What I'm Eating

I've had kind of weird food cravings off and on for much of the time I've lived with cancer. I'm not sure why this is, but most of the time I just go with them. 

After all, I've never had a craving for a whole pound of butter. Most--although not all--of my cravings are for healthy* foods. 

Just a few minutes ago, I ate a baked sweet potato, the third I've had in the past three days. 

I put the whole sweet potato into the microwave for three or four minutes on high. Once it is fork-tender, I cut it down the middle, add a dab of butter and some salt, and that's it. 

Sweet potatoes are much more nutritious than white potatoes, although I crave those too, but usually when I'm very fatigued.

And then there's grapefruit juice. 

I was on Tykerb for almost two years, and my doctor told me not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while I was taking Tykerb. I believe the grapefruit interferes with the absorption of the drug.

I love grapefruit in all forms, but of course I did what I was told. But then by the time I stopped taking Tykerb a few months ago, I was out of the grapefruit habit. 

It wasn't until I was having lunch at the Sunlight Cafe the other day that I realized grapefruit was no longer forbidden, and I ordered a large glass of juice to go with my tostada. 

Delicious. Nothing is as good as tart grapefruit juice. 

I bought a bottle at the grocery yesterday, and drank it mixed with sparkling water, which is my trick for getting myself to drink more water--add sparking water to a couple of ounces of fresh juice. 

* Note to the grammar police: Yes, I know the correct word is healthful, but I prefer the word healthy. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Comments

[Anna Rachnel]

Jeanne - I have to say this entry made me laugh. I too have some funny food cravings (...she says as she is baking a fruitcake for her sole delicious consumption).

I was out with my husband last weekend and it was about 11am. Suddenly I spotted a diner and I made him stop and made a beeline for a booth and the menu. I promptly ordered a grilled fillet of lemon sole with baked potato and broccoli and wolfed it down faster than a bear after winter hibernation. Now I'm not a fish person at all, but these days I just gotta have it !!!!

Also my doctor said the same thing about grapefruit juice. What a shame. I love the stuff. It goes down like a glassful of sunshine and health in my mind. And don't get me started on oysters.....(although they're "forbidden fruit" now as well)...

Cheers to good eating !