Blame the Brownie?

I had so hoped that I had a new miracle headache cure.  For several weeks I've made a nightly date with Claritin and a week ago I decided to ditch my contacts in favor of some swanky new spectacles. Alas, another month; another migraine. It was worth a try. This year's general dampness certainly has created mold-related allergy issues for some folks with respiratory issues, and I have to say I'm breathing better at night overall. I'm also getting to the end of the day without tired, achy eyes. Both of these are quality-of-life improvements, but not a magic fix to the migraine issues. 

As every month nears its end, the migraines creep back no matter what I try, so consider yourself warned, America! Should I have finished off my almost-3-year old's chocolate chip brownie for him yesterday? Maybe this was not the week to fall off the non-chocolate wagon. On the other hand, tonight's predicted 20-degree temperature drop and possible storms means I'm also contending with the weather component that has no fix. Hiding inside in the air conditioning certainly makes me feel better than being outside in the humid air. Adopting a summer-long subterranean life would only work till the kids got hungry, though, so that's out. As for the glasses, well, I'm saving five minutes a day by not needing to clean contacts, so that's could turn into some helpful extra sleep, I suppose. 

As always, things could be worse. The intensity of my migraines seems less these days than it has in the past, so something is working. It's simply a mystery still in need of a solution. 

Coffee: It's Good for the Brain!

This morning I was flipping through Real Simple over my morning oatmeal and coffee and skimming the article on Brain Boosters. Any groggy, non-morning person will appreciate the appeal of suggestions aimed at improving mental sharpness. Low and behold, tip number two caught my eye as I sipped my caffeinated joy: "Drink Coffee." Well, sure! I'll say yes to any study that helps me justify my utter failure to give up coffee this year. The study cited in the article noted that "avid coffee drinking" (three to five cups per day) of caffeinated joe parallel less "cognitive decline." Why, we ask? The possible reason, and the reason I mention it here, is the magnesium present in coffee. Magnesium "decreases the chances of type 2 diabetes, an illness correlated with dementia. And a cup of joe is loaded with antioxidants, which help protect brain cells from free-radical damage."  Interesting to me is that I often hear recommendations to include magnesium supplements as a means to combat migraines. I regularly take a magnesium oxide supplement (Mag-Ox 400) on the recommendation of my doctor, and I've heard other magnesium formulations promoted from other sources as well. Coffee connection? I'm not sure. It may not be a good enough reason to drink more coffee, but it's certainly giving me a good reason to keep enjoying the coffee habit I already enjoy! 

The incredible bouncing migraine

Yesterday, I threatened to get my eyebrow pierced (not kidding if it really would work) to alleviate migraines. That, of course, didn't go over very well. There's also the little matter of the incredible bouncing migraine. Most of the time my headaches begin and centralize over my left eyebrow. It is not uncommon, though, for the pain to ease on the left size only to materialize later over the right eyebrow and then to fade and reappear over the left brow again. What is that all about? I asked a doctor once and even he had no answer to that mystery. Since I'm really, really not interested in two piercings and my headaches can't seem to make a commitment, I guess my modern trepanning approach is a no-go. 

Admit it, some of you are a little disappointed.  (And most of you are really, really relieved!)

Fortunately, it's a day of no crazy, stormy weather and the magic of Sudafed worked to kill of the lingering headache. Staid mom persona remains. Until next time...

A Clear Pattern: Dairy Products Lead to Congestion

No headaches to report today, thankfully, but I'm again noticing that dairy is at least mildly problematic. As I've mentioned before, I've dramatically cut back on my use of milk and cheese. When I do have dairy products in my meals, I notice their effects. Yesterday's foods included the cheese in my lunchtime lasagna and one small slice of pizza with mozzarella at dinner. By bedtime, I felt a congestion that used to be a nightly occurrence but has disappeared since I cut out the dairy. It definitely comes back when I have a noticeable amount of milk or cheese in the hours before bedtime. This is a mild stuffy-nose kind of complaint, but the pattern is very clear for me. I breathe better when I keep my dairy consumption to a minimum. Unfortunate, but true. 

Dining in Elmhurst, Greek Style

There was a moment of indiscretion with an ice cream sandwich yesterday evening, which could account for the mild headache that has been threatening all day. (It looked so innocent -- and yummy!) There's also been the threat of stormy weather all day, so lets blame any headaches on that instead, shall we? 

Wind and other complaints did not keep us at home this Father's Day, though. Since the weather report did suggest that thunderstorms were a possibility, we chose an indoor activity: exploring Elmhurst and its historical museum. Unfortunately, the lunch restaurant of our choice wasn't open. (We had called. We had checked on line. Sources contradicted each other.) As we began to wander Elmurst for an open and interesting restaurant, a small billboard caught my eye. We were blessed to be in Elmurst during the weekend of the St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church Taste of Greece Festival. That was worth turning the van around! (Actually, we turned around at least twice, thanks to a GPS unit that may date back to the ancient Greeks, but I digress.) 

Our Greek lunch was not what I would call light eating, but let's not discount the joy of happy eating. Jamieson enjoyed the gyros, which the kids nibbled, too, and pronounced good meat. I tried pastitsio, a Greek lasagna. It was rich and filling and wonderful. More lasagnas should be filled with egg. For dessert, we shared the loukoumades, heavenly honey puffs topped with cinnamon and yet more honey. Can you imagine how many wipes were needed to clean up the crew before we let them back into the van? Not a few, but worth every one. Oh, and those spheres of loukoumades bliss went delightfully well with the Greek coffee Jamieson and I enjoyed at the end of our meal, too. Just beware of the extra, um, intensity at the bottom of the cup. Not unlike Turkish coffee, grounds do make their way into the bottom. 

Well-fed, we made our way to the Elmhurst Historical Museum and then on to Fullersburg Woods Nature Center. Since no rain ever dampened our day, we were able to enjoy a walk along Salt Creek before calling an end to our day's adventure. 

I have to admit either the eating, the walking or the weather did finally provoke a real headache, but so far it's managed to stay controlled with minimal effort. We had a great day of exploring some new tastes and seeing some fun sights. A good way to celebrate Father's Day. 

A Taste of Japan: Mitsuwa Market

Gabutto Burger! 

During the last week of May, we were without Daddy as he spent several days in Japan for business. Wanting to share some of the culture that he experienced during his travels, he took us on a trek to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights for an dinnertime adventure. 

Mitsuwa is a full-sized Japanese grocery store that also includes additional shops, such as a book store, video store, and a food court with numerous menu choices. We wandered the grocery aisles for a while first, especially to enjoy the packaging of the products in the candy aisles. (Wouldn't you know it, the fun doughnut-shaped candy-making kit that Jamieson brought back from his trip was available at the store, as were some of the cookies he brought the kids.)  After browsing, it was time to experience some real Japanese cooking. 

Jamieson had heard good things about the ramen noodle shop Santouka, which was his goal. For the kids we went for something familiar: Gabutto Burger. It was a burger and fries, so they loved it, but the combination of beef, pork and breading made it different from the burgers they usually get at fast food places. We ordered plain burgers for them, but Gabutto offers unique sauces -- a demi-glace and Teriyaki -- to make the burger even more unique. Once the kids were fed, it was time to order for the grownups, but staring at Santouka's detailed menu overwhelmed me. So I told Jamieson to get his order in first. So, he did that and I headed back over to Gabutto to get the Teriyaki tofu burger -- not my most adventurous choice. More on that in a moment. While waiting for my food, I had a bite of Jamieson's ramen. Oh, my. Those "oriental flavor" ramen packets we all get for 20 cents each in college are nothing more than packing peanuts, folks. Real ramen is something mighty tasty. That was a bowl full of noodles of substance with some complex flavors in the soup. Yum. And, that was just food court ramen. 

I enjoyed my tofu burger, but like I said, it wasn't a daring choice. My food was tasty. I was satisfied. But I would have felt like I took better advantage of an interesting food opportunity if I had ordered something more unique. Any food that I couldn't possibly make at home would have meet that criteria. Sometimes, though, as we seek to broaden the kids' cultural and culinary horizons, I unexpectedly find myself to be the most difficult-to-feed member of the group. Why didn't I try those noodles? I was afraid. What has been my experience with fast food, inexpensive Asian food, and (obviously) cheap ramen noodles? Near instant migraines. As much as I want to be a daring diner who eats any odd thing that comes my way, I am so very, very tired of food-induced headaches. So, at the same time I am trying to teach my children to try everything, I am also trying not to eat everything. It's a dining dilemma.

At least Mitsuwa has a good bakery and sells plenty of desserts.  On our way out, we picked up a few things for the ride home: the Koala's March cookies for the kids, Calpico soda for mom and dad, and Mochi Ice Cream, balls of green-tea flavored ice cream covered in sticky rice cakes. Mochi was a bit more stickiness than the kids wanted to have between themselves and their ice cream, but they did attempt a bite. At least we had those cookies. And no one went home hungry. 

(And no one had a headache the next day!) 

One for the road
Mochi: Green Tea ice cream 

Trying Mochi

Health By Bike

A peaceful stretch of the
Illinois Prairie Path

One of the most delightful blessings of my life is living close to the Fox River and its wonderful trail network. Yesterday's glorious weather called me outdoors and I couldn't resist hopping on my bike and zipping on to the trails for a quick trip down to the library. Sure, it would be a smidge faster to do errands by car, but that would be to miss out on the fresh air factor. Navigating traffic and parking lots causes headaches. The only problem I had biking was the near-miss when a chipmunk with a death wish darted in front of me and parked his furry little body in front of my oncoming wheel almost a moment too long. Ah, a little nature-induced adrenaline is good for the brain, too. 

Today I made time for running on the treadmill in the basement, which isn't nearly as invigorating. I do open the windows but it isn't the same as running or biking under a verdant canopy alive with the birds and filled with some of the happiest pedestrians a person can meet. It just feels good to be outside these days and my body thanks me for making time to be there. 

My Brain is Like An Old Car

My head is like an old car. Huh? Oh, let me explain. It's been a glorious week of no headaches since I've been on the steroid prescription that was to knock out the flurry of headaches that gave me grief last week. The week has been filled with first-week of summer vacation stresses, but nothing off-the-charts. And no headaches! Thursday I had a message on my answering machine from the doctor's office checking up on me. It was also the last day of that prescription. Friday, wouldn't you know it, a felt a twinge of headache creeping up on me. Was it the food from the lunch I treated the kids to on Thursday? I had a vegetarian omelet. Could that really be it? More likely it was that the kids and I walked Jamieson to work Friday morning and I didn't have enough water to re-hydrate myself. So, I popped some ibuprofen when we were out doing errands Friday morning and when I talked to the nurse from the doctor's office a bit later in the day and I felt perfectly fine. Of course an hour later I felt a headache creeping up on me again. Grrr. See? Just like when the car runs great when you talk to the mechanic and makes that weird clunking noise again an hour later. Anyway, all is well. I took the newer prescription around dinner time. It did kick in as advertised and I woke up headache-free this morning. 

I feel like an old woman with all these different prescriptions, but at least something works, right? It's a beautiful day and I am thankful I am feeling well and able to enjoy it. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

For a change of pace in AchyHeadLand, I'm just fine today. It's my darling five-year old girl who has twice mentioned that she has a headache. Considering today's wind and the stormy weather front that came through earlier, I'm not surprised. There's always a question in my mind, though, if she has a true headache or if she's just repeating what I say. Considering that her statement came with a most bereft look on her face and a willingness to take some kid-strength Tylenol, I'm going to accept her assessment. Generally, all my kids resist medicine of all forms. (Can I tell you how many places I have found hidden vitamins? It would be an entertaining scavenger hunt if I wasn't so annoyed at the deceptive little dolls!) If someone says yes I will take that medicine, I'm going to assume they have a real headache.

My quest to manage my headaches isn't just to make my own life easier. It's to find the solutions that I can share with my girl as she inevitably (curse you, family history) experiences migraines. If the boys are blessed with avoiding headaches, I hope that they at least remember how to do their chores. Someone has to keep the household running. Maybe all the kids will realize that it works best when done as a team.

Sweet Relief

Ah, sweet relief! I woke up to the blessed feeling of ... no headache. How easy it is to hop out of bed after that initial tentative self-evaluation reveals wellness. How fast I forget the agony of the previous day. Yesterday, I wanted to call myself a goner. Today: "Hello, world! Let's do this!" (This headache amnesia is why I get myself in trouble with my various headache triggers. I'm writing these experiences down so I can remember and all of you can hold me accountable for taking care of myself.)

Now by the Murphy's Law Code that governs our family, only one adult can be fully functional at all times. Today the jet lag hit Jamieson big time and he was in full zombie mode. Also, while Erik's cough is already subsiding, William has some sort of mild stomach upset for us to ponder. (Hey kid, life tip: Do not lick O'Hare!) It's always something. Always.

Even though we had some germs, yawns and a few literal dark clouds on the horizon, my dear husband did tell me to follow through with my intended alone-time activity of the day. That was a bike ride to the library, an iced latte from the coffee shop, and a leisurely stroll among the stacks. Heaven. I even picked up magazines and sat alone to read them in the silent reading room. I feel cured of all my ills! What's more, the fitness boost and the caffeine jolt gave me the kick needed to even vacuum the house when I got home, so we're even off to a slightly clean start to the week. Never underestimate the therapeutic powers of that feeling of accomplishment.

Thank you to everyone who has kindly asked how I am feeling the past few days. It has been very encouraging to be remembered. Despite, the stormy weather forecasted in the week ahead, I'm feeling optimistic that this rough patch is now in the past. Onward.

Saturday Headache Update

Everyone has been exceedingly sympathetic and kind in asking about how I’m managing my migraines. I still feel a little foolish about calling attention to them, but I do appreciate the concern. Since you asked…

Early, early Thursday morning after several sleepless hours I took yet another sumatriptan, which allowed me to doze off for a few hours before dawn and get through Friday. Since it was the kids' last day of school, being an upright, functional person was important. Also, Jamieson had been in Japan for business all week (bit of stress a contrbuting factor to these migraines, perhaps?), so our evening plan was to pick him up at the airport. I got through the day okay. There was just that haze of potential headache. I think it's what the medical folks call "prodrome," the symptoms are building. I had some hope. When Jamieson texted me that his plane had landed in California, I felt a weight lift. Maybe, just maybe the psychological cause of my pain would abate now that he was almost home. Despite Friday night traffic, we made it to O'Hare with plenty of time to ride the people mover to the terminal and wait for Daddy in person. We were all very happy to get him home to us. 

Unfortunately, I had indeed overdosed on the sumatriptan during the week. Four days in a row had caused rebound headaches so I woke up with a doozy.  The doctor's appointment that I made yesterday and thought I might be able to cancel today because I'd be fine: nope. I went. It was disappointing on several levels. There was a very worthwhile neighborhood event that I very much wanted to attend today. Between my aching head and now Erik's incessant cough (hello, end-of-schoo-year cold), that was not to be. So, I spent my morning at the clinic and got a prescription for a steroid pack that is supposed to knock out this flurry of headaches. I've done this twice before in recent months. The first time it worked quickly. The second time, a little less quickly. Today ... so, so slowly. Only now, almost twelve hours after taking it, am I starting to feel the headache abate slightly. That could also be from also taking the additional prescription that was promised to not cause the rebound problem. It's basically an amped-up acetaminophen. Not something from which I expect miracles considering the average Tylenol works on me as well as Pez. Oh, and I've used it before, too, with minimal effect, but that was during a pregnancy, so other hormonal factors were at play then. 

So, I'm not a present laying on the couch moaning, but I'm not out of the woods yet. It would be spectacular if I could just take an Excedrin at the first sign of a headache and carry on, but even prescription medications don't work consistently for me. I would love to know why, so I'm seriously considering doing allergy testing to see if there's a piece of the puzzle there that I'm missing. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else I can do at the moment. I'm just hoping for a better day tomorrow. 

The Failure of a Headache

Migraine has me down tonight. I've been battling headaches all week. My medications aren't keeping them away and I'm now experiencing piercing pain that has been growing in intensity all day. I should just go to bed, but I know I will just toss and turn. In a way, although my head is throbbing, it's a bit better to keep a little busy, albeit at a much slower pace. Still I can't turn off the voice in my head that is shouting at me with each pulse of pain, "You've failed." When the headaches get bad, I don't hide it. I often announce it on Facebook, even. I don't mean to fish for sympathy. In a way, I just want to ask for forgiveness: the reason why I am -- today, at least -- dropping the ball is that I'm feeling like giant evil hand is gripping my skull.

Meanwhile, I'm slinking through life. Even when I don't have a headache, there's the shadow of possibly getting one that haunts me. So, I can't enjoy what I eat, especially when I eat out a restaurant or at someone's house, because I suspect the food may cause me grief. I look at weather reports with trepidation because those startling changes our dear Midwest loves to give us often brings me pain. Worrying brings on a headache, some say, which annoys me because what kind of weak-willed person lets their emotions bring them down so pathetically? Nevertheless, here I am having a week of headaches and now today, the day when I can't even attempt to turn to strong pharmaceuticals for help because I've reached my weekly limit, I lack the energy to feed my children a coherent dinner. "Who wants to cook for Mom?" I joke. "I will!" says the 8-year old and they all get excited when I raise no objections to cereal for dinner. Sure, that's a fun treat for them, but I'm thinking of what a nutritional void it is and how I'm already giving my daughter a complex about eating. She proudly announced she does not have a headache tonight despite having a hot dog for lunch at the school picnic. At least they ate strawberries for dessert.

There's so much I want to do as a mom. I want to do all the basic food, clothing and shelter things a parent ought to do. I also want to model service for the children. I want them to see their parents helping others and I want them to have the opportunity to take care of their friends and their community as needs arise. Unfortunately, even on my best, healthiest days I am so worn from doing the basic food and clothing thing for my three darlings that I'm too pooped to do much beyond maybe cut out a "Box Top for Education." On a headache day? Can't drag my butt off the couch. And yet, not a block from my house are more than a handful of families in my very own neighborhood with real issues who deserve a meal, a listening ear, even just a potted plant on their doorstep and I don't have the energy to get that done. I feel like I'm failing them and failing my kids for not showing them how to serve their neighbor. For crying out loud, I get headaches. It's not cancer. I'm not dying. But it feels like my head is cracking open and it's messing things up. What's the deal? How hard can it be to eat a healthy diet, do a little exercise, have one pill that actually gets rid off the occasional headache and go on with life? Apparently, that's too much to ask. Stupid headache, go away. We have things to do.

Naf Naf Bandits

"Take a picture of the camel sign, Mom!" 

The food thief struck again. We went to Naf Naf Grill in Naperville in honor of Jamieson's birthday. I could not have been more excited about my Veggie Feast plate. It was so colorful and so flavorful ... and so popular. William kept taking the falafel for himself. He is my food thief. What's on my plate is always worth much more inspection than what is on his. We thought he would be content with several personal pitas, but he wanted to work his way through all my falafel, too. (He did go back to his own plate, too. Those pitas are not to be ignored.) I'm glad he enjoyed the falafel, but next time, he's going to need a order of his own so I can enjoy more of my own dinner! Meanwhile, I had to claim my own pitas for dipping since Erik and Anna kept grabbing pitas for munching. Jamieson was happy to help me polish off the Hummus and Babba Ghanoush -- what are those great flavors in the Baba Ghanoush? The extra side of rice didn't last long enough for me to get more than two bites. Erik said that Naf Naf is his second favorite restaurant after 2 Toots and a person should always get to go to their favorite restaurant on their birthday. Anna wanted to add Chic Fil A to the list. William hasn't committed to a favorite place yet, but the overall list seems pretty well well-rounded list for kids. Happy birthday, Jamieson! Now let's figure out how to make those pitas at home!

My scrumptious Veggie Feast before William started eating all the falafel

Dairy's Link to Migraines

I was watching the Extended Interviews of Forks Over Knives today when comments from Dr. Neal Barnard regarding the link between dairy and migraines, among other ailments and diseases, grabbed my attention. I've been eating almost no dairy for the past two months, and now I'm wondering if the handful of headaches I have had followed the few meals in which cheese played a part. Lists of dietary trigger foods usually emphasize aged cheeses, and some other types of dairy, such as sour cream and large quantities of yogurt. Previously, I skipped the aged cheese and kept on eating everything else. Doctors who advocate a plant based diet would recommend cutting out all dairy entirely.  Here's more information on treating migraines from Dr. Barnard's Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:  

A Natural Approach to Migraines

Trying the supplements of ginger and elemental calcium are are new treatment possibilities for me. I also like the suggestion of trying starchy food during a migraine only because that's something I've always craved during headaches, and it's good to be validated! It does look like now it's time to rethink that Sunday-night pizza. 

M & M Confession

In the interest of full disclosure, future generations may find it interesting to know that I -- far from being fully against all candy consumption by children -- believe that M & M's Minis make a most excellent reward for toddlers who are learning to use the potty. Stickers just don't get the same results as that beloved bit of chocolate. A proud child and mom are perfectly good reasons to take the shopping cart down the candy aisle. Did I mention the advantage of less laundry?

Parent Sugar Rant

Oh, the irony that within 24 hours of finishing The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick I, not only had a few headache days (storms? moment of chocolate weakness?), but I also had two germy children AGAIN. William woke us up Saturday night with illness that demanded immediate laundry attention. Anna missed a much-anticipated birthday party, Sunday School, and school on Monday. Everyone seems to be back to normal today, if the running through the house with giggles and slamming of doors was any indication, but I have to say its incredibly disheartening to try so hard to enhance my own heath and, of course, keep my children well, and to be dealing with upset tummies and coughs nearly all the time. I know, I know. It's just normal childhood illnesses, but it is very discouraging. 

When we keep seeing the same sorts of stomach upsets in the kids, I keep wondering if it's a diet problem or an allergy problem instead of the usual school germs. Of course, I know that there are viruses zipping through the school regularly. Wouldn't it be nice if I could create immunity by getting them to eat just healthy foods? Unfortunately, they are normal kids who want to live on a diet of cheese sticks, sausage, crackers, and candy. Fortunately, they do enjoy many fruits and veggies, and I don't want to deprive them of all eating pleasure by becoming the mom who forbids most foods. Seriously, though, I feel like I can't ever be the one to give them fun foods because every time we leave the house some one is offering them a sucker because they got a hair cut or walked through the grocery line or a candy-filled goodie bag because it's Earth Day, which you can only eat when you get home (i.e. in the van in front of your baby brother who didn't get one). It is impossible to feed kids well. I often become the "Ask your mom" ogre who doesn't let my kids have any food enjoyment, because I prefer to say no to many of the sweets. Why?  Kids + sugar = crazy  

As long as I'm on the sugar-food rant, isn't it amazing what you find in the simplest foods when you read the labels? When I get cereal, I get the dull stuff because it's low in sugar. I recently bought big bag of generic Cheerios, then as I was pouring it, I read the label: 

This is the most boring cereal you can buy and someone thought it needed some extra color and natural flavor. Huh? No one's getting this for the joy. I though the other ingredients were a bit unpronounceable, so I looked at the generic Wal-Mart version: 

 Well, that's an even longer list. Here's the original, brand name Cheerios:  

They get kudos for telling us what those "mixed tocopherols" are doing in the box and having more actual words my kids can read. All three packages are, in theory, the same thing. Nope. There's a reason cheaper food is cheaper food. Even good old real Cheerios puts sugar right in there at the top of the list, not as much as in most other cereals but in the top three ingredients. This is why the incessant candy culture wears on me so much. The sugar is in everything. It's taking up room in my kids' bodies where they need nutrients to fight off the germs that keep getting them sick. Let's take it down a notch. Let's enjoy the treat of special occasion cakes and cookies, but say goodbye to the every day, candy-all-the-time diets we have now. 

Healthy Dining Finder Website

I'm making a note of this website here to remind myself it exists, and if it helps all of you, so much the better: www.healthydiningfinder.com. It appeared in a recent review of a restaurant in my local paper. When I plunk in my local info, I'm honestly a little surprised at how many chain restaurants I see since they aren't my idea of healthy eating. I realize, though, that most folks are counting calories and fat grams, while I'm reading the ingredients list to see how much of it I can pronounce. I'd rather enjoy the fat in a dish of whole foods topped with nuts or avocado then wash mysterious ingredients down with a diet soda. Personal preference. That's what keeps me healthy. I haven't had a headache that couldn't be managed in weeks!

healthydiningfinder.com does have several unique restaurants listed so it certainly isn't limited to chain shops. It does give me some ideas of places to go and suggests that there are light options at the big restaurants for those who read the menus carefully.

Filling Vegan Lasgna

For tonight's dinner I made the lasagna I saw in the Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue a few days ago: "Raise the Roof Sweet Potato Lasagna." I had no idea a vegetable dish could be so heavy to lift! That should give you an idea of how substantial this meal is. I have never put so many veggies into one entree! Since this was a first attempt at making this dish, I decided to have the backup plan of a platter full of brats for the meat-eating members of the family as a just in-case. (I wasn't sure if whole-wheat noddles and sweet potatoes would really say "lasagna.") Those brats were eaten enthusiastically, but there really would not have been a need to have multiple dishes on the table. This lasagna, thanks to the cashews crumbled on top, enticed everyone, too. We had more than enough left-overs for meals to come. Jamieson declared this my best lasagna yet. Chopping all the veggies took quite a lot of time (especially since we were dyeing Easter eggs at the same time). The ingredients include onions, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, red pepper, sliced tomato, and cooked mashed sweet potato. Fortunately, there's no need to precook the noodles; smothering them in the pasta sauce gets the job done. So, this lasagna won't be a weekly meal, but it will definitely come out again for weekends or special occasions when I need a substantial and tasty dinner. Truly, no one missed having a meat filling. My headache-prone head appreciated having only simple spices -- oregano, basil, rosemary, cayenne pepper -- and no mystery seasonings in any sausage or pasta sauce to worry about. This recipe was a winner.

Pie Boss!

1649 Montgomery Rd, Aurora
(Why yes, it is just a bit west of
The Growing Place. Our saga of life without
functional GPS is a tale for anther day.) 

I love the monograms! 

Pie Boss! The quest for unique tastes continues and it has taken us back to Aurora. The pies here are of the meat pie (and vegetarian pie!) variety. Oh, the crusts! So flaky and delicious. What you are supposed to do when heading over to Pie Boss is call ahead and place an order so they can have your fresh and yummy pie ready to go. We decided to take a chance with what they had on hand since we sort of knew were were heading. What was there was super tasty. I had my heart set on the Spinach and Feta pie and I was not disappointed. Since sharing with William left me less than full, I had no choice but to try out the Spice Mixed Vegetable Pie, too. It was indeed spicy! There was some kicky curry in there! Anna offered me a bite of her Chicken and Mushroom, too. Yum! Jamieson enjoyed the Spicy chicken and the Pepper Steak. Erik loved eating the crust off everyone's pie. Next time, we will plan ahead and order the Cheeseburger Pie for the kids. Unless Pie Boss would just make a dish of crust, which is what Erik really, really wants. 

The folks running Pie Boss hail from South Africa, so add that to our culinary map of discovery. 

4/19 Update: Feeling good this morning, which mean we can add Pie Boss to my short list of restaurants that do not give me headaches. This is very good news!  

You could look up Pie Boss on your own, but I have the lovely menu in front of me so I'll help you out. The phone number is 630-898-3448. 

No Time Not To Run!

Half my brain says I don't have time to sit here and write anything. It's just a few days before Easter and I have a huge to-do list. I also didn't really want to pull myself out of bed and run this morning, either. I've learned a little something about doing both writing and running, though. Even though they seem like frivolous activities that don't really matter, it matters to me and my health. The words here clarify my thinking; they help me organize my thoughts. Getting my exercise clothes out and ready to go either the night before a morning run or before Mr. Toddler goes down for a nap helps me fight the inevitable frantic stress that just goes with daily living. When I miss a day of heart-pounding exercise, I can feel it in how I manage everything. My tone with the kids is sharper and my attitude toward getting through the tasks of the day leans toward panicky. When I write and exercise, even if it was something no one read and and the slowest run in recent memory, something has been accomplished in my day. That feels good. So there's dust in the house that never gets banished and laundry mountains that sit unfolded for an embarrassing amount of time because Mom took some Mom Time. It also means mom feels better. I think that's worth more. I never expected to crave running time, but I do now. I really do.

By the way, today's motivational film was "The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue." It opened my eyes to the serving size of cooking sprays -- too much oil!--  and made me really want to try the lasagna recipe he introduced. Yum! I'm going to put in a library request for "The Engine 2 Diet." Vegan food that works for Texas firefighters will probably be filling enough for anyone I need to feed.

More Curry for Kids: Meatless Cookbook Recommendation

 As we are still raving about our O Mango experience from the weekend, I decided to put a curry dish on the menu for the week. I took the reciepe from my current favorite cookbook, Peas and Thank You: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love by Sarah Matheny. I grabbed it from the library shelves a few weeks ago, enamored by a healthy-foods cookbook written by a mom with two little kids and filled with pictures of both the recipes and the little food testers with ingredients (and other things) smeared on the faces. I have made quite a few things from this gem recently. Last night's entree was "Curry in a Hurry." It was a delight. Chopping any veggie dish takes time, but it wins points for the number of raw vegetables the kids eat before sitting down to dinner as they walk through the kitchen. Anna, the carrot eater, delights in grabbing a whole long carrot any time she can. I'm still surprised that little William likes strips of sweet peppers, but he certainly does. Erik was going to have a carrot, too, until he changed his mind and went for an apple instead. Guess I can't complain. Jamieson walked in the door and said, "It smells great in here!" The main challenge was keeping everyone from grazing on the tofu and cashews everyone sat down. 

This meal was essentially veggies in a curry coconut-milk and spice sauce. (I don't even like coconut, but the flavor was all gentle spice and veggie -- no coconut.) It was served over brown rice and topped with the broiled tofu and cashews, the drizzled with fresh lime juice. Another kid eating surprise: William and Anna really like eating lots of brown rice. It goes over better than the white rice, which is a very good thing. I had to dash off to choir practice before eating much of the dinner, so I can also report that this reheats very well at a later time. 

Bringing the dog in from her evening "out" before bedtime, Jamieson again commented on the curry smell in the house. That's a good thing in his book. He also said there's a taste difference in cooking with curry as opposed to just sprinkling it on the food, which he often does since he likes a hotter curry than the rest of us. I could only say that this recipe called for cooking the curry in the pan till it became aromatic before returning the sauted veggies to the pan. That wasn't something we had done before but it worked well. 

                           Veggies a-cookin'                                

Curry, ready for eating complete with yummy marinaded & broiled tofu

Other recipes from this book that we have enjoyed have included bean burgers, teriyaki tofu, tempeh chili and an amazing falafe and tzatziki sauce, which topped my previous from-scratch falafel. The kids still mostly love eating the pita breads on falafel night but they have learned to enjoy the flavors of the tzatziki and tahini sauces. There are quite a few more recipes that I'm looking forward to trying, including a lot of mouthwatering desserts, as well as a follow-up cookbook by the same author. As long as the recipes or cookbooks have a tone than respects the reality of cooking for a family, I find the eating in a healthy way really is a bit of a fun adventure. Who knew?

Salsa Recommendation

Here's another product I need to be cautious about reading labels: salsa. Again, this is something that's usually filled with sugar and vague "spices." Right now I am enjoying this All American Salsa from 505 Southwestern that I happened upon at Wal-Mart. The salsa ingredients are spelled out for you below. Easy to see; easy to pronounce. No surprises. Well, those jalapenos give a bit of a kick, but that's another issue!

As an extra perk, the company is donating a portion of their profits to the Wounded Warrior Project through the end of April, so that alone seems like a reason to seek out this brand.

Easy to pronounce ingredients! 

Reading food labels for pizza night

Label reading is why it takes me forever to grocery shop, but it's so important if you value feeling well. Here's a perfect example. Almost every Sunday night, we enjoy pizza night. Jamieson makes the crust from scratch, so it's rather healthy as pizza goes. It's the sauce that needs some vigilance. To just grab any old pizza sauce equals a lot of corn syrup and the always-mysterious "natural flavor" or "spices." Who knows what that really means. So, if you aren't going to make everything from scratch, and honestly, no one really is, the wise choice is to search for the brands that have the fewest ingredients. Ideally, those ingredients should be really easy to pronounce. This Cento pizza sauce, which I found at Mariano's, is a perfect example of what I want to see on a label. This is exactly what it says: "Ingredients: Water, Tomato Concentrate, Olive Oil, Sat, Basil, Black Pepper and Garlic Powder." That's it. So if I get a headache, it could be due to a sensitivity to one of those foods -- or some unrelated factor -- but it will not have anything to do with mysterious "spices." Simple.

4/14 update: Headache free! I used to have post-pizza headaches often, so choosing the right sauce may be helping. 

Discovering O Mango: Introducing the Kids to Indian Food

 To make up for the "lost" Spring Break day of last week, a dinner out was planned for this evening. My thinking when it came to picking a restaurant was threefold:

1. I like to try new places -- let's explore!
2. I've been eating vegetarian 90% of the time lately. What can we find that offers healthy eating choices? (So often I find myself suffering from a headache the day after a dinner out. I get nervous when it comes to making a restaurant choice.)
3. The kids need their palates stretched beyond burger and fries venues.

I plopped "vegetarian" into the search box on Yelp and came up with a winner: O Mango. It's an Indian restaurant, so there was no difficulty convincing Jamieson to give it a try. Erik took a bit more selling. Thankfully, we live in an era of on-line menus. Assured that naan was a bread he would love and given a the menu to ponder on the ride there, he was content to try the Naan Sticks as his main course. (From a parenting perspective, the great thing about this restaurant is is the "kid-friendly" labels on several of the menu's dishes. They are very welcoming to those who are new to Indian food, including young eaters.) Anna was similarly pleased to dive into the Naan Quesadillas. True to form, William was just happy to eat it all: naan, chicken, samosaas, etc. We successfully went from reluctance to food happiness. In fact Erik left announcing, "I'm adding that to my list of favorite restaurants!"

 As for the adults, Jamieson thoroughly enjoyed the buffet. I had two scrumptious wraps: one hariyali and tofu, one mango-coconut aloo (potato). Their flavors and the tamarind chutney that came with the samosa were absolutely delicious. We all went home pleasantly stuffed.

 O Mango is not too far from us, just south of the Metra station on Route 59 in Aurora. We loved the food. We loved the trendy decorating. Erik is right; we will be adding this to our list of favorite restaurants.

Yum!

4/13 Update: No "morning-after we ate out headache." Who-hoo! 

Weather induced migraines

So the migraine weather forecast claims today is "beneficial weather for migraines" but the wind is blowing fiercely, storms are predicted for overnight, and I'm not the only one who was walking around with that tell-tale hand to the forehead, "this weather is killing" me look this morning. Fortunately, I got to my prescription soon enough to knock it out for the day again, but it's so frustrating when weather -- something I have no control over -- is the cause. All the more reason to keep eating well and exercising to keep the odds in my favor as much as I can.

Headache cause: too-little sleep

A headache was building as I woke up this morning, but I knew the cause. I tried to cram too much in my day yesterday and didn't get enough sleep. Five hours is never enough! Thankfully, the prescriptions that were failing me a few weeks ago are now effective again thanks to taking them only very occasionally instead of almost daily. I'm glad to have the medications for emergencies, but so happy to have found a healthier day-to-day life.

It's a beautiful Spring day, so glad I'm able to enjoy it. William and I spent much of the morning working/playing in the yard. We even at lunch outside. He kept calling it our beach. Not sure where the sand is, but it was cute. He ate apple slices, Trader Joe's 12 Grain min snack crackers (with Inulin -- not sure that's enough prebiotics to help his tummy, but he is much improved from earlier this week, and I threw that in the cart next to the probiotic yogurt when we were shopping for things that would be easy on his insides) and vanilla almond milk. I had left-over stir fry. It's good to have lunches that don't leave me feeling like I need a nap afterwards.

Breakfast Sweet: Home-Grown Maple Syrup

Jamieson's syrup catching system

Yesterday's breakfast sweets were a treat. Most days I stick to a healthier routine. For some reason, I used to resist oatmeal, but now it's comforting to have the same dish every morning. It's filling and it works. I have a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal with a scoop of ground flaxseed meal for the fiber and omega-3 hit and a drizzle of maple syrup. I just use water to make the oatmeal, but we have the blessing of fresh, wonderful maple syrup. Last winter, Jamieson tried collecting his own maple sap for the first time. This year, he added a propane burner pan system that you would expect to see if someone was about to deep fry a turkey, but it sped up the process. He was spending a long time simmering sap on our stove. It took forever, but our whole house had a great maple-syrup tinged humidity to it. Now, he can cut that time down dramatically and keep everything outside until bringing just the last bit of syrup in to finish on the stove top. No high fructose corn syrup on our breakfasts. This stuff is good. It's light, but very tasty. Now we look around at all the other trees in the neighborhood and think of the possibilities. 

William's syrup catching system

Eating healthy at church: Can it be done?

Breakfast leftovers

My name is Christine and my second breakfast was (yes, second breakfast, after the healthy first breakfast of oatmeal) a slice of berry sweetbread, a mini banana muffin, a half of doughnut, a really big slice of blueberry sweetbread, etc. Sigh.

It was my turn to bring treats to my morning Bible study class today. It was not an exercise in healthy eating. There was no time for me to bake this week, so I zipped over to Wal-Mart after the kids were tucked in last night. Wal-Mart and I have had a tumultuous relationship, but they do manage to pull off some fine baked goods. I filled the cart with an assortment of suitable coffeecake sorts of things, left it in the car for delivery to the "Early Risers" and mission accomplished. I did not buy the heavily frosted doughnuts. I did not offer the sweet rolls nor did I provide a tray of sticky buns. (Of course, those would have been welcomed enthusiastically.) I also didn't provide any fruit or granola mix or whatever else could possibly pass for a healthy breakfast in a church setting. I had just purchased an ample amount of food for my own family's meals earlier in the day and I didn't have the budget to do an entire buffet for the dear people of God. For the love all things Holy, and I do mean that reverently, how do people feed other people in a church healthfully? It is mighty impossible to attend or bring food to a church function and have it be a dish that doesn't cause one's arteries to loose just a little bit more functioning. Everyone who has spent any time in a church basement or fellowship hall knows that people gathered together in such a setting eat well -- as in there's never a shortage of food. It's not necessarily the sort of food that would make a dietitian or nutritionist smile, though. Even during Lent, when many are, in theory, cutting back -- my word! -- the sweets tables are as bountiful as ever.

All just observations, though!

"Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink..." -- Colossians 2:16

A Lenten Reflection and A Dairy Vacation

Your beverage choice is ...? 

Two Disclaimers: 

• My maternal grandfather was a dairy farmer. I believe he had just about the most honest, important job a person could have. 
• The most magical location in all of grocery shopping is the cheese aisle at Woodmans. My household is a proud owner of the Weyauwega Cheese cookbook purchased at Woodmans because we love cooking with that brand purchased at that store. So. Very. Much. 

And yet ... less milk and cheese is being consumed in our house these days and it's about to drop dramatically even more. 

Last month on a whim, I told myself I would just stop putting milk in my coffee for Lent. It was a silly, superficial thing. I've never been much for sacrificing things for Lent. It has never been a major part of my pre-Easter spiritual practices and in recent years as things religious have indeed become more important to me, it has become more important to take on things for Lent, such as Bible study and church attendance, instead of giving up something. So, no milk in the coffee was just a token thing. I have to say, though, it was surprisingly effective. What is the purpose of Lenten sacrifice? Reminder. Every time I taste the bitterness of that coffee, I remember my failed new year's resolution to give up coffee and I remember the ever so much more bitter sufferings of Jesus. Amazing how our Lord can take even the simplest things and use them for spiritual growth. 

As I have been making other changes in my diet, I've been swapping my almost-daily meat and cheese sandwiches for lunch in favor of vegetable choices. Dinners that usually found me pouring on the cheese: chili or taco nights, have me now enjoying the flavors of the actual entree. At first I missed the cheese, then I discovered that I really loved the extra energy I felt from not filling up on cheese. Of course, I'm not going all-out vegan. I can eat dairy-free most days now and then happily enjoy that Weyauwega-filled pizza Jamieson usually makes for us on Sunday nights. 

I've also noticed that the less dairy I consume, the less congested I feel. I've always had a near year-round night-time congestion that defies explanation. Lately, I just don't feel so stuffy, even with Spring finally starting to appear. Jamieson has long suspected that he breathes better when he keeps his dairy consumption to a minimum, too. 

And now for the kids. My kids LOVE cheese. Love. Love. Love. Little carnivores and cheeseheads every last one. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a nasty strain of the tummy bug with the little one right now. Thankfully, his appetite is as strong as ever, but his insides are not well. I took him to see the doctor this morning and her advice was basically that it would need to run its course, but as it did, we should avoid dairy for the next week. Dairy is, apparently, rough on young tummies, especially the thickness of protein-rich Greek yogurt. Her advice was to have just a bit of Activia yogurt and use almond milk for now. Also, she encouraged mixing in a bit of probiotic powder. So, we stopped at Trader Joe's on the way home to stock up on rice and almond milk. It's chilling in the fridge. I'll be serving it to all since I have a sneaking suspicion the germs won't stop with just one dear child. Once we are past this illness (when, oh, when??!!) I'm thinking that if almond milk is easier on the tummies of the kids and kinder to the waistlines of the grownups then maybe that's a change that could become permanent. Of course, we have some taste testing to do before we make any decisions. For now, we just want to get well! 

Making changes

Headache healing:
Pharmacy or produce? 

A headache crept up on me this morning, which isn't unusual for me. The surprise is that it’s been a few weeks since I had that tell-tale, slowly creeping ache over the left eye brow. After a winter of endless, chronic migraines I am now treating the beasts more aggressively than ever before. My 2014 began with a new preventative prescription for the migraines, but it was only moderately successful. As I’m not interested in stepping up to a higher dose of pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary, I decided to get more assertive about pursuing my dietary migraine triggers. That has led me to where I am now: in the midst of a full-on healthy eating kick. My (now-previous) doctor surprised me by being fairly dismissive of my eagerness to aggressively find those foods that cause my headaches. Understandably, the list of potential triggers is long, different for everyone, and may change for a single person from time to time. Still, it’s disconcerting to have a fistful of paperwork from your local pharmacy, which is of limited effectiveness, and no nutrition guidance. Eating well seems like an easier approach to me, at least a potentially cheaper one. 

So, this year has also found me doing much renewed research on the causes of migraines. My dear spouse also acquired, on New Year’s Eve, a new-to-us treadmill. To entertain myself as I log the miles, I've been pulling up health documentaries on Netflix. It’s amazing how easy it is to go just a bit farther and a bit faster (and eat a lot healthier afterwards) when watching a series of movies like Hungry for Change, Forks Over Knives, Fat,Sick and Nearly Dead and BeautifulTruth. Hungry for Change, in particular, started me off in a new direction away from simply trying to prevent headaches and toward complete health. It managed that through tone: encouraging the adding healthy, unprocessed whole foods – fruits and vegetables – into the diet, instead of emphasizing a list of outlawed foods. It has been unexpectedly easy to skip the sweets as I see how much better I feel having cut out much of the processed food that has been causing me problems.

So the point of this writing here is to outline some of my observations. I don’t want to be a food nazi. I do love to eat. I will always love my carbs. Bread is the staff of life and all that. Like any family we enjoy good company while enjoying good food, often very rich, heavy food.  I’m excited about what I’m learning about healthy eating and cooking, though. My problem now is that I’m not sure how to share the things I’m discovering in a way that doesn't come across as obnoxious. How we shop, cook and eat are deeply personal decisions. I am discovering new ways to eat that make me feel amazing. My challenge is to do that and share that knowing that I'm surrounded by those who feel very strongly about the importance of red meat and pastries in their regular menus. As in all things, this is a question of balance. I need to eat well, so I feel well enough to be well enough to take care of my family. So far, I've seen positive changes. I'm willing to continue the journey.