What I Learned By Not Eating (Much)

Many of you have read my plights with my baby's poo and how it meddled with my diet. It only got worse. I'll keep things brief and really try and steer clear of words such as breasts, lactating and the like. I don't particularly enjoy lengthy conversations about my boozies.

The wee-one wasn't improving when I omitted dairy and gluten from my diet, so we had to take greater measures. I went on an elimination diet to narrow down the problem and get some clear answers. Here's the short list of foods I could eat:

• Sweet Potatoes (thank the Lord for my sweet potatoes)
• Potatoes
• Lamb
• Free range non-creepy turkey
• Zucchini
• Rice
• Millet
• Pears
• Pear juice

That's it folks. For an entire week that is what I lived off of.

NOTE: This was under the supervision of a lactation consultant, and I ate whenever I was hungry. This isn't something to go off by yourself and do when breastfeeding.

There now I feel better having warned the internet about eating, and people won't email me about being careless or harmful. (Sorry I said breast).

To move away from this discussion quickly I will say that it wasn't diet related at all, and the kid is fine now after making adjustments in other areas. Yes folks, nothing to do with diet at all.

But we must learn from experiences, especially ones where I ate puffed rice cereal at least 3 times a day. This is what I've learned.

We live in a country of complete abundance and walk around with a very false sense of entitlement. I had more than enough to eat, and was actually left with many more options for food than most of the people living on this planet. But somehow, I kept thinking something just wasn't right. It was almost like I was robbed of things even though I'm not sure they were rightfully mine to begin with.

I'm not saying we shouldn't partake in the bounty of food at our fingertips. Just that we should be ever mindful and thankful for our plenty. I am much more appreciative of the daily variety. It's such a blessing, and I just hope that more people will pause every once in a while to appreciate and be thankful for it.

My second lesson; food is feeling (to me at least). I missed the pure joy of tasting what I cooked for people. I missed the small comfort that milk, or chocolate can bring. It's another fact that I think we overlook here. I also made food for people coming to celebrate at my home and it just wasn't the same. They kept being so apologetic about eating when it really didn't bother me at all that they could eat. I wanted them to enjoy what I made, but it was as if they couldn't.

My last revelation is in the form of millet. I had never tried it before, and am enjoying it very much now. It's an African grain, but is used in many Asian and Indian dishes as well. It is great for gluten free diets and I've been trying out a few different ways to eat it. My favorite so far is to use it in salads. It wasn't bad warm as a side, but I think I prefer its texture mixed with other ingredients. I also had to cook it a few times to get it right. It isn't as forgiving as rice or other grains. Fortunately having 3 kids worked for my favor and after overcooking it a bit (I think there was some sort of lost blanky emergency), I got it right.

This is the best way I found to make it. 1/2 cup millet to 1 1/2 cup water or stock. I use a shallow pan with a good fitting lid. Bring the liquid to a boil, add the millet and bring back to a boil. Bring the heat down and cover. Cook on low for about 20 minutes then remove from heat and let sit for another 7-10 minutes. It looked as though it was overcooked (compared to rice) but it fluffed up very nicely with a fork and wasn't at all sticky.



Millet Black Bean Salad with Citrus Cumin Dressing

Prepared millet (1 1/2 cup stock to 1/2 cup millet)
1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1/2 red pepper seeded and chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
2 cups diced turkey meat
1/2 seeded diced jalapeno

Dressing
Juice 1/2 fresh orange and zest from 1/2
3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 clove garlic minced
5 Tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Prepare dressing and pour over salad, toss together. Serve with avocado slices or on top of greens.

That is my saga of not eating, and the lessons to be had. Thus ending our conversations about boozies and poop, forever.