Whether you have a diagnosis or a sensitivity that limits your menu, it is all too easy to focus on what you can’t eat. When I first saw the list of “allowed” foods on the LEAP protocol based on my MRT results, I was discouraged by the limitations and the somewhat strange combinations that came to mind:
- Sole, clam, lamb, kidney beans
- Green beans, zucchini, green peas
- Watermelon, raspberries, blueberries
- Coconut, maple, oregano, rosemary
- Hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, walnut
- Tapioca, quinoa
There were a few more foods on the “allowed” list, but still it was a random, challenging list of foods. How would I make actual meals from these items?
Focusing on what I can eat
The more I looked at the list and let it settle in, the more I realized I needed to be thankful for what I could eat and decide how to make it look and taste good (because we eat first with our eyes, don’t we?). Otherwise, I would not be successful in this journey towards better health. It became my mission to get as creative as possible with these foods so I would enjoy the preparation and consumption.
I spent time brainstorming and food prepping. I also decided to journal my journey on Instagram for accountability. If I had a self-imposed deadline at the end of each day to post pictures of all the food I ate that day, it kept me inspired and motivated. Plus, I wanted to spread the word about this test. If it could help alleviate my symptoms and give me a better quality of life so I could be the wife and mom God created me to be, I wanted other people to know about it!
A word of encouragement
In your journey, whether it be discovering gluten sensitivity or giving up dairy or nightshades or some other combination of foods that trigger a reactive or immune response, I encourage you to focus on what you CAN eat instead of what you CAN’T. It will make all the difference.
If you’re looking for products that fit your dietary needs and get frustrated with the time it takes to research, I’ve done the work for you! Head on over to the Product Lists menu for thousands of products with their ingredients listed. All you have to do is search through the category using CTRL+F for foods that fit your needs and click the link to navigate to Amazon or the company’s website for easy ordering. I want to share the time and effort I’ve put into making lists of foods with minimal ingredients so you can move forward with healing as smoothly as possible!
