Yummy....... On the menu!!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients

1/3 cup rolled oats
2 large eggs
1 tbsp peanut butter (I use natural chunky)
1 tsp maple syrup (will be omitting)
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
¼ banana, quartered and sliced (use the remaining for topping)
Cooking spray

Directions

Combine all ingredients but your bananas. Once mixed, gently add into batter. Then make em'up! I love putting more peanut butter and banana on top, then drizzle with some honey or syrup. However, given my yeast free diet, I might top them with a little Greek yogurt for the time being. I am just waiting for some extra time in the morning to make the little treats! Cannot Wait!

What is your "breakfast of choice," time permitting?

"Starvation" Update #1

It has now been three days since I have started my yeast free diet. In all honesty, it hasn't been as bad as I was anticipating. I have had a headache off an on and a few spells of weakness. The most severe symptom has been my non-stop crying. I cry over everything. A friend's text, not having any cold water in the fridge, dropping my pencil under the couch.... The worst is that every time Bailey cries; I cry. :(. (Wouldn't be as bad if she weren't teething.) Caffeine and dairy are not permitted on the the recommended diet. However, I am including both, as well as some fruit, in my "Nursing mama with a caffeine addiction" variation. So, with the exception of excessive fruit, pasta, and my daily dessert, I am not changing my diet to the extreme. The most difficult adjustment has been not having creamer in my coffee. It has only been recently I have started using creamer. I think the difficulty in that sacrifice is the half full container of delicious Chocolate Caramel creamer in the door of the fridge....right next to the container of carrots and cucumber. Maybe I should move those??

Food Allowances on a Yeast Free Diet

Vegetables.
Beans.
Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Fish, pork.
Eggs.
Whole grains (rice, barley are the two I am eating).
Whole grain oatmeal.
Unprocessed seeds and nuts.

Using the above as a guideline, the past couple of days my meals have consisted of: Stir-fry, salads, omelets, scrambled eggs, beef, chicken and lots of vegetables. Snacks have included: raw veggies, an occasional apple, raw sunflower seeds, almonds, and plain oatmeal with walnuts.

Oddly, my evening hives have not gotten better, but worse!! After doing some research , I have been told that is normal. I am also anticipating that, with my non-recommended additions, it will take longer to eliminate the hives completely. So with three days under my belt, I am feeling hopeful that relief is around the corner.

Starvation......

Shortly after having Bailey, I developed a skin rash diagnosed as P.U.P.P.S. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it is a rash some women experience during the later stages of their pregnancy. Cure....delivery of a baby. I, however, was blessed to develop the condition after, yes after, the apparent cure. WHAT?? After many prayers, research, minimal medication (due to nursing) and several topical oinments, I finally found relief!!! I made a trip to a local mid-wife in the community where I previously worked (Amish Country). Her suggestion: eliminate yeast from my diet! In all honestly, I thought she was crazy! However, in my desperation, I made the sacrifice!! Amazingly, there was an immediate change. As each day progressed, my skin began to heal. I no longer had to cover myself in creams, lotions, and anti-itch ointments! I didn't have to cry myself to sleep each night because I was so miserable! And my skin wasn't red, blotchy and welty anymore! (if only those stretch marks would have faded away with them......) Yay!!!

Shortly after the rash disappeared, I occasionally splurged and ate bread, pastries, and crackers. So.... for the past 5 months, rather than the "prego rash," I have been battling hives.....every. stinkin. night. Fun.....right??!! So, I have stopped eating yeast. Getting better? Yes. Going away? No.

I am now working with a chiropractor (co-worker of the Mid-Wife) who is giving me a diet plan to eliminate this annoyance! He has suggested I forgo eating yeast, sugar, and starches. The idea is that yeast is fed by various foods. By eliminating those foods, the yeast will die. So by "starving the yeast" my hives will dissipate. Following? While I am unsure of the validity of the concept, I am willing to try. Omitting these from my diet will be beneficial regardless. This is a largely modified version of the typical "yeast starvation" diet. However, due to my nutritional needs as a nursing mother, my restrictions are limited.

After doing some brief research, I am expecting the next few days to be a bit rough: Headache, nausea, irritability, exhaustion, diarrhea, shakiness ...... and the list goes on. It sounds like the self-induced flu!! I am trying to remain positive. The worst is over in a few days, my hives will vanish, and I will get a few more recipes out of the whole thing. I will keep you updated as I progress!! :)