Elimination Diet - Week 1

Thank goodness I made it through week one!! Cooking this week wasn't much fun, mostly because I couldn't try out new recipes. Gosh darnit, I can hardly use any seasonings, which is no fun.  :( For flavor I've been using lime juice/zest, lemon juice/zest, green onions, cilantro, fresh vegetables and most recently, garlic.  I decided I'll never be able to (nor want to) cook without garlic, so I could use it during my diet and enjoy my food that much more. Plus, it was in the 'very low' category on my antibody results sheet. I struggled a bit and had a few setbacks but realized planning ahead is the only way I will make it through this test. Here is how it went:

Monday 8/15:
Breakfast: 8:00 am

• 1 c hot wheat cereal
• 1/2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1/3 c Original Coconut Milk

Snack: 11:00 am

• 1 c. mixed fruit (cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries)
• Black tea w/ 1/4 c. Original Coconut Milk

Lunch: 12:30

• 1 c whole wheat pasta + 1/2 Tbsp lemon olive oil
• 1 c carrot sticks
• 16 fl oz water

Snack: 2:00

• 1Tbsp sunflower seeds
• 20 oz H2O

Things were going well until we went to the MSU Alumni Social at the Mariner's game. I hadn't ate dinner and all they had were hot dogs, chips, beans and cookies. I had a cookie, a Mac & Jack's Microbrew (For $9.25!!) and a bottle of water. Afterwards we found our seats and the smell of the garlic fries wafting down from above won over my willpower. My hubby and I shared an order of the delicious garlic goodness and a Pyramid Hefeweizen while we basked in the sunshine. I was only one day in, so I'll just start tomorrow. :)

Exercise:
40 min walk w/ Lola + abs

Tuesday 8/16/11:
Breakfast:

• 1 c. hot wheat cereal
• 1 tsp Earth Balance Vegan butter
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1.5 c WA cherries

Lunch:

• 1/2 can V8 Fusion - Pomegranate Blueberry 100% Juice
• 1 c strawberries
• 1 small cob of sweet corn
• 1 pkg edamame

Snack:

• 2-3 Tbsp sunflower seeds
• 1 c mixed fruit (strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe)

Dinner:

• 3 oz grilled salmon
• Sauteed zucchini and red/orange/yellow bell peppers
• 1 c spaghetti tossed w/ caramelized onions and roasted tomatoes

Exercise:
40 min bike w/ Lola arms/abs

Wednesday 8/17/11:
Breakfast:

• 1 vegan hazelnut/blueberry scone
• 1/4 c blueberry fruit salsa

Lunch:

• Fruit Smoothie
• 1 banana
• 1/3 c blueberry salsa (lime zest, lime juice, fresh blueberries)
• 4 strawberries
• 1/3 c Coconut Milk
• Ice
• 1 pkg edamame
• 26 oz H2O

Snack:

• 1 c carrot sticks
• 26 oz H2O
• 1 apple + 1 Tbsp PB

Dinner:

• 1.5 c quinoa salad
• Red quinoa, cooked onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro, lime juice
• Tortilla chips
• 3 Popsicles for dessert while playing board games

Exercise:
45 min bike ride w/ Lola + arms/abs

Thursday 8/18:
Breakfast: 5:30

• Smoothie: 1 banana, 1/2 c blueberry 'salsa', 1/4 c coconut milk, ice

Breakfast #2: 8:00

• Hot cereal: 1 c. hot wheat cereal, 1 tsp Earth Balance Vegan butter, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 c coconut milk

Snack: 10:00

• 2-3 Tbsp sunflower seeds
• 8 fl oz Green Kombucha Tea
• Feeling very hungry this morning, my stomach kept growling

Lunch: 11:15

• 1 c quinoa salad
• 2 oz salmon
• 1 small cucumber
• 26 oz H2O

Snack: 4:00

• Apple w/ 1 Tbsp PB

Dinner: 7:00

• 1.5 c Israeli couscous w/ pine nuts, olive oil, lemon, garlic, kalamata olives, zucchini, onions
• Popsicles

Exercise: 40 min walk w/ Lola + strength/abs

Friday 8/19:
Breakfast: 5:30

• Smoothie: 1 banana, 1/2 c blueberry 'salsa', 1/4 c coconut milk, ice

Breakfast #2: 9:00

• Hot cereal: 1 c. hot wheat cereal, 1 tsp Earth Balance Vegan butter, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 c coconut milk
• 12 oz soy black tea latte with 1/2 the sweetener

Lunch: 11:30

• 1 c. couscous salad
• 1 cucumber
• 1/2 - 1 c mixed fruit (cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries)
• 24 fl oz. H2O

Snack: 1:30

• 8 fl oz unswtd. iced tea

Dinner: Not a very balanced dinner at all :/

• Cascade Ice Pina Colada mixer w/ 1 oz coconut cream + 1 oz alcohol + lime juice
• Edamame package
• Cherries
• Homemade chips @ The Rock
• 1 mixed drink

Exercise:
60 min walk w/ Lola + abs/arms

Saturday 8/20:
Breakfast: 10:30 am

• Green Smoothie: 2 c spinach, 1/2 c blueberry 'salsa', 1 banana, 1 Tbsp coconut cream, splash of limeade, 1 Tbsp ground flax
• 16 oz H2O

Lunch: Feeling snacky/on the go

• 4 oz limeade + 12 oz Cascade Ice flavored sparkling water
• Peach (oops, just looked over my sheet and realized peach was a reactant, but a very low one)
• 16 oz H2O
• 2-3 Tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds

Dinner:

• Wrap: whole wheat tortilla, chickpeas sauteed w/ olive oil, garlic and sunflower seeds, red peppers, yellow peppers, onion, spinach, cilantro and a squeeze of lime
• 16 oz H2O

Snack:

• A big bowl of air popped popcorn w/ 2 tsp Earth Balance + salt
• Mixed drink < sparkling drink mix, peach schnapps, vodka, frozen blueberries, ice - blended and split w/ hubby 

Exercise: 60 min bike w/ Lola

Sunday 8/21:
Breakfast:  Late Breakfast, grabbed on the go

• Nectarine
• Sunflower seeds

Lunch: Out to eat for seafood @ Cutters after picking up my sister-in-law and friend from the train station

• Seafood skewers over creamy polenta and arugula
• Lavender martini
• Water

Snack:

• Iced 12 oz soy chai tea (I know, I know -- spiced w/ off limits spices)

Dinner: Again, out to eat for Mexican at Cactus

• Portobello and veggie fajitas on flour tortillas w/ black beans + pepitas
• Corn chips + salsa
• Water