Coping With Chronic Illness - Getting to Know Myself - Part 2 - My Food

It’s easy to lose ourselves in our various illnesses.  So it’s important to be reminded from time to time that you are a person, not an illness.  You have a personality, interests, likes, dislikes, opinions, obligations, and responsibilities.  So every now and then I plan to provide some questions designed to help us get reacquainted with ourselves gradually.  Here is the second set.

Keep in mind:

Periodically you may want to change your answers as you know yourself better or your tastes change.  That is a good thing.

Remember that most of these questions have no right or wrong answer.  This is just about getting to know yourself so that you can make better choices and understand why you do certain things.  It is also good for helping us see the goon in us, not just the bad.

My Food:

1.      Which are my favorite foods?

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2.       Which are my favorite drinks?

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3.      Cake or pie?

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4.      Which deserts are my favorites?

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5.      Do I crave sweet or salty?  (or both?)

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6.      Do I have any food allergies or foods I should avoid(If yes, what are they?)

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7.      Which are my favorite fruits?

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8.      Which are my favorite vegetables?

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9.      What kind of food do I hate?

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10. What are some quick, easy meals I can I make myself?

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11. What are some snacks I can get in five minutes or less?

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Extra credit:  You can pin the last two questions (and answers) in your cupboard, on your refrigerator, or put them in your phone.  That way you have some help on foggy days.

I purposely shy away from weight issues on this blog.  There is enough of that going on out there.  This is not a place to come to feel bad about ourselves.  So try not to view these questions from that angle.  If your illness has caused some changes in your diet (like avoiding soy or gluten, or avoiding sugar), don’t only focus on old foods that you enjoyed. Include some of the new foods you most enjoy.

There will be a series of lists – some playful, light, or superficial, some a little more introspective but all along the lines of getting to know yourself again.  I am doing them also, as we go on.  I’m printing them out, writing the answers, and putting them in a binder.  I think I’ll title it “Laina – The Book.”  :)

Do you have anything to add or share?  Please comment!

 Other Coping With Chronic Illness posts: 

 It's OK to grieve your losses
Knowledge is power
Do not eat, breathe, and sleep your illness
Part 1 - Friendship is a basic human need (the dilemma)
Part 2 - Friendship is a basic human need (who can be a friend?)
Part 3 - Friendship is a basic human need (10 ways to be a good friend while chronically ill)
Part 4 - Friendship is a basic human need (How to be a friend to a friend who is chronically ill)
2 Reasons why lying keeps you sick
Let go of the dream, accept reality, and be happy (it breaks your heart and then rebuilds it)
Accepting reality - what it does NOT mean
3 Ways to advance in a new direction
18 Ways to ward off sadness
I Can't Do It Alone
Talk.  And Talk Some More.
You Do Not Need To Justify Your Existence


Energy Economy posts:

How to get food into our mouths while chronically ill part 1
Food part 2
Food part 3
Grocery shopping and chronic illness
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 1
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 2
15 suggestions for Leaving the house while chronically ill
14 suggestions for cleaning the house while chronically ill
Personal hygiene and chronic illness
Dealing with people while chronically ill
12 Ways to simplify your grooming and dressing routines
10 Ways to COPE with Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)  
10 Ways to COMBAT Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)