear...LOL...

[Pharmer Phil]

Grannyg, well, life is filled with change, I been through many myself...
I'm sure with your Love and help, ya'll make it through these tuff times, there is always friends, family and neighbors, things will get done, maybe not quite like you'd do em yerself, but good enough to get the garden in, and the harder chores...
As for the critters...
Benny will need to take it easy, However, he will need excercise and freash air.
Maybe not right now, but down the road he most likely he can still care for some things...just take it easy, my favorite sayin on this was from a dear old friend down home who'd had multiple heart attacks:
I can still do what I like, just can't go at it like I'm killin snakes.....
slow and easy Benny, wins the race

Back a few years I had my cholesterol checked right after my Pa died from heart disease...
it was 278
Doc put me on ona them "If it tastes good...SPIT IT OUT" Diets....

I was lucky, and still was fairly young, and otherwise healthy. I was able to walk hills and hollers fer a couple thhree miles a day..
I didn't follow the diet to the letter, but I read everything, and started my own version...

Think about "Small portions" more then anything...

Eggs, Nope couldn't eat eggs...but I did..ONE per week.

ham, bacon or sausage...
I did have ham, ifin the occasion arose..again, one small piece, once a week

sausage and bacon...well, I did eat TURKEY bacon...and I tell ya, You take ground turkey or chicken, add assorted herbs, sage, pepper, a lil salt...it makes a great sausage substitute..
TAKE MY WORD PHOLKS...the store bought Turkey sausage is...YUCKO...

Red Meat...Man o Man what am I gonna do with out a big juiicy prime rib...I snuck a small size piece once in a while But...

Learn the many ways to PREPARE that ROUND STEAK...yeah the stuff with no fat marbling....
smaller is better, if you slice it into thin strips, and get creative...it ain't bad.

Chicken...well, I LOVE the fried chicken, yummy fried chicken skin...(Hmmm, getting a mite hungry here)...
But I knew I couldn't have it...so, I would remove that skin...
and the cat got fat...

I'd place that chicken on a dish, sprinkle it with paprika, or cayenne and cover with wax paper...
and MICROWAVE IT...yeahm I know...but, it beats not havin chicken...and the pepper sorta makes it look BROWN...

You get used to it Benny, believe me...and On that subject,
yer milk

doc most likely wants you even lower den that BLUE MILK, he wanted me on 1%...
Now I'ma milk drinker, I can easily drink a quart at a meal, I restrain myself, back then, I'd havta stop myself from drinkin a half gallon at a sittin..of WHOLE MILK...
but this is what I did...
I went to the store and got 1/2% ...it was TERRIBLE...
I drink that fer two weeks...then...
I bought a gallon of 1%...
Ya know, after 2 weeks of the 1/2%...it tasted like whole milk ...try this to break the hold that the whole milk has on Ya...
I ate fudge bars, ya know them imitation, chocolate thangs..
and there is frozen custard, not bad at all, and like Grannyg said, there is sherbert...
Or eat a small portion occasionally of ice cream..again..Once in a while...

Laura awhile back, had a cholesterol reading of 269..on the advice of out 89 year old neighbor, she started eating and drinking honey and cinnamon...
She made a strong tea and mixed the honey and cinnamon in it, and we had honey and cinnamon on toast...she did this for two weeks prior to a check up...her chol. went from 269 to 172!!

Above all, KEEP YER SENSE OF HUMOR....

Mickyg...thats a good Idea...PM ME