Migraine

I suffer very badly from migraine headaches of all kinds since I was 3. No preventatives seem to work, though I remain hopeful w/ every new one I try. Other than nuts, I haven't been able to find any food triggers. Since I am doing so much worse right now than I have the past two years, I am trying my best to try everything in my power to help myself.

One thing that my doctor suggested is that I try to eat naturally. Avoiding processed foods as much as possible is the most I know to do. I, unfortunately, am a very picky eater though, and anything I try to look up about eating naturally goes to vegetarian and vegan diets. I am far from being a vegetarian.

I am trying to make this diet work as much as possible, but I need more foods that I can eat. If anyone could help me out w/ this by pointing me to any links or cookbooks, please let me know.

Well, of course, meat and fish can be natural and unprocessed as well.

I am very fond of the recipe web site www.allrecipes.com and I'm sure some of the recipes feature natural or "whole" foods. You might also visit a local natural foods store and browse around. There are probably recipes and cookbooks available there, and some feature occasional "community meals" where you could sample various pot-luck dishes. They might even have cooking classes.

Good luck.

I've checked out that website and already found one or two ideas. It probably would be best for me to go to a natural food store to browse around a little bit just to get an idea. The only problem is I'm not sure if we have one here. The only one I know of for sure is over an hour away, and at this point in time my migraines will not allow me to drive.

Maybe you could "virtually browse" in a natural foods store by visiting the web site of a natural foods store such as Whole Foods.

If you need a place to buy interesting types of grains, beans, and other natural foods, you can actually buy many of them online.

Thank you for all of your help and support so far. It is greatly appreciated.

Amazon.com also has a grocery section. I haven't used it myself but I would imagine they have a number of natural foods. As for meats, organic meats are probably the way to go, though they are expensive. (They do taste *much* better than regular meat though.) MSG is a trigger for me, as are preservatives, so I eat a very natural-type diet.

I don't have any specific recipes or cookbooks I use for this, but I have found a key is finding ingredients you can use or substitute in given recipes.

Hope this helps...

Thank you for the help. I've thought about going the organic route, but due to the fact that I have lost yet another job due to absences, I must unfortunately stick to the cheaper and worse for me route right now lol.

Preservatives are the main thing my doctor told me to try to avoid, especially since my diet was so full of them before. Also, nothing with the word "diet" in it because it will probably be the artificial sugars, and that is a no no.

I just want to throw in my two cents worth here for what it's worth. Doing your own cooking, not using boxed foods, basically cooking from scratch may accomplish much of what your doctor is suggesting without going completely "natural" or "organic" at this time due to the expense.

Can you grow any of your own herbs? Those are things that are expensive to buy, but growing them can be fun and rewarding. And so nice to use fresh.

You might want to consider when you eat meat getting organic meat. A good friend of mine found the antibiotics given to beef was a trigger for him. It was a tough one to figure out why beef was doing it, but they did. Now when they want beef, they buy organic, and he's fine. Also 3-4 ounces is a perfectly good serving vs the 7 or 8 ounces we tend to eat to help control the cost. I don't know if you have a family that you are feeding or just yourself.

Good luck.

Cindy

There is a whole lot of ground between organic and processed.

We find that eating food in it's most natural state works. Fresh lettuce doesn't have to be organic. Vegetables don't have to be organic or necessarily fresh - frozen actually has more nutrients because it's frozen closer to the picking time than fresh that has to travel to your store.

You can read bottles and boxes carefully to make sure you're not getting bad stuff. Newman's Own products are great and not expensive.

Hope this helps.

Have you ever heard of The Maker's Diet? by Jordan Rubin

I read the book, and it seems to be a very well balanced healthful whole foods diet. I couldn't stick to it because I'm a vegetarian at heart! lol

There is also a cookbook called Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon that he suggests. Again, too much meat for me, but maybe something like that would work for you.

I have my Maker's Diet up for trade at swaptree if you're interested.

Another great book - the Omnivore's Dilemma - talks about factory processed food vs. factory organic vs small organic vs wild food. Anyway, one good simple take away from that book - shop around the margins of the supermarket - that's where the foods that are processed the least are (think about it - produce, meats, dairy - not stuff in cans & boxes). Of course, you have to cook that stuff, too!

- Megs

Thank you all so much for your help. I've been trying to stay away from all boxed and frozen(sigh) foods. And as for the frozen vegetables, I found some wonderful ones, the steam fresh kinds that come in the nice little bags that you throw in the microwave, have been a lifesaver.

Oh, also that you all for the book ideas. I've been trying to find some books to read about migraines and diet, and throughout all of your answers on this and other forums, I have some books that I'm wanting to read.

It's kind of just me that I cook for. Sadly, my migraines have forced me to live at home w/ my parents again. My mom has been trying to make things that I can eat when she cooks, but I am so picky that it gets kind of hard. And, I feel bad making them all eat differently with me, so I usually just try to cook things for myself when I can.

My main battle is with snacks throughout the day. I used to love those horrible for you hot pockets and pizza rolls, so I'm just trying to find things that I like that I can substitute for an afternoon snack.

I think I'm going to have to start having a cooking day once a week when I feel good so that I'll have things in the fridge that I can just heat up really quick when I get a craving.

Thank you all again so much for your help!!
Manda

Manda, another thing that has helped us (DBF does most of our cooking) is to cook twice as much as we plan to eat immediately and freeze half of it. That way, there is always food in the freezer I can quickly heat up, or bring to work for lunch, that I know will be safe with my diet. And we don't have to cook every single day.

We're also a big fan of cooking in the crock pot. A big batch of yummy (and easy) food!

This is what I do for my family of four. Sometimes it works out that I only cook about three days a week.

quote:

Manda, another thing that has helped us (DBF does most of our cooking) is to cook twice as much as we plan to eat immediately and freeze half of it.

I just wanted to add to all this great advice. Have you ever watched any shows on the food network? Except for an occasional can of soup by Paula Deen they usually always use fresh ingredients. And you might find some new tastes you enjoy and get away from the multi ingredient frozen stuff.

Rachel Ray has some very basic and quick recipes, Robin Miller makes three to four meals at a time, and Everyday Italian recipes are usually easy to follow.

I think once you start eating more fresh food you will get away from the chemical laden stuff. It's a habit like anything else.
I know it's hard to change but this change will be worth it!!!

Also check out the site http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm (hope that link works.) If not google msg myths. There are a lot of hidden preservatives and additives that go by other names.

good luck,
lisa