Food, Need Advice. Thank You

Fruit and veg should be fairly cheap. Try peeling some root vegetables and zapping them in the microwave; mashing them if need be.

I'm very, very sorry about your mother.

So sorry about your Mum.

Are you possibly eligible for a Food Assistance Card or assistance from a local Food Bank?

Can possibly your Dr. refer you to a Dietitian or does your Dr. have one on Staff? There is a wealth of Healthy Eating resources online. So many wonderful and easy recipes online too if you don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Think Rachel Ray!

The economy has kicked my own food budget in the can for the past couple of years. I use coupons, I shop the sales, I scour the 50% off dent/ scratch can and box area of the store for staple goods and it isn't outdated product either. Store brands can be as good as name brand. As mentioned in another post I also buy reduced price fruits, veggies and meats if I know I am going to incorporate them in meals within 2 days.

You definitely don't need to shop at a Health Food Store. Just need to get creative with lean meat (chicken, turkey), whole grains, fruit and veggies, low fat cheese and milk from any store. Pasta and rice is a good filler upper, easy on the guts and cheap. Even some of Subway's sandwiches are very healthy. In College my daughter would get a healthy version foot long for $5 and that would be 2 meals for her. Or a lunch portion of a veggie Chinese meal for $5 and that was also 2 meals for her.

Eat foods that are nutritious and promote healing. Cut out all processed food and sugar. You may consider cutting out dairy and wheat for a while and implement them one at a time over a couple of weeks.

Natural unprocessed foods are good for flares:
Bananas, unsweetened applesauce, red delicious apples (chewed well), well cooked veggies with butter, mashed potatoes, rice, white meat (chicken/turkey breast), hamburger, sourdough bread, decaf. green tea or chamomile with unpasturized honey. Probiotic yogurt may also be okay and helpful.

Try eating this way for at least 1 month and always when you flare.

Hi, have you thought about going to food banks that are sponsored by churches and community centers? It is growing season in the US and there is an abundance of produce available - just be creative. Be willing maybe to barter, exchange services for produce and food stuffs, bargain shop and watch for sales. Most grocery chains now have web sites that you can go and watch for specials. Buy a bit extra and freeze for the future if you have freezer space. Lots of willing moms, neighbors and community knowledge out there for people to teach others and provide caring and nurturing for others.

It is a bit harder to cook for yourself when you don't feel well but soups are easily digested and might be tolerated a bit better than starches, and meats. Agree with others-there are food stamp programs as well as work study programs for students, some people work in restaurants and get to eat one meal a day in the restaurant for free.

If you called some of your surrounding community churches there are often families that would be more than delighted to set an extra plate or provide assistance for someone. Call and talk to the senior pastor, they can point you in the right direction. Develop relationships with your neighbors- they can be of great assistance in this time of your life. Remember -this is just a phase in life, not forever. Unique problems call for creative solutions. Reaching out is scary but you are starting to look for answers - and to achieve different results one must do different things - so you are on the right track! Take care and be blessed.

PBJ is good and cheap.

Hi, sorry to hear about your troubles. I am not sure where you are from, however around my area there are a lot of farmers markets and such right now. They have very good prices and fresh foods which would be easy for you to steam. Also, for now you could make one whole egg and one egg white to help with the cholesterol issue. Lastly, when my tummy is really bad cherrios or oatmeal work well (and the generic brands are normally just as tasty as the name brand. I get my oatmeal from a local bulk food store.