So my first couple of attempts at pancakes that were ok on the Candida diet were NOT good. But I did not give up, and I have altered a recipe enough to be actually pretty decent tasting. I got a recipe online here. The way it's written, it is NOT candida diet friendly, since it contains maple syrup and all, but I found using 3/4 of a Tbsp of stevia powder works well as a sweetener (using agave syrup, on the other hand, does not work so well). I also cut the water down to 2 cups. With 3 cups the batter was really runny and not good for pancakes. And finally, since I am now on the second stage of this diet, I put in 1 cup (ok, probably a bit more than that) of blueberries. You can taste the stevia; some people might want to put in less. Or try stevia liquid (which I might do next time). I served them to my friend tonight, and he actually enjoyed them. Of course he got to have maple syrup on them, and I didn't, but I thought they were pretty good.
The best part about these pancakes (and the reason I wanted them for dinner tonight) is that they are the best substitute I have found for fueling up before athletic activities. I used to have 4 perogies before sporting activities, and they fuelled me up really well. Obviously that wasn't an option while on the candida diet, so I was very happy to find something else that could do the trick without feeding the candida. The chia seeds in this recipe are perfect for exactly that. I am still just learning about this food, which yes, is the same as the "chia pets" you grow sprouts out of ceramic animal-shaped planters out of. But anyway, they have helped me regain my stamina to compete in sports, so I am really happy about that!
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Stevia!
Stevia is awesome. I think I'm going to keep using it once I'm "finished" this anti-candida diet. I've really learned a lot just in the past few weeks about how I can change my diet to be a lot healthier all around I think. Hazelnut butter is awesome too. It pretty much tastes like nutella (which makes sense, since hazlenuts are the nuts used in nutella... ) except, of course, without the chocolate. But I don't miss the chocolate, so no problem!
Again, I'm going to be tempted over the next few weeks though. A friend is coming to visit from Austria and she told me she's bringing chocolate! Plus, I want to have her over (she's not staying with me) for pancakes and drinks (not at the same time) but I won't be able to have any! That is, of course, unless the buckwheat pancakes I try making tonight are delicious enough to serve to other people. I tried making them last week, but couldn't get the key ingredient - buckwheat flour - so I substituted quinoa flour. They were disgusting. They were mushy, and tasted like quinoa mixed with something bitter. The only thing that made it even a little bit edible was putting plain yogurt on it, but then it was more like a savoury dish than a pancake. Not good when you're craving pancakes.
This morning though, I made poached eggs and put them on rice cakes. It works well if you let the eggs cool a bit before putting them on the rice cakes - otherwise the rice cakes mush down to nothing. I used apple cider vinegar, since it seems to be allowed according to most of the information I've found, and they turned out pretty good (especially considering I'd never made poached eggs directly in water before; my mom has a special pot with plastic cups for them, and I've never made them with anything but that before). Anyway, I'll definitely be having that breakfast again soon!
Again, I'm going to be tempted over the next few weeks though. A friend is coming to visit from Austria and she told me she's bringing chocolate! Plus, I want to have her over (she's not staying with me) for pancakes and drinks (not at the same time) but I won't be able to have any! That is, of course, unless the buckwheat pancakes I try making tonight are delicious enough to serve to other people. I tried making them last week, but couldn't get the key ingredient - buckwheat flour - so I substituted quinoa flour. They were disgusting. They were mushy, and tasted like quinoa mixed with something bitter. The only thing that made it even a little bit edible was putting plain yogurt on it, but then it was more like a savoury dish than a pancake. Not good when you're craving pancakes.
This morning though, I made poached eggs and put them on rice cakes. It works well if you let the eggs cool a bit before putting them on the rice cakes - otherwise the rice cakes mush down to nothing. I used apple cider vinegar, since it seems to be allowed according to most of the information I've found, and they turned out pretty good (especially considering I'd never made poached eggs directly in water before; my mom has a special pot with plastic cups for them, and I've never made them with anything but that before). Anyway, I'll definitely be having that breakfast again soon!
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Made it Through the Marathon!
So over the past weekend, I was participating in the Muskoka Novel Marathon, which was basically a bunch of writers sitting around and writing for 72 hours. And of course, as with any time there is some sort of group function, it also meant a bunch of food being around, most of which is not friendly to a candida fighting diet. Somehow though, I was able to pull-through. It wasn't easy, with all the delicious looking and smelling things that came out of the kitchen, and the wine and cheese event was particularly hard, since I'm generally a fiend for red wine... and they had samosas! But I didn't stick around there too long, so it was OK.
I am just soooo glad that I was on the second stage of the diet for this event. Having blueberries and hummus did make life a LOT easier, since I was able to eat more than just boiled eggs and rice cakes with nut butter (but believe me, I still had more of those things than anything else). I also started taking oregano oil with water 3 times a day. The stuff burns if it touches your skin without being diluted... which is hard to avoid since it's oil in water... kinda stays separate if you know what I mean. But I'm working on mastering the art of gulping the water down without letting any of it touch my lips, so it's not so bad. Still burns the back of the throat from time to time, but it's kind of a good burn. Like, the kind of burn that tells you it's doing what it's supposed to.
I've also been really bloated lately, which is s sign of candida die-off. But I also just spent 72 hours sitting on my ass, so it might be from that too... it's hard to say. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good today, but I am going to try to avoid all stage 2 foods just for today, since I'm only supposed to re-introduce them gradually, and I had quite a bit in the last few days.
Oh yeah, and I wrote a fair bit towards what I think might turn out to be a publishable book! So hurray for that!
I am just soooo glad that I was on the second stage of the diet for this event. Having blueberries and hummus did make life a LOT easier, since I was able to eat more than just boiled eggs and rice cakes with nut butter (but believe me, I still had more of those things than anything else). I also started taking oregano oil with water 3 times a day. The stuff burns if it touches your skin without being diluted... which is hard to avoid since it's oil in water... kinda stays separate if you know what I mean. But I'm working on mastering the art of gulping the water down without letting any of it touch my lips, so it's not so bad. Still burns the back of the throat from time to time, but it's kind of a good burn. Like, the kind of burn that tells you it's doing what it's supposed to.
I've also been really bloated lately, which is s sign of candida die-off. But I also just spent 72 hours sitting on my ass, so it might be from that too... it's hard to say. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good today, but I am going to try to avoid all stage 2 foods just for today, since I'm only supposed to re-introduce them gradually, and I had quite a bit in the last few days.
Oh yeah, and I wrote a fair bit towards what I think might turn out to be a publishable book! So hurray for that!
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Stage 2
Well I made it 19 and 1/2 days through the detox stage. I was very close to the full 21 days, but I have a migraine today and I couldn't stand the thought of eating another egg, almond, or rice-based food. So I have had a tiny bit of agave nectar, and about 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries. I'm not sure if I should have taken an advil or not - it might feed candida too, but I know my migraine is tension based, not anything to do with candida die-off, and I need it to be gone by tomorrow, so I felt I had to take something for it. And of course I don't take ibuprofen on an empty stomach, so that is when I ate the blueberries. Blueberries and agave nectar are ok for stage 2, and I am only a day and a half away from my intended stage 2 day, so I figured I might as well just move on now. I won't be eating fruit or any stage 2 foods every day, and I'll be taking oregano oil as an anti-fungal starting either tonight or tomorrow (depending on how well I'm feeling).
Friday is the beginning of the novel marathon, which will mean being in a group setting with lots of snacking for 3 full days. I've already begun planning a list of foods to make to bring, and I timed it so that I would be on stage 2 and able to eat a bit of a wider variety of things for this time, but I am worried it's going to be difficult to resist my cravings. Now that I've had some agave and blueberries though, I'm not craving cake nearly as much as I had been. Maybe I should have suffered through, as those uncontrollable cravings might have only been the beginning of the dying stage of the candida, but I'm hoping with the start of the anti-fungals my efforts up to now will not have been wasted.
I don't know if it was the advil or the blueberries, or both, but I have started to feel a bit better already. The first few bites made me actually feel a little bit sick, but again that could have been the headache just as much as it might have been the sugar. Whatever the case, I'm certainly feeling better right now, and I think it will be a lot easier for me to get through these next four weeks now.
Friday is the beginning of the novel marathon, which will mean being in a group setting with lots of snacking for 3 full days. I've already begun planning a list of foods to make to bring, and I timed it so that I would be on stage 2 and able to eat a bit of a wider variety of things for this time, but I am worried it's going to be difficult to resist my cravings. Now that I've had some agave and blueberries though, I'm not craving cake nearly as much as I had been. Maybe I should have suffered through, as those uncontrollable cravings might have only been the beginning of the dying stage of the candida, but I'm hoping with the start of the anti-fungals my efforts up to now will not have been wasted.
I don't know if it was the advil or the blueberries, or both, but I have started to feel a bit better already. The first few bites made me actually feel a little bit sick, but again that could have been the headache just as much as it might have been the sugar. Whatever the case, I'm certainly feeling better right now, and I think it will be a lot easier for me to get through these next four weeks now.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Almond Butter... All Day Every Day
The one thing that is getting me through this detox stage of the diet more than anything else is almond butter. If I'm craving ice cream or cake or anything sweet, I just grab a spoonful of the almond butter (or two) and I can make it through. There have been a lot of "I want some F@$*ing cake!" shouts, especially in the last week, but part of that is that I just can't stop watching the food network. In all honesty I haven't craved chocolate really at all, and my cravings for cake and sugar are only from watching shows about sweets... it's not like my body is actually craving sweets at all at this point.
I can recognize now that the first week of the diet I was very tired and grumpy. The arguments and conflicts I got into were due in part to my tiredness. I won't take total responsibility, but I just didn't have my usual patience for different people's attitudes. Now when I meet people who are chronically grumpy I'll consider the fact that they're probably not eating properly. Into the second week I actually felt like I was in a better mood than usual. This could be because I had some other things going on and keeping me busy, or it could be that I had adjusted to the diet well. Or it could have been a bit of both.
Anyway, I have found some good recipes on thecandidadiet.com website. Last night I made vegetarian cabbage rolls from scratch, and they were delicious. I got the main recipe from that site and then I took out the meat and added zucchini, red pepper and celery. I also added a bit of basil to the sauce. Even my meat-loving-man thought they were delicious.
This weekend I will be transitioning to the next stage of the diet - Elimination. I'm worried this will be more difficult, even though I will be able to eat a few more things, because of the Candida die-off. I bought some oregano oil as my anti-fungal, and I will be trying to incorporate more garlic into the things I eat. But I am so looking forward to eating blueberries again!!!!
I can recognize now that the first week of the diet I was very tired and grumpy. The arguments and conflicts I got into were due in part to my tiredness. I won't take total responsibility, but I just didn't have my usual patience for different people's attitudes. Now when I meet people who are chronically grumpy I'll consider the fact that they're probably not eating properly. Into the second week I actually felt like I was in a better mood than usual. This could be because I had some other things going on and keeping me busy, or it could be that I had adjusted to the diet well. Or it could have been a bit of both.
Anyway, I have found some good recipes on thecandidadiet.com website. Last night I made vegetarian cabbage rolls from scratch, and they were delicious. I got the main recipe from that site and then I took out the meat and added zucchini, red pepper and celery. I also added a bit of basil to the sauce. Even my meat-loving-man thought they were delicious.
This weekend I will be transitioning to the next stage of the diet - Elimination. I'm worried this will be more difficult, even though I will be able to eat a few more things, because of the Candida die-off. I bought some oregano oil as my anti-fungal, and I will be trying to incorporate more garlic into the things I eat. But I am so looking forward to eating blueberries again!!!!
Friday, 8 July 2011
MMM...Montreal bagels
I KNOW better than to watch the food network all day - ESPECIALLY when I can't eat any sugar... but I just can't help myself! I've had 2 days off (finally) and when there's nothing on anywhere else, there's always something interesting on the food network!
But it's not completely bad. Today I watched a show about Montreal bagels, and I realized our trip to Montreal is at the end of my cleanse, so I should be able to enjoy at least one Montreal bagel while we are in Montreal. So now I have something great to look forward to. I can taste it already!!!!
In terms of right now, however, I have been eating a LOT of food in the two days I've had off. And since I should have much more time off next week, I might end up eating a lot more food. But luckily, I only have about a week to go before I can start to have blueberries, apples, and beans again!!! This will give me a lot more options and make things a lot easier. For now though, I am getting by just fine, and I do look and feel healthier lately. So, all in all, so far so good!
But it's not completely bad. Today I watched a show about Montreal bagels, and I realized our trip to Montreal is at the end of my cleanse, so I should be able to enjoy at least one Montreal bagel while we are in Montreal. So now I have something great to look forward to. I can taste it already!!!!
In terms of right now, however, I have been eating a LOT of food in the two days I've had off. And since I should have much more time off next week, I might end up eating a lot more food. But luckily, I only have about a week to go before I can start to have blueberries, apples, and beans again!!! This will give me a lot more options and make things a lot easier. For now though, I am getting by just fine, and I do look and feel healthier lately. So, all in all, so far so good!
Monday, 4 July 2011
Temptations!!
I have now completed my 10th day of the anti-candida diet, and it has not been easy, but some days are worse than others. I don't know why I am so hard on myself, but food shows are among my favourite indulgences, and unfortunately they have become a sort of torture! I watched Cupcake Wars at lunch on Thursday and regretted it as soon as I turned it on. Yet I watched the entire episode, imagining how great it would be if I could just have one of the cupcakes being made on the show. But I made it through the day without succumbing to my temptation, and am a stronger person for it!
Then came the long weekend. Unfortunately for me, I was working every day except Friday. Fortunately for me, however, this made it easier for me to avoid many of the temptations I otherwise would have been exposed to. Pancakes for brunch on Saturday? Not for me, I had to leave the house at 8am. Pizza for dinner at 4pm? Nope, I won't be back until 6:30 or 7, and by then it will all be gone. Still, there were of course drinks, and snacks, and a fire just waiting to melt its first smore, but somehow I held fast to my diet and did not cheat. I just ate an abundance of rice cakes and almond butter, and concentrated on the other aspects of a great long weekend in the summer - the people and the atmosphere. Of course having a nice G & T or margarita with everyone would have been awesome, but it didn't ruin my weekend NOT to have it.
I guess I'm finding the best way to avoid temptations is to keep incredibly busy. I haven't had more than one full day off since I started this diet, and I know that that has made things a lot easier. I don't have time to think about the ice cream and bread hiding out in the house that I can't touch. I have been missing my pre-game perogies for sport-fuelling purposes, but I am managing. For the most part. I will be glad when this is over, but for now I honsetly don't feel I'm suffering too badly.
Then came the long weekend. Unfortunately for me, I was working every day except Friday. Fortunately for me, however, this made it easier for me to avoid many of the temptations I otherwise would have been exposed to. Pancakes for brunch on Saturday? Not for me, I had to leave the house at 8am. Pizza for dinner at 4pm? Nope, I won't be back until 6:30 or 7, and by then it will all be gone. Still, there were of course drinks, and snacks, and a fire just waiting to melt its first smore, but somehow I held fast to my diet and did not cheat. I just ate an abundance of rice cakes and almond butter, and concentrated on the other aspects of a great long weekend in the summer - the people and the atmosphere. Of course having a nice G & T or margarita with everyone would have been awesome, but it didn't ruin my weekend NOT to have it.
I guess I'm finding the best way to avoid temptations is to keep incredibly busy. I haven't had more than one full day off since I started this diet, and I know that that has made things a lot easier. I don't have time to think about the ice cream and bread hiding out in the house that I can't touch. I have been missing my pre-game perogies for sport-fuelling purposes, but I am managing. For the most part. I will be glad when this is over, but for now I honsetly don't feel I'm suffering too badly.
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