Today’s Candida Diet Menu

I am still feeling pretty lousy today.  My cough kept me up all night and I just can’t shake it.  If I am still sick tomorrow I may have to go to the doctor.  I have been avoiding going to the doctor because I just don’t want to take an antibiotic.    Taking antibiotics almost always means that I will be battling a yeast infection in the the coming weeks.  I apologize if that is too much information but I am sure many of you get the same fear when you are prescribed antibiotics.  I guess if it comes to that, which I think it is going to because I can barely stop coughing while I am typing this and have a burning sensation in my chest , I will just have to take protective measures.  I will make sure to pick up a quality probiotic and some plain yogurt and pray that I can somehow restore friendly bacteria to my system while the antibiotic is killing all of the bacteria in my body.  Overuse of antibiotics is one of the main causes of candida overgrowth.  Antibiotics are extremely useful in killing the bad bacteria that causes illness but does not discriminate and also kills the good bacteria that helps to keep the candida in check.   I also just really dislike going to the doctor but I guess I have to stop whining and take care of myself. 

I am exited about the menu tonight.  I am going to try to make yeast free homemade Hamburger Helper.  Hamburger Helper is another one of those prepared foods that I could never get enough.  I loved when it was on sale so I could stock up.  All you need is a pound of ground meat and voila, you have dinner.  I checked out a box of the Beef Noodle one in the store this morning in order to see what the ingredients were in it so that I could make a yeast free version.  I am amazed that I had never done this before.  How could I have ate something for so many years and not even know what was in it.  Well I’ll tell you what is in it and it isn’t pretty:

Wheat Flour- Mentioned as a sub-ingredient of three of ingredients.  Definitely not a good idea for avoiding gluten.
Maltodextrin – Still not sure what this is but I would bet money that it can’t be good for us.
Salt – Usually contains dextrose, which contains sugar and is no good on the candida diet.
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein – I am not sure what this is either but it doesn’t sound good either.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Oh No!!! 
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil – Didn’t they determine that partially hydrogenated anything was like eating plastic?
Yeast Extract – Was this really necessary after all of the other stuff?

I am shocked at how many bad ingredients are in this one box and even more shocked that I had been eating it and feeding it to my family.  I guess there is no use getting frustrated.  Nowadays I know more about the food that I am eating than I ever thought I would.  This new awareness is helping me make better choices for me and my family.  I am looking forward to making a healthy yeast free version of Hamburger Helper. 

 Today’s Candida Diet Menu – March 3, 2010

Breakfast
Gluten free pancakes with no syrup (Kids ate it with pure maple syrup) 

Mid-Morning Snack
Cucumber with Sea Salt

Lunch
Applegate Farm Turkey Breast Sandwich on Rice Cakes
Kids have Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese

Afternoon Snack
2 cups of air popped popcorn
Kids have Cape Cod Potato Chips

Dinner
Homemade Yeast Free Hamburger Helper
French Cut String Beans

Dessert
Herbal Tea with 1 pack of stevia
1 Piece of fruit for the kids