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A lot of people say that the key to clean and healthy eating is planning ahead. It is easy to slip up and go to Wendy’s or just eat junk out of a box or something if you don’t have meals ready to go when you are short on time. I am not in school or working right now, and I don’t have children, so I have a ton of time to do the cooking I need. Not everyone has that much time, though, and even I can’t spend all my time in the kitchen. I traveled to Will’s grandparent’s house for the weekend. I couldn’t commandeer their kitchen, and even if I could we’ll be driving and spending time with them. But because of my restrictive elimination diet, I had to have meals I could eat. I didn’t have a choice, but it gave me a good look at how planning ahead can make all the difference in the quality of what you eat.

When everyone around me is eating cheese, ice cream, burgers, blueberry muffins (my favorite), fresh picked strawberries, and cake, it can be really hard to stick to a healthy diet. But my planned and prepared meals made it so I was able to. The hard part was self control, but I feel that strengthening. I’m sticking with this diet, but at the same time, I would highly recommend not doing this alone.

These three days were meant to be spent introducing lemon, my first new food. I never used lemon much and it is a lot of work to squeeze lemons (bottled lemon juice isn’t usually elimination diet friendly). Therefore, I only had lemon once a day instead of 3 times like they recommend. I know I will never eat it more than like once a week, so if I don’t react to once a day, I doubt there is anything to worry about.

I did “break” the rules on Day 11. I was hungry and realized that I really wanted something heartier than the vegetables I was thinking about eating. As I prepared stew and vegetables, Will brought out smoked turkey. I really wanted some meat, it was a fairly tame, local meat, and I had been doing a poor job of adding lemon anyway. So I had some turkey. Then Will realized there were likely nightshades in the skin (peppers), but I’m testing those on Tuesday so it’s probably fine. I may even have more tomorrow (without skin) and call that testing turkey.

Detox and Exercise
Every day I drank Nettle and Rose Hips Tea and took two capsules of Redmond Clay. I did not get a chance to oil pull and my exercise consisted of walking around the farm and catching kittens (Will’s family now has two new kittens!).

Health
I was tired and had a bit of a headache due to travel and dehydration on Day 10. My stomach was also off during the day after lunch. It didn’t like what I ate. Neither did my mouth. I wasn’t hungry much after lunch on Day 12, either, and I was tired all weekend.

My skin was off on Day 10. It may have been due to dehydration and my first sun exposure since starting this diet (I wish I was kidding), but it was dry and slightly flaky. No itching though, so I don’t think it was immune response irritation. Elbows had noticeable eczema on them. Legs were doing pretty well. No change for Day 11 (well, maybe slightly better on my arms). Looking very good on Day 12.

Food – Day 10
Breakfast: Quinoa and Blueberry Syrup
Lunch: Raw Tai Wraps – I did not enjoy these. They were just too vegetably. I spent the rest of the day until my delicious dinner craving a piece of bread.
Dinner: Mung Beans and Rice, an apple, fermented vegetables
Snacks: carrot, blueberries, Sweet Potato Chips

Day 11
Breakfast: Quinoa with Blueberry Syrup, blueberries, and honey
Lunch: Lentil and Kale Dal with brown rice and an apple
Dinner: Creamy Zucchini Soup, fermented vegetables, peas and carrots – I accidentally made this recipe with 3 cups of rice instead of 3 tablespoons.
Snacks: Mung Beans and Rice, fermented vegetables, and some turkey jerky

Day 12
Breakfast: Quinoa and Blueberry Syrup
Lunch: Lentil and Kale Dal with brown rice, fermented vegetables, peas and carrots
Dinner: Raw Tai Wraps, apples
Snacks: Blueberries, turkey jerky, pumpkin seeds

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