healthy food suggestions please discuss

problems with constant hunger and craving for mostly junk food *screams*  and when i don't eat any junk food, i stay hungry.  i need to up my vege and fiber intake more but serious, eating these raw is a bore!  and we have to avoid carrots and iron right?  
any suggestions for routine foods or simple recipes that could save me from this hunger would be graciously appreciated.

good luck everyone

[Marc1955]

It's not really as hard to get fiber in your diet as people think. The thing to do is simply eliminate processed carbohydrates from your diet – white bread, white rice, potatoes, pasta, most cereals – and replace them with high fiber alternatives – whole grain pasta, whole grain bread, whole grain cereal, brown rice, etc.  Prunes have the most fiber of any food. Oatmeal is an excellent breakfast food.

You shouldn't eat any junk food. What are you doing the treatment for if not for your health? You can snack on whole grain fig bars, dried fruit, and nuts if you have a craving. There is nothing good about ingesting large amount of fat, processed carbohydrates, and sugar. You don't want to be cured of HCV only to give yourself a heart condition.

The veggie issue is harder. It sounds like you're not used to cooking vegetables. It is very important to eat vegetables, but I would guess it's going to be very hard to adjust your eating in that way.

[lalapple]

that seems so limiting.  but i will try to do what i have to do for the best

[Rockerforlife]

Common sense....EAT RIGHT

[Mary4now]

Apples have great fiber, make apple sauce, tastes great... eat oatmeal, fruit, steam veges, add lemon, braggs aminos,

[Bill1954]

What happens if you limit yourself to say, one junk-food splurge per every five or six well-thought-through, healthy meals? It’s not a perfect solution, but it only has to get you through treatment. I just read your latest journal entry, “I miss being me”. It sounds as though treatment is getting rough for you right now. Just try to get through treatment; I’ve talked with folks that lived on fudgesicles and pizza, and went on to achieve SVR. Again, not a perfect world; this has got to be tough… you’re young, and this is a big change in your life.

Good luck, and hang in there—

Bill

PS; steamed carrots with butter, salt and pepper are really pretty good :o).

[bajawoman]

Do you like to cook? Maybe not if you like Junk food but there are healthy receipes on the internet you can download some quick type to prepare and tasty
fiber is found in a lot of foods and good tasty foods
When you say junk food is it McDonalds or Burger King or Candy Chips etc?
Do you like sugar and sweets or fried and salty
As you can satisfy these cravings with all the foods recommended by others
if I am feeling like desert I get chocolate Cool Whip and put two big table spoons in a small cup or bowl tbs of smuckers sugar free rasberry jam top it with  a squirt of light whipped cream and slivered almonds  works fine and is a bit of junk food for sure but not too bad
the diet I downloaded is healthy low fat low carbs and low calorie with shopping list and the food is easy to prepare eating more often and eating breakfast is very important but I am not on tx yet so no foods really bother me
I was told once what you crave is what you shouldn't eat as cravings for foods often are foods you are allergic too
interesting concept not sure if it is true
Good Luck Eating well is for life just hard to do for some

[jankar]

The junk food thing could be about getting an instant hit of energy from the carbs and the sugar when our energy levels are so low.  Low GI carbs (wholegrain) and raw veges take longer to digest and fill you up for longer. The best things could be soups - they fill you up for longer, are easy to digest and with a couple of bits of whole grain bread can give you that instant hit that lasts longer - particularly if the soup has a protein base. Protein base vegetable soups fill you up for longer and give you more energy.  The more veges and low GI carbs you eat and less sugar, the more sustained energy you have. Try salads for lunch and steak and veges for dinner - no carbs.  Get rid of the insulin kick by doing this and you will have less craving for carbs and instant energy fast food.

[Isobella]

I try to prepare things ahead of time to make them easy to grap....otherwise all I would eat would be watermelon licorice.

One favorite is shelled edamine--sold in the organic frozen food section of my grocery store.  I re-bag it in snack baggies with a little sea salt....great snack. Keep in freezer-grab and go.

Vanilla yogurt--or Activia.  When I am good, I add sliced strawberries or some blueberries-top with granola.  When I am bad...chocolate chips and granola =)

Someone had a recipe for fruit smoothies, maybe they will post.

Nuts are always good.  I keep some in my car and in my purse.  String cheese.  Keep grapes chilled in the fridge...refreshing.

Hard boil some eggs ahead of time to grab for a quick snack.

Hummus is great with either veggies or crackers.

I can relate...if I don't concentrate on eating good...all I would want is that licorice or pizza.

As you can see, my list is short because at week 17-nothing appeals to me anymore either.  Thanks for posting this thread.  I am hoping for some good ideas myself.

Wish  ya luck..hang in there

Isobella

[Rockerforlife]

Try eating "healty junk food"....i love power bars and barrels of organic soya ice cream...sesame seed rice crackers i love too....veggie pizza is another addition i have

[epiphiny]

I went through a crazy period of only wanting to eat sweet things.  I was eating SO much sweet stuff that I thought I was gonna give myself diabetes...  I was having huge spoonfuls of honey in tea, then I just ditched the tea and went straight for the honey.  Then I moved on to peanut butter, sugary biscuits, lollies, anything to get that hit.  All of a sudden the cravings just stopped...

My favorite snacks now are cheese and apple, together, bite for bite, yum!  Good fiber in the apple, protein in the cheese.  For more fibre, if req, I have a few spoonfuls of LSA in a Bush Honey Organic Acidopholous Yoghurt, very easy to grab from the fridge.  I have oatmeal every morning with yoghurt.  I can't eat wheat as it makes me sick so it's quite hard for me to find things that work.

I eat lots of green leaf salads with home-made Balsamic Vinaigrette, and have fresh fish.  Stir frying veges is super quick and super easy and sooo tasty!  You can buy already prepped veges that you just have to throw in a wok with a tasty soy sauce.  You can throw in some brown or white rice if you want too.  You can buy that in microwavable bags that takes 90 secs to cook.

Sometimes you just need to eat what appeals to you rather than what you think you 'should' eat..  Get some healthy fats into your diet (nuts, avocado, olive oil, virgin coconut oil) as that really helps with you sense of wellbeing.  There's a reason for the saying fat and happy!!  I'm not advocating obesity, but a little good fat is OK.  Same as some pizza and ice cream is OK, too!!

Oh and we always have big, fat gourmet burgers with chunky fries and mayonnaise every Friday night.  Guess you could call that junk food, I call it yummy!!!

Good Luck!

Epi :)

[Rockerforlife]

Chunky fries and mayo?.....my God...this will kill you before the hep c

[epiphiny]

But I am soooo good the rest of the time....  And I have tofu burger on gluten free bun...

[Isobella]

Omgosh...I thought the same thing---I was gonna go diabetic with all the watermelon licorice.

Food is definately an issue.  

Ok--white spinach pizza-yum!

[epiphiny]

Oh my!  Watermelon Licorice!  That sounds like a heaven I have never visited...

Uh huh, food is DEFINITELY an issue!

White spinach? What is white spinach?

[Marcia2202]

I was wondering the same. Was just gonna ask, why not black spinach... lol

[Isobella]

I told you I was having an off day today....it's white pizza with spinach.  The spinach is green.  Like algae....oops, didn't mean to go there, lol!!

[epiphiny]

Hehehehehehe!

Isn't seaweed algae?  I love seaweed!

[jmjm530]

Who told you to go on a health-food type regimen on treatment? Unless you're gaining weight, or your doctor has instructed you otherwise,  I would eat your normal diet or whatever you want. When you finish with treatment you can start eating healthier if you want. Interferon often causes weight and muscle loss and you sometimes have to pack in the calories whenever you can to keep weight and strength up. You also need an adequate amount of fat when you take your ribavirin in order for it to be used most efficiently. As to "iron" -- that's iron supplements you should avoid, not foods containing iron. Do not just listen to stuff you read on the internet -- check it out independently, including with your own doctor if he/she is a good one.

-- Jim

[Trinity4]

Totally agree with you Jim. I have not avoided foods containing iron nor have I avoided foods which are not considered healthy.  If it weren't for some comfort foods, I would have had extreme weight loss.  I've never had a problem with anemia and I know some would disagree with this but I attribute it to lots of protein and green veggies and making sure I eat whether I feel like it or not.  I even started eating Total Raisin Bran a month ago and hgb has jumped up to 12.2
Food is very important while txing, eat what you can when you can.  It's not about food on tx, it's about staying well enough to finish treatment.  I get concerned too about all the advice given on how and what to eat.
Trin

[GSDgirl]

On days that I couldn't eat I would have a carnation instant breakfast add some ice cream & milk.  Great healthy milkshake but not sure about iron content.  I also made a salad with leafy greens, spinach and romaine.......put on a good dressing and let wilt, it seemed to be easier to eat that way.  Chicken broth on the really bad days.

Denise             BTW I also "found" the watermelon licorice, yummmmm

[nygirl7]

OH BOLLOCKS!

In the perfect world - where are all amazingly perfectlfy healthy physical and mental specimens perhaps you might not eat junk food while on treatment but in the REAL world.....well get real!

If you have a craving go for it. End of the story.

I don't mean go out and eat a whole chocolate cake with a vat of ice cream but having some cake and ice cream certainly isn't going to hurt you one little bit.

As Trin said "it's all about staying strong enough to finish treatment" and dear God aren't you going through enough already without giving up a few french fries?

[can-do-man]

I don't mean go out and eat a whole chocolate cake with a vat of ice cream
---------------------------------------------

NOW you tell me......... OH BOLLOCKS!

[Marc1955]

To nygirl, Trinity4, and jmjm530: I think you guys are making a lot of assumptions about how this poster is doing with her treatment. It is true that many patients experience side effects, but some experience virtually none. She certainly didn't say anything in her post about having severe problems with food intake. She implied that she was having a problem with eating too much junk food. Without more information, your advice could be off-base. You really need more information about her situation.

[nygirl7]

:I think you guys are making a lot of assumptions about how....you really need more information about her situation."
"You shouldn't eat any junk food. What are you doing the treatment for if not for your health? "

Yes I made the assumption that this person is not a diabetic or a moron, allergic to peanuts or milk and just wanted to know if eating junk food was ok when you body craves it on treatment. If they want a  piece of pizza or a glass of soda the world will not come to an end.

[Trinity4]

You know I started to reply with basically the same response as you nygirl.  
Of course healthy eating is important but 24 or 48 wks out of your life trying to sustain weight and energy food is what is important, but restricting your diet to certain types of foods can cause problems if your palate simply can't handle it.  Eat what you want is my theory.

[jdwithhcv]

Careful ladies, the food police are gonna get you.  Maybe if you recommend some nice algae they will give you a pass!

jd

[Trinity4]

Yeah, I've noticed that too.  Food solidarity, almost herd like.

[jdwithhcv]

Sheep, perhaps?

[Trinity4]

Mmm, lamb chops, rack of lamb, lamb kebobs, lamb stew.   I eat sheep unless they are sheep dressed in wolves clothing.

[Trinity4]

I meant wolves dressed in sheep's clothing!!!  Duh

[jdwithhcv]

True, the clothing is not very tasty!  How about some nice blue-green mint sauce...

[nygirl7]

I never ate a sheep before, you know me........triple cheese cheeseburger girl all the way!  And some nice red sauce for the top! No algae's here nuh uh!

[jmjm530]

Marc: She implied that she was having a problem with eating too much junk food. Without more information, your advice could be off-base
--------------------------------------
Actually she stated she was hungry and avoiding foods with iron. Neither wise on treatment. In general, treatment is not the time to start a health food regimen!

Marc: You shouldn't eat any junk food. What are you doing the treatment for if not for your health? You can snack on whole grain fig bars, dried fruit, and nuts if you have a craving. There is nothing good about ingesting large amount of fat, processed  carbohydrates, and sugar. You don't want to be cured of HCV only to give yourself a Congenital heart disease
________________

Do you realize how much sugar is in a fig bar and especially dried fruit? You would be better off with a bowl of Ben and Jerry's in terms of modulating sugar absorption.

[nygirl7]

FUDGICLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

God knows I would have starved to death without them during treatment! And ice pops...........they were just the BEST for the dry mouth problem in the world!

[Isobella]

~~any suggestions for routine foods or simple recipes~~~

I took it that she was looking for some suggestions for foods or simple recipes that we could share.  

JD--didn't you once share something with feta cheese maybe some nuts and balsamic vinager...it was delicious--but I forgot what else was in it.  Any chance of you reposting it for a starving hepper, lol!!

I got a smoothie mix today and am gonna try it..Tropical Smoothie is too expensive to make a habit.

It is good to know that we don't have to avoid foods with  iron---only supplements--I believe that was another question raised initially---I was getting a little worried about all the (green) spinach (white) pizza, LOL!!

[fretboard]

My eating habits really haven't changed that much, except I do try to stay away from fast food places.  The way I eat my veggies is by eating asian food dishes.  Mostly I eat Mexican food or Asian food.  I have not totally eliminated rice, potatoes or anything like that because, I automatically eat less of them.  My wife was making a big deal and wanted to know what I was supposed to eat and all that, don't misunderstand I appreciated her concern, but I finally just said that I wasn't gonna change my eating habits until I find out more.  Meaning that I would eat everything I used to, if I get the runs from something, then I will eliminate it.lol  I hardly eat any junk food, but I do eat more popsicles and ice cream than I ever have.  As far as cakes and all that stuff, I never really had a problem with it.  Maybe I'm wrong and I should do more, but I really trust my body to call the shots.  I just started tx, so maybe I'm still in the easy to eat stage.  My first week on, I was eating tons, that stopped the following week.  I still eat more than I used to pre-tx, but I don't steadily eat junk food.  Yeah my junk food is gummi lifesavers, I still eat them, but I don't live off of them.lol    good luck

[Marcia2202]

If you could give me a list of veggies and meats you like at the moment, I will give you some recipes. I am vegetarian, but have also cooked non vegetarian food for years. I like to improvise, so anything will be fine. Just let me know if you are more into Asian or European style cooking, or both.  I have altered a whole lot of my recipes, to make cooking easy and fast, due to not having energy. I think Isobella has some easy delicious yummy recipes like taboulé etc.

hugs, marcia

[jdwithhcv]

That was (still is) my favorite - I make Good Seasons Italian with good olive oil and balsamic vinegarette, then toss in crumbled bleu cheese.  This is good on salad or on toasted bread/crostini type things.  Its also great stuffed into an avocado.  I like to snack on raw almonds - they have healthy fat and lots of fiber.  Hummous is good too, I like the one with roasted red peppers.

jd

[portann]

I admire you. Not that many eighteen year olds students loaded down with coursework could simultaneously do the tx and carry on as successfully as you. I got through college eating Mae Wests. In retrospect, it was 'wrong' but cooking healthy was the last thing on my mind in those days. You're far ahead of the game compared to most of your peers.

In your journal, you mention you're eighteen, generally eat healthy, are almost six feet tall and weighed 130 pounds four months ago.

How much do you weigh now? Have you lost weight?

And what are your junk food 'screams' ?  Perhaps you're overly worried about them?

If you're already getting sufficient calories to maintain your weight, have you tried to offset your 'constant hunger' by having more water or soup? Sometimes what we think is hunger is thirst.  

Also, eating fat gives you a sense of fullness that veggies do not. Perhaps you're not getting enough fat, since your baseline weight  was 130 at almost six feet and now  may be less.

You're lucky your appetite is good. Perhaps you can visit the school clinic, which may have a dietitian available to assess your caloric intake and give you suggestions?

The important thing is to stick with tx and keep up your coursework.

It would be super to both put HCV behind you and  succeed in your school year.

I'm rooting for you, as everyone else here is.

[Isobella]

Ohhhh....Yummm.  Bleu cheese..that's the  one.  Thanks for reposting.  

If you like hummus...here's a twist.  Try it with crackers and salsa.  Yummers.

[lalapple]

wow , i am just simply inspired by you all.  thank you for all these suggestions!  

tx has made me lactose intolerant.  so i try to avoid raw veggies especially when i am eating out like my doc suggested.  and i am sad that i can no longer enjoy milk with my fiber cereal.

no weight loss so far, weight has been constant every clinic visit.  i feel like i used to eat tons of different foods before tx that i am just not really interested in anymore.  before tx, i ate less meat and more vege tried to convert to vegetarian.  now i crave junk foods fries mostly for hunger and foods that are hard to find like funnel cake.  and many credible sources do suggest that fat increases riba absorption.  and i do sleep better when i eat junk food on shot days.  but everytime after i eat junk food, i feel guilty and full.  maybe the health course i am taking right now is leaving a conscience in my head.  

not into cheesy, cake ice cream sweet foods.  eating salty foods just makes me more thirsty.  i love potatoes!  i have a tub of hummus in the fridge and try it with some veggies. no sheep please, poor sheep i like to pet them in the petting zoo.

what are the opinions on proteins like fish, and crawfish (new orleans style)?  some say that low protein diets may help the liver, some disagree

gratis!

[epiphiny]

Hey Portann, nice post thanks!  I agree with the eating fat making you feel more satiated and I also think it's good for the skin and hair. And I luuuurve blue cheese!

lalapple, I didn't realise you are nearly 6' tall!  I am 6' tall and I weigh in at 167lbs, which gives me a BMI of 22.69.  So if you are nearly 6' and coming in at 130lbs then I would say you could eat as much as you like to satisfy your constant hunger!!

You go girl!!

[Marc1955]

lalapple – thanks for the further info. If you're not gaining any weight, you shouldn't worry about those eating habits. I spent two months putting maple syrup on everything. And one should never, ever, feel guilty about eating funnel cake! God put funnel cake on earth so we could all get a glimpse of life in heaven.

You're not eating so badly. I got the impression from your original post that you were eating three big macs a day. At your point in treatment, when eating is a challenge, the main thing is to absorb calories. The other folks were right. You can worry later about a healthier diet.

[Bill1954]

Batchelor casserole?

1 bag Fritos
Add ketchup to moisten
Nuke until warm

Mmmmm…..

[jdwithhcv]

If you garnish it with onion dip, does it count as a serving of vegetables?

Good to see you on the forum...how have you been?

jd

[epiphiny]

Have you considered that you may also have some Gluten intolerance?  That often goes along with Lactose intolerance as they have same protein that is hard for some people to digest.  I have it and can't eat wheat etc because it just makes my feel so "full" and bloated..  There are a lot of gluten free options out there these days as people are becoming more aware...

Also, I went through a phase on tx where whatever I ate made me feel full,  I constantly felt like a bloated sausage with skinny little legs, careering around the place.  It was just awful, but it went away as suddenly as it came. Craxy tx world!

[lalapple]

amen.  and amen to funnel cake Marc!

[epiphiny]

I think I am missing out here, I don't know what funnel cake is!!  Yet another example of my cultural handicap :(

[Marcia2202]

ditto.... but I looked it up... I've had it in Germany and Indonesia, but obviously they call it something else...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funnel_cake

[epiphiny]

Wow, I have never seen or tasted anything like that!  As far as I know we have no equivalent to that here in NZ.  Next time I'm in America I'll try and find some, I'm sure my mother-in-law or auntie will help me!

[meakea]

Dr. D from this forum does not discourage people from eating foods with iron in them.  He simply suggests limiting red meat "as everyone should do."  So, eat whatever veggies or health food that you want and don't worry about the iron content (unless you doc told you specifically to do that).

Also, what's specifically wrong with carrots?

I have a juicer and I juice my veggies so that I'm sure to get enough.  Low Sodium V8 is another alternative.

[kickboxingmom]

I love my juicer.If you drink right after making, you get all the nutrients.It's so expensive to make 3 small glasses of juice.
V-8 is one amazing drink.
I love to cook.My take if you Have  eaten something healthy today,be happy you had an appetite to do so.If you want something sweet, go for it if okayed by your Dr.I agree with people who said, eat when hungry.
Moderate amounts of meat, limiting red.Season, limited or no salt.Sea salt I use mostly and broil, that's healthy.Use drip pan.
Best investment was a Baby George Forman rotisserie.He paid 25.00 at the goodwill store.New but missing drip pan .We use alum foil.The best is herb and chicken rub, lemon pepper good too.
Rub extra virgin olive oil, season , cook for 80 minutes.Delicious.
I have a recipe for Christmas Fudge that is amazing.I make 10 batches every year.
Father in law has had diebeties for ten yrs.He always says, Tammy you know I live all year for your fudge on Christmas.OMG, why did that make me cry ? 2nd. time today.I had three shots...I don't cry that easy.
Tammy

[meakea]

A juicer tip:

I make a week's worth of juice at a time (saves cleaning the juicer every day) and I FREEZE individual containers.  I read that freezing it retains the nutrients.  I thaw an individual serving and drink right away.

[kickboxingmom]

I didn't know about freezing.Mmmmmm, now I want some.

[Isobella]

~~~ maybe the health course i am taking right now is leaving a conscience in my head.

I bet that's part of it.  When I study biology...I won't eat butter.  When I study chemistry it's carob that bothers me, lol!! At least until I go to the next subject.....

Right now your body is going through so much and your taste buds are off.....eat what you can tolerate.

As long as you are doing good with your labs and weight-- you will be fine.  I can relate because it is a sincere effort everytime I eat anything other than that watermelon licorice.  

But this thread has given some good suggestions so maybe we'll all get a little variety this week ; )

Take care,

Izzy

[lalapple]

just made a yogurt smoothie and it was pretty good hopefully will help with lactose intolerance.
i thought carrots were bad bc they have too much vitamin A and sweet potatoes too.  i like chicken

[merryBe]

well apart from the snack advice, of which you've had plenty, you may need to reevalute your meds.

often patients are put on anti-depressants and not told that one possible side is intense food cravings. This is particularly true of the one I'm on, Remeron, but several others as well.

I think taking an AD very late at night helps minimize this, as does keeping water close by all day and night. I also skip one meal a day, eating only oatmeal at breakfast and a reasonable dinner...so that if I do have an impossible to get to sleep craving, I can get up and get something without it being too many calories for the day.

you may also want to try getting an inexpensive (or free, as many are offered regularly this way) blood suar meter device. Keeping an eye on your blood sugar when having cravings is a good idea while on tx since diebetes (diabetes) can be triggered by the tx itself. Apart from food craving, feeling and weak or starved, or excessive thirst, there aren't too many early warning signs of diebetes (diabetes). Some people have no warning signs. So this is something you may just want to be aware of, or monitor to be on the safe side.

mb

[lalapple]

oatmeal sounds good too. will try.  i'm not on AD and don't want to be on anymore pills.  i have a meter but scared to ***** fingers and asked my docc about blood sugar, she said that it was lower than normal which is better than hyperglycemia.  but you're right, i should test it on my own.