Recently my aging “mother in love” (how cute is she?) was hospitalized for a nasty virus. Let’s just say that she had severe digestive issues. She quickly became dehydrated, malnourished and underweight. The hospital staff did a great job of making mom comfortable and getting the infection under control. However, we began to question their intentions the following morning when breakfast arrived…
When I saw her breakfast tray, I realized there could only be one of two reasons to serve horrible, inflammation-causing food in a hospital: 1) The hospital staff really doesn’t understand the impact of these disease causing foods or 2) They are trying to put patients out of their misery, using food as the vehicle. Her morning meal consisted of: cream of wheat, chocolate milk, ensure (soy-based), orange juice, vanilla pudding and hot chocolate. Even worse were the dietary suggestions they sent her home with. Understandably, she was prescribed a low fiber diet for the colitis. However, all of the suggested “food like substances” were processed and filled with sugar.
My Amazing Mother-in-Law
As a nurse who worked in the hospital for many years, I have to assume the intentions of most health care providers are good. I believe the reasoning behind these horrible anti-nutrition suggestions is a lack of knowledge in basic metabolic medicine. Likely, it also has a lot to do with cost and convenience. I find this odd, since the last time I went for a slumber party at the local hospital, my bill didn’t appear discounted for food budgeting.
Since going through fellowship training at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, I truly believe that everything you put on the end of your fork matters! We know food is medicine or it is poison! Yet, we feed people in hospitals, drug rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, prisons and schools the worst food! Maybe I’m delusional, but I’m thinking these are the people who are the most vulnerable, who need nutritious, healing food more than anyone. Can I get an “Amen”?
So, back to mom. To recap, her breakfast consisted of: gluten, dairy, soy, sugar and corn (starch). She was eating an “Anti Brain Warrior” diet. If you know anything about The Brain Warrior’s Way or The Omni Diet, these are the things I have people eliminate for at least the first two weeks.
Most people start the Brain Warrior’s Way meal plan or the Omni Diet because they are suffering from one of the following: obesity, high cholesterol, inflammation, digestive issues, acne, chronic pain, brain fog, high blood sugar, skin problems or migraines. At the Amen Clinics, some of our best testimonials come from our nutrition department, utilizing these simple principles.
So what can you do to make sure you or your loved one don’t fall prey to “mercy killing by food” if you find yourself on an overnighter in the hospital?
- Have someone bring you food. Make sure it’s an approved diet for our condition.
- Request gluten free, low glycemic, dairy free. Most hospitals will accommodate.
- Have a healthy menu plan ready for your return home.
Here’s an example of the low-fiber/ high nutrient menu I helped create for mom:
- Pumpkin spice smoothie
- Chunky monkey chocolate smoothie
- Tanana Pancakes (cashew butter instead of almond butter)
- Coconut yogurt parfait
- Turkey and egg omelet
- Cashew cream and blueberry spread rollup (yep, you heard right)
- Cashew Coco Melts
- Sweet potato soup with protein
- Rosemary sage chicken over sweet potato mash
- Cream of broccoli soup
- Lemon garlic shrimp with cream sauce
- Lubian Rose over white rice (the one time white rice is acceptable)
- Devil-less eggs
- Pumpkin biscuits (substitute almond meal)
- Grainless maple bread (substitute almond meal)
- Wholly guacamole
- Blissful state chocolate sauce
- Distinctive onion dill ranch dressing
- Coconut whipped cream
- Frozen bananas with chocolate sauce
Many of these recipes are on my website. They can also be found in “The Brain Warrior’s Way Cookbook”, and “The Omni Diet”.