Making the "New Normal" Work

What is your favorite meal?

Growing up mine was deep-fried pork chops with Mac and cheese, and for dessert, I had a pile of ice cream smothered with all the toppings- you name it; chocolate syrup, the little nuts, the whipped cream, topped with sprinkles, caramel, and the cherry on top.

My parents would take us to a buffet, and I would have at least three full plates plus dessert to end the night. Being an athlete meant having a huge appetite that required many energy-based foods, and being young meant wanting copious amounts of sugar. I was a food-obsessed person growing up.

Now life is a little different for me. It's been five years since I beat Cancer, not once, but twice. My diet has drastically changed since then. Throughout everything, I've learned that even though medication is vital in cancer treatments, your diet is just as essential, and it is one thing you can have control over in a positive way, which sometimes you need.

Though I am a two-time Cancer Survivor, I didn't worry about what I ate until my second round. I mean, what are the odds of a back-to-back (completely unrelated) Cancer diagnosis in the span of under a year? Thyroid Cancer was a breeze, but fighting Breast Cancer would take more finesse, especially during pregnancy. My family began researching healthy diets with Cancer-Fighting Foods. Did you know that Cancer cannot thrive in a high Alkaline, low Acidic body? What we found were many suggestions, but we settled on the Paleo Diet.

Now, I want to clarify that I am not an expert on the Paleo Diet; I just dabbled in it.

But, what is a Paleo Diet exactly?

Think prehistoric but better tasting.

According to Healthy Lifestyle: Nutrition and Healthy Eating on mayoclinic.org,

"A paleo diet is a dietary plan based on foods similar to what might have been eaten during the Paleolithic era, which dates from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.

A paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds — foods that in the past could be obtained by hunting and gathering. A paleo diet limits foods that became common when farming emerged about 10,000 years ago. These foods include dairy products, legumes and grains.

Other names for a paleo diet include Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet and caveman diet." https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/paleo-diet/art-20111182

Basically,

• you avoid all processed foods,

• shop only in the produce and meat aisle.

I even replaced white rice with quinoa; before this, I couldn't even tell you what quinoa was. Have you ever tried pudding made from Almond Milk, fruits, and Chia seeds? It's oddly satisfying. Smoothies become your best friend, as well as Super Greens, and honey...lots of honey because processed sugar is bad. My coffee was still in my life, but tea became just as important. All of this helped me avoid anything with preservatives and only eat all-natural foods.

I even switched away from dairy products during this time. You don't have to give up dairy, but that year held much dietary exploration.

Now, my birthday cake that year was terrible due to lack of actual frosting, but I can tell you that my experience with chemo was nothing like the horror stories you hear about, and I do believe that my eating habits had a lot to do with that.

I wasn't climbing mountains, but I also wasn't puking my guts out and feeling like death. I felt good most of the time and usually sleepy from the premeds, but I had a decent experience overall. I would also like to add that I kept up with a daily walk to help with my energy; it was nothing high intensity, just a light walk followed by a glorious nap. After all, your mental health is important too.

Unfortunately, your diet won't protect you from chemo-induced alopecia, but it can make you feel healthier and stronger than you would expect.

Mindset is everything, with your health, diet, and life in general.

When I started the Paleo diet, I absolutely hated it. Remember, I LOVED food, and giving up the delectable delights that I was spoiled to was challenging. But, and I want to stress this next part, it was worth it. Please don't get the impression that Paleo is gross; on the contrary, the food was excellent, but there are many limitations-like chocolate and soda and all things junk food-related. I was also pregnant, and cravings don't change just because you need to be eating healthier.

This caused me to challenge my discipline and make healthier choices in the snack department. Instead of a bag of chips, I would toast some chickpeas in the oven and sprinkle a little salt, pepper, and cumin on them. Instead of a chocolate milkshake, I would whip up an all-fruit smoothie with oatmeal and honey.

I still had my treats; they just derived from healthier ingredients.

My family was amazing through all of this as well. They would find restaurants with Paleo options for me and even learned how to make a few new dishes when I came over to visit. We all learned to be healthier that year. To this day, I still enjoy these dietary choices; I am not as militant on the details of my diet anymore.

Now, I am five years Cancer Free, and I am not strictly holding to the Paleo diet.

I do enjoy choosing non-processed meals over something from a can or drive-thru, but I often treat myself. What I do avoid entirely is alcohol. And I know what you are going to say, "She is crazy!". I get it, a good drink can ease the stress of a long day, but after speaking with my Oncologist, a glass of mimosa is not worth a third round of Cancer, not even red wine. I still long for a drink on occasion, but I quickly squelch that urge and think of my two kids I would like to see grow up.

The bottom line is, you can enjoy life without all the little unhealthy treats and still feel spoiled, but you must work on your mental health and making healthy choices.

• If you treat it like a chore, you will become resentful.

• Always look for the positives in your situation. I was able to learn a bunch of ways to enjoy pancakes without flour, and they taste a million times better, and they involve bananas!

These new dieting techniques have also made me think differently about what I feed my kids as well. My kids actually like their vegetables because they see me enjoying them. As a family, our goal is to try something new every chance we get, even if it is just one bite. Dinner tonight was Garden Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Zucchini slivers. They ate the whole plate too!

Not every night is a win, but I will take what I can get.

If I can set a good example for them now, maybe I can protect them from their own genes; they are children of a BRCA carrier, after all, why not prepare them with a full arsenal of healthy life choices?