Gratitude Lounge

We are so alike, Mica! I made a descriptive list of my oldest Christmas ornaments to put into the box where they are kept, and they include a glittery pinecone that I made in school and a red paper star Santa with a pencil drawn face and cotton fleece beard that my brother made in grade school!

I have more protein in my diet today than is good for me. My body is sensitive in certain ways and too much meat makes me more arthritic, makes me gain weight, and have more digestive issues. My body does not seem to react to plant proteins and dairy, but it is a little hard to tell if this is for more complicated reasons, such as what comes with most proteins (I suspect the real issue for me is uric acid sources). My husband is the opposite of me in needs. His metabolism is unusually high, and he needs calorie-dense foods or he gets too thin and doesn’t feel well. He’s also a bit set in his ways. It is a struggle for me to get what I need for my body (more veg, nutrients, and fiber) and what he needs for his in the same meal. I like meat and high calorie foods too (like breads), so when I see it I eat it! Meat is served for most of our dinners, I just know that my body reacts badly when I get too much of it, and I’d probably have more than enough with just two servings in a week. I’ve tried serving plant protein dinners like dal or some WWII recipes that might be more to my husband’s liking – but no go. He tries to tolerate it, but he makes his disappointment clear, and then he also usually winds up snacking all evening when I serve something like that. So my compromise has been to try to avoid meat for myself at breakfast and lunch, and sometimes during dinner I might substitute meat substitute or beans on my plate, or take only half a serving of meat (about 2 oz)… but mostly I just eat what others eat, enjoy it, but then pay later when my joints become inflamed and my digestion goes wonky and keeps me up. So it is a work in progress trying to get what my body needs, and it is part of my intention for better self-care. I’m far from perfect. But I think you can stop worrying about my not getting enough protein. 😉😂

I read a very interesting article this week about WWII war rations, and if they would be healthy today. I suspect this way of eating would be much healthier for me, with perhaps more salads, tomatoes, and fruit. I think you might find this article interesting: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-465769/Can-modern-family-survive-wartime-rations.html