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Hi there! I know it has been a long time, actually about 8 months since I last checked in. I am so sorry for my abrupt departure but some changes in my life were demanding my undivided attention. It has been a busy year for me with the highlight being that I finally landed a full-time permanent role in recruiting. This is where most of my would have been blogging time went, as 12 to 14 hour days were the norm at my new job this past summer. My girls spent the summer with their dad so things seem to work out with my new demanding schedule. When I finally came up to take a breath it was September and time to get the girls back into the swing of things and ready for a new school. Juggling long days at work and the kids being back in school/activities was difficult but we pressed on. My Ex started a new job in October which meant another school change for my little one as she was originally in a half day program and needed some morning childcare. I quickly found a new school with a full day program for her and I am happy to report that she adjusted well. There was so much else going on in 2011 including:
- My best friend Sandra getting married in June (She had the cutest little backyard wedding)
- Taking the girls to Quebec in October (Our first International family trip)
- Buying a new car. (I have trouble with big purchases but this really needed to be done)
- Starting to run again. (Thanks to the running club at work)
- Learning to play Carol of the Bells on the piano. (Company subsidized piano lessons rock!)
- Learning to take mass transit to work. (This always intimidated me)
- Reading the first Twilight novel. (It made the commute go really quickly the last two weeks)
It was truly a great year and being on vacation this week is giving me a chance to reflect on 2011.
At this point you might think that I have forgotten what this blog is about but I have really just been stalling. It is time for me to confess that one thing that did not go well this year was yeast free living. When things got hectic I reverted back to some terrible eating habits. Fast food was a frequent fix on busy nights. Additionally, while most people myself included would agree that free vending machines and company paid take out after 7:00PM are job perks, I misused both and packed on the pounds. There were weeks when I was able to string together a few days of yeast free living but nothing lasting. My poor diet is starting to effect my health again so I know it is time to pull it together. I am looking forward to a New Year and really learning to incorporate living yeast free into my busy life. I hoped that all of you had a more successful year on the candida diet. Please fee free to leave comments as I would love to hear how you did it.
Happy New Year!
Have I hit bottom? This is a question that I have been asking myself a lot lately. I am struggling in many areas of my life and I no longer feel like I am really living. I have been suffering through each day unable to stick to any course of action that I know would offer me some relief, yeast free diet included. I am caught up in a fast food rut because I refuse to focus on the weekends and plan my weekly candida diet menu. I was feeling so depressed last week that I decided to see my psychiatrist and go back on Wellbutrin hoping for the quick relief that this medication has provided me with in the past. I just need to get a handle on my current situation.
The last several months have been extremely stressful. I took a big hit to my income back in January when I lost my child support benefits due to my ex’s inability to find work after his unemployment benefits expired. Thankfully, I have had some income coming in from a temporary assignment but it is still difficult to cover our living expenses. I know that exhaustion is also playing a significant role in how I feel. I support about 5 different managers at work and the job can get very demanding. I know that I am in desperate need of some time off from work but have been reluctant to take time because of the financial implications. I have also been trying to find a permanent job or at least an opportunity with the potential to become permanent unlike the assignment I am working now but juggling interviews and my current job has proved to be very difficult.
I am dealing with a lot but I do realize that there are people that are much worse off. I just have to keep doing the best I can and I am sure things will be okay. So I have been on the medication for almost 1 week now and I am beginning to feel better. It takes a few weeks to feel the full effect but I am just happy to get some relief from my depression.
So here I am finally focused enough to create a candida diet menu for the week ahead. I am sure that eating yeast free again will also help with my depression. So, maybe I have hit a personal bottom but I know the way up is by making positive lifestyle changes such as resuming living yeast free.
Candida Diet Menu – Week of April 10, 2011
Sunday
Breakfast – Oatmeal with 1 packet of Sweet Leaf Stevia
Lunch – Tuna Lettuce Wraps
Dinner – Baked Chicken, Brown Rice and String Beans
Monday
Breakfast – Vegetable Omelet
Lunch – Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner – Yeast Free Hamburger Helper
Tuesday
Breakfast – Puffed Rice Cereal with Almond Milk
Lunch – Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing and Baked Potato
Dinner – Chicken Cacciatore, Brown Rice and String Beans
Wednesday
Breakfast – Oatmeal with 1 packet of Sweet Leaf Stevia
Lunch – Yeast Free Egg Salad on Rice Cakes
Dinner – Yeast Free Asparagus Soup and Salad
Thursday
Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs and Grits
Lunch – Turkey, Avocado and Tomato on Rice Cakes
Dinner – Yeast Free Spaghetti and Meatballs
Friday
Breakfast – Puffed Rice Cereal with Almond Milk
Lunch - Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing and Baked Potato
Dinner – Yeast Free Tilapia Rice Bowl and Salad
Saturday
Breakfast – Vegetable Omelet
Lunch – Yeast Free Chicken Nuggets and Baked French Fries
Dinner - Yeast Free Cabbage Stew and Salad
Weekly Candida Diet Snacks and Beverages
Cucumbers, Carrots, Tortilla Chips, Hummus, Salsa, Green Tea and Mineral Water
I did not realize how large of a role bread played in my diet until I decided to give it up back in 2006 when I first embarked on the candida diet. I used to eat bread several times a day and really had a hard time with the transition to no bread. It wasn’t so much the taste of bread that I missed but rather the convenience that store bought bread offered. Sandwiches for instance seemed to be my favorite lunch and sometimes even dinner choice and of course a sandwich is just not a sandwich without bread. My bread of choice at the time was Freihofer’s Split Top Wheat. I had switched from white bread to wheat bread a few years earlier and this too proved to be a difficult transition for me. Now I was forced to give up bread altogether, or so I thought.
My choice to give up bread for the sake of living yeast free was not entirely necessary. Yes, my Freihoffer’s bread was off limits because its ingredient list included things such as high fructose corn syrup, yeast, citric acid and other preservatives that may be problematic to the candidiasis sufferer. Candida diet guidelines suggest omitting all forms of sugar, yeast and preservatives from our diet. Wheat another main ingredient in bread may also be an issue for people who suffer from candididasis. Many people who suffer from candidiasis develop allergies and/or sensitivities to many foods and ingredients and wheat and gluten are found to be a problem.
What I failed to realize when I hastily decided to give up bread however was that I could make my own or buy a brand of bread that did not include these troublesome ingredients. It was then that I finally started to do some research to find appropriate yeast free breads and possible substitutes. Through my research I was fortunate enough to find many yeast free bread recipes. I have tried many of these recipes and some were good and others not so much. I have also found commercially available yeast free breads both in ready to consume and in mix varieties. Some of these were also good and some not so good. My favorite yeast free bread substitutes to date are plain rice cakes and brown rice crackers. In my opinion nothing that you make or buy will taste like the gluten filled, preservative laden bread that most of us are used to consuming but today I have discovered a variety of yeast free breads and bread substitutes that I really do enjoy. The following is my list of favorites:
Rice Cakes
Plain salt-free rice cakes are what I use most frequently in place bread. I use these mostly because they are convenient, just buy a bag and use as needed, but I honestly enjoy the taste of rice cakes. Most plain varieties of rice cakes are made with only brown rice but be sure to read the labels as you do not want to accidentally consume unwanted ingredients. Most days at work you will see me enjoying a sandwich on rice cakes; turkey and tuna are 2 of my favorites. I always keep the rice cakes separate until I am ready to put the sandwich together so they do not get soggy.
Brown Rice Crackers
I don’t use these much but they work well when you are eating things like tuna, chicken or egg salad. They add just a little bit a crunch to your meal. I enjoy the taste of them but I have encountered some folks that do not. They have a very grainy texture. I recommend Mary’s Gone Crackers as they are not only yeast free but gluten free too which is important for those who are sensitive to wheat and/or gluten.
Yeast Free Bread Recipes
Although I have failed at making a tasty yeast free homemade loaf type bread that could be sliced and used like the bread we find in the supermarket, I have succeeded at making other types of bread. Yeast free tortillas, yeast free pizza dough and yeast free sesame rolls are a few of my favorite triumphs. I do have a bread maker but I use a pre-packaged mix when using it. Just remember to be patient when you are searching for recipes. You will inevitably make something that tastes totally gross but that is all part of the process.
Yeast Free Bread Mixes
The only yeast free bread mix that I enjoy using is from Breads from Anna as I have tried others and just do not like the taste. I have used this mix to make bread with and without a bread maker and the results were good using both methods. Breads from Anna actually have a variety of bread mixes that cater to variety of allergies but not all are suited for the yeast free diet. The yeast free gluten free variety contains a mix of gluten free flours and uses cream of tartar instead of yeast. It does contain regular salt and crystallized honey which may not be suitable for very sensitive candidiasis sufferers.
Ready to Consume Yeast Free Bread
Believe it or not there are some prepared yeast free bread loafs in the store. Unfortunately, I personally do not like the taste of many of them. Brown rice loaf is my least favorite. Brown rice tortillas are okay but work better as tortillas chips than an actual wrap for sandwich fillings. French Meadow Bakery has an excellent yeast free bread loaf. I have not purchased it in a while but it was not only tasty but very convenient. I have also heard great things about Pacific Bakery breads but have not had the opportunity to try it. Keep in mind that since these breads have not preservatives to extend shelf-life they will spoil quickly. You will have to keep them frozen until ready for use. Additionally, many of these breads do contain wheat or gluten. If you are sensitive to wheat or gluten read labels carefully to choose the right product for you.
My frustration is at an all time high with my children’s eating habits. They seem to be in some sort of stage were they don’t want to eat anything but chicken nuggets and french fries. Their lunch bags often come home from school with 75% of the food that I prepared for them for that day. I often end up just dumping the food and that burns me up because they spent the whole day without a proper meal not to mention wasting all of that food day in and day out is a complete waste of money. I just hope this week goes a little better as I have included many of their favorite yeast free meals on the menu.
This Week’s Candida Diet Menu – February 27, 2011
Sunday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Grits
Lunch: Yeast Free Spanish Rice and Beans and Salad and Salad
Dinner: Yeast Free Chicken Cacciatore, Brown Rice and String Beans
Monday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Yeast Free Egg Salad on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Hamburgers, Baked French Fries and Salad
Tuesday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Turkey, Lettuce Tomato and Avocado on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Chicken Nuggets, Baked French Fries and Salad
Wednesday
Breakfast: 2 Boiled Eggs and Rice Cakes
Lunch: Tuna with Yeast Free Mayonnaise on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Easy Chicken Noodle Soup and Salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Yeast Free Spanish Rice and Beans and Salad
Dinner: Yeast Free Hamburger Helper and Salad
Friday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Leftover Yeast Free Hamburger Helper
Dinner: Yeast Free Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Saturday
Breakfast: Yeast Free Vegetable Omelet with Salsa
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Chicken Pot Pie and Salad
Weekly Snacks and Beverages
Cucumbers, Celery Sticks, Baby Carrots, Yeast Free Salsa, Yeast Free Hummus, Mineral Water, Filtered Water, Green Tea, Ginger Tea
Yeast Free Rice Spanish Rice and Beans Ingredients
1 (15.5 ounce) can organic red kidney beans (I use Nature’s Promise from Stop & Shop)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 and 1/2 teaspoons yeast free sazon seasoning
1 and 1/2 tablespoons yeast free sofrito sauce
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups brown rice uncooked
Yeast Free Rice Spanish Rice and Beans Directions
Cook rice according to package directions
Meanwhile, in large saucepan, heat oil on low-medium heat
Add the Sofrito and Sazon seasoning and stir for 1- 2 minutes
Add entire contents of canned beans and 1 cup water
Let simmer 3 – 5 minutes to let sauce thicken
Mix and serve beans over rice
I have been in a bit of a rut lately and I hope that I can get out of it this week. I have been struggling with a lot of things both personally and professionally. It has been hard to stay on track but I have been eating better and have even manage to exercise a few days a week. This is a huge improvement and I will continue to make strides to get healthy again.
I have invited my brother to embark on the yeast free diet with me. My brother and I actually share a condo together and I have found that it is easier to stay yeast free when he is participating. When he is eating poorly he often brings pizza, cookies, ice cream, cake and a variety of other foods in the house that are just plan contrary to healthy eating. He felt better when he was following the candida diet and is looking forward to the many health benefits of the diet.
This Week’s Candida Diet Menu – February 13, 2011
Sunday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Grits
Lunch: Garden Salad with Tuna and Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Picadillo and Cuban Style Rice and Beans
Monday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Chicken Cacciatore, Brown Rice and Green Beans
Tuesday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Yeast Free Egg Salad on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Crockpot Beef Stew
Wednesday
Breakfast: 2 Boiled Eggs and Rice Cakes
Lunch: Tuna with Yeast Free Mayonnaise on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Cabbage Soup and Salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Turkey, Avocado, Tomato and Lettuce on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Hamburger Helper and Salad
Friday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Turkey and Avocado on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Taco Night
Saturday
Breakfast: Yeast Free Vegetable Omelet with Salsa
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Barbecue Chicken and Rice-a-Roni
Weekly Snacks and Beverages
Cucumbers, Celery Sticks, Baby Carrots, Yeast Free Salsa, Yeast Free Hummus, Mineral Water, Filtered Water, Green Tea, Ginger Tea
The purchase of a box of quinoa led me to this delightful recipe. On one of my weekly trips to Trader Joe’s I stumbled across a box of organic quinoa. I bought it hoping to incorporate it in that week’s menu but it sat on the shelf for a few weeks before I decided to inspect it further. Luckily there was a great recipe on the back of the Trader Joe’s Organic Quinoa box for Garlic Chicken Stir Fry. It seemed simple enough so I decided to try it.
This recipe is really easy to put together and it was a pleasant departure from the typical stir frys that I toss with brown rice. Some prep work will be necessary as you must cook the chicken and quinoa before you combine everything. I baked the boneless skinless chicken breast and cooked the quinoa using chicken broth instead of water. Remember to wash the quinoa before you cook it, as this is not optional and if you do not wash the quinoa it may ruin the dish. Quinoa is a very tiny grain so you may find it difficult to wash. I googled how to wash quinoa and found a page that helped me along. This was a truly tasty dish and I will make it again and again.
Yeast Free Garlic Chicken Stir Fry with Quinoa Ingredients
1 Cup Prepared Quinoa (Prepared according to package directions but substitute chicken broth for water)
2 Cups Unsweetened Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Pounds Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Small Onion Chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper Chopped
1 Yellow Bell Pepper Chopped
5 Cloves Garlic Chopped
Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper to Taste
Yeast Free Garlic Chicken Stir Fry with Quinoa Directions
Cut Chicken into 1 inch pieces
Heat Oil on High Heat in Large Skillet
Add Chicken and Saute for 5 minutes or until golden brown
Add Onions, Bell Peppers and Garlic and saute 1- 2 minutes
Season to taste with Sea Salt and Pepper
Remove pan from heat and add Quinoa
Mashed Potatoes are such a great side dish. Potatoes are very high in carbohydrates so that is something to keep in mind especially in the early stages of the candida diet. Eating small quantities of potatoes fortunately has not bothered me so I continue to keep them in my weekly candida diet menus. There are two ways that I make mashed potatoes. The traditional way is with milk, butter, salt and pepper and the other way is using chicken broth. While the first method is the one I prefer taste wise the chicken broth method is still rather tasty and much more conducive to my newly appointed task of eliminating soy from family’s meals because of the children’s allergies. You may have seen these chicken broth potatoes referred to before as ”Skinny Potatoes” and rightly so. You cut a ton a fat by omitting the milk and butter and using broth instead. There are many good recipes for these potatoes around but I use one I found on the back of the Trader Joe’s Organic Free Range Chicken Broth container. I hope that you enjoy these.
Skinny Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
5 medium potatoes
2 1/2 cups Unsweetened Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp Chives Chopped (Optional)
Black Pepper to taste
Skinny Mashed Potatoes Directions
Peel and Chop Potatoes
In medium sauce pan combine broth and Potatoes and bring to boil
Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender
Drain and reserve broth
Mash potatoes with 1/2 cup reserved broth
Stir in chives and pepper
Recipe adapted from Simply the Best Mashed Potatoes recipe from the back of Trader Joe’s Organic Free Range Chicken Broth Container
Happy New Year! I can’t believe it is the start of yet another year. The new year is symbolic for new beginnings and is a perfect opportunity to assess where we are in terms of our dreams and goals and to identify steps we may need to take in order to accomplish them. We usually call this assessment our New Year’s resolution. Losing weight via dieting is a very common new year’s resolution. Whether or not a specific diet is identified losing weight is a common goal. After having my annual physical on Friday and weighing in it is official; I have gained about 8 pounds over the last year and so losing these unwanted pounds is one of my new year’s resolutions. My yo-yo candida dieting is not going to work anymore if I am going to accomplish this goal and I really want to.
One thing I realized in 2010 is that it takes a lot of effort to live yeast free. I started this site in hoping that I can show people how easy it can be following a candida diet. I found and shared many shortcuts and planning methods to make eating yeast free easier but the fact remains that living yeast free no matter how well organized is still much harder than eating prepared, processed and fast foods. I am sorry to have to say this but living yeast free will take some work but I believe the benefits are so worth it. Adhering to the candida diet will not only help me lose my unwanted 8 pounds it is going to improve my overall health and well being. If embarking on a yeast free lifestyle is part of your new year’s resolutions I hope that this site provides you with useful information and inspiration to help you along your way. Good Luck and Happy 2011.
This Week’s Candida Diet Menu – December 27, 2010
Sunday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Grits
Lunch: Baked Flank Steak, Brown Rice and Beans
Dinner: Yeast Free Lemon Garlic Tilapia, Skinny Mashed Potatoes and Raw Zucchini
Monday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Beef Stew
Tuesday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Ratatouille
Wednesday
Breakfast: 2 Boiled Eggs and Rice Cakes
Lunch: Tuna with Yeast Free Mayonnaise on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Baked Chicken, Baked Potatoes and Salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Bowl Oatmeal with Stevia
Lunch: Yeast Free Egg Salad on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Hamburger Helper and Salad
Friday
Breakfast: Bowl Puffed Rice, Almond Milk and Stevia
Lunch: Turkey and Avocado on Rice Cakes
Dinner: Yeast Free Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
Saturday
Breakfast: Left Over Yeast Free Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
Lunch: Salad with Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Dinner: Yeast Free Chicken Pot Pie
Weekly Snacks and Beverages
Cucumbers, Celery Sticks, Baby Carrots, Yeast Free Salsa, Yeast Free Hummus, Mineral Water, Filtered Water, Green Tea, Ginger Tea
Yeast Free Lemon-Dill Salmon Fillet Ingredients
1 – 12 ounce salmon fillet
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic minced
Yeast Free Lemon-Dill Salmon Fillet Directions
Preheat broiler
Coat a broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray
Place salmon, skin side down, on broiler pan
Broil 4 – 6 inches from heat for about 5 minutes
In a small bowl mix all remaining ingredients to form dill mixture
Spread dill mixture evenly over salmon
Broil 3 – 5 minutes more or until thickest part flakes easily with a fork
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