Daly Fuel & Guidelines
I am frequently asked what type of foods I eat or feed my family, as well as, what kind of guidelines I follow when choosing those foods. So, I'm going to share that with you today.
I was never a terrible decision maker when it came to choosing the foods I ate, and I was fortunate enough to have a Mom that cared quite deeply about such matters, but I had to become very diligent about those foods when I was diagnosed with
Hypoglycemia many years ago. I went from someone who enjoyed those 5am wake ups to get to school to someone who had to be dragged (seriously) from bed. The energy that used to radiate from my being had been doused and I looked like the life had been
expunged from my body. I would experience periods of energy bursts, then, I would fall flat on my face... no joke. I dealt with headaches and migraines, throwing up (either from the headaches/migraines or an over abundance of sugar consumed), always cranky and snippy if I went too long between meals and if I missed a meal... dizziness, "the shakes", cold sweats, fade to black (passing out) would ensue, and close to every symptom that is associated with
Hypoglycemia became my daily struggle. NO BUENO!
So, it was time to get serious, very meticulous, and quite frankly, obsessive, about every single morsel of food or drop of beverage that had the pleasure of gracing my lips or was responsible for fueling my body and keeping my incredibly active lifestyle on track. I could not keep traveling the road I was on, I was fading and FAST! I had to try to squeeze in 6 mini meals a day or 3 meals with snacks in between, kick ALL the simple carbohydrates aka "white stuff" to the curb (breads, noodles, rice, sugar, etc.), go easy on the fruits, have lean protein with each meal (helps to stabilize the sugar levels), very minimal sugar, limit alcohol and juices (especially the sugary mixed drink versions), try to keep my stress levels down or cut out stressors (that's a tough one), scale back my caffeine consumption (really tough one as an active Mom), and cut out tobacco. Tobacco was the toughest one for me, but, I persevered and finally kicked that nasty habit right in the face 1 year, 17 weeks, 15 hours, 43 minutes and 42 seconds ago. Yes, I still keep track of that proud moment to this day, that was one hell of an accomplishment--for real!
It has been an ongoing struggle because of how active I am, not to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure I was born without that internal clock that says: "Hey, It's time to eat Lady!!" However, I have become very informed about the foods that I eat and buy for my family, our health, as well as, our fitness. I take it one day at a time and make a concerted effort to get enough sustenance fueling my body so that I do not experience those
Hypoglycemic moments because honestly, I like my face, and I'd prefer not to fall on it!
So, without further ado, here is the Daly Fuel & Guidelines I do my best to adhere to:
- 6 Mini Meals a Day or 3 Meals with Snacks in between
- No Simple Carbohydrates aka "White Stuff" (Noodles, Rice, Bread, Bagels, Muffins, Croutons, etc.)
- Very Minimal, to No Sugar
- No High Fructose Corn Syrup or other Chemical Products (if you can't even read it, or even know what it is, why eat it?)
- No Fast Food or Deep Fried Foods
- Shop the Outer Areas of the Grocery Stores (Produce, Meats, Seafood, Dairy, Some Frozen) as much as possible
- Eat Real, Whole Foods (Not Processed, Fat-Free, 1/3 Less Fat, Low Fat and so on, Products)
- Buy Organic when possible
- Farmer's Markets or buy Local
- GROW OUR OWN FOOD!! (This makes my day)
- Eat Homemade Foods (Make as much as I can myself so I know exactly what is in our Food)
- Whole grains or Whole Wheat
- Lots of Vegetables
- Some Fruit
- Whole Milk
- Whole Milk Cheeses bought in Bricks (No Pre-Shredded Cheeses)
- Greek Yogurt
- Lean Meats and Eggs
- Seafood
- Unsalted Nuts
- Honey or Maple Syrup (Instead of Sugar or Sweeteners)
- Water, Water, and MORE Water
- In Moderation: Coffee, Tea, Beer, Wine, and especially, Juices (contains a lot of sugar or added sugars)
There you have it, or at least, I think that's all of it, but do me a favor and remember that we are all human and no one is perfect. I allow myself an occasional slice of cheesecake or an extra glass of wine from time to time and
IT IS OK! I just know my limits, eat/drink those occasional treats in moderation and keep in mind that everything I consume is essential to fueling my body through the "crazy busy" I affectionately call my life!
-C