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Care of the Caregiver

CARE OF THE CAREGIVER

All too often, it seems, people are unaware of the wide spectrum of those in need of help.  There’s that group that appears to always fall through the cracks.  Ouch!   

Grandma and grandpa, with memory problems, are oftentimes in need of assistance with a large portion of their day-to-day tasks.  Elderly who can’t see well enough to navigate need to be taken hither and yon by volunteer drivers.  Those tasks generally fall to the mentally clear and visually proficient, unless the impairments are so advanced that it’s time to seek some level of assisted living.  But that’s another story.

For now, I’d like to focus on care of the caregiver, directing attention to those who can and those who do.  I’d like to talk about caregivers feeling their best so they can contribute to the care of others and still have some energy left for themselves.  I’d like to talk about getting fit as well as share ideas from those who say, “Works for me!”    Would love to hear from you.

SWEET ALKALINE
Or, Why This Site Has a Recipe Section

Actually, the song is Sweet Adeline.  But this isn’t about barbershop harmony.  This is about an eating plan I was introduced to that took me from pleasingly plump (I despise the person who came up with that descriptor) to a comfortable sized woman in need of all new clothes.  Bonus!  My energy level soared, my face cleared, joint stiffness disappeared, and my husband always remembered to put the toilet seat down.  Three out of four ain’t bad.

An Alkaline Plan for Eating, or APE, (notice how I’m skillfully avoiding use of the word, diet) is based on that basic advice to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat.  There’s also something about avoidance of foods that aren’t simply bursting with great nutrition.  We’re talking great nutrition; so don’t start sniveling about all the added vitamins in Sugar Blasted Corn Whoops that you’ve been eating for breakfast.  This is about getting the toilet seat down each and every time!  Or something like that.

But Houston, we have a problem.  Everybody, to use a generalization that we’re not able to prove, tells us what foods to eat.  However, they fail to provide interesting, delicious recipes.  So there you sit visualizing yourself at the table in front of a bowl of lettuce with a celery stalk in one hand and a carrot in the other hand.  I’m here to help.  Each and every week I’m going to provide a recipe that I like.  I promise that each and every recipe will not have a zillion ingredients, nor will they have ingredients that can only be purchased in a specialty store at midnight if you happen to know the secret knock and password.  Memo to cookbook authors: For pity sake, keep it simple!

Points to remember about APE. 

1.    You can go online and find food lists that tell you which foods are alkaline and which foods are acidic.  The plan is to eat at least 60 to 80% of your food from the alkaline lists, depending on what website you read. 

2.   You will notice that different Internet sites have different lists and they don’t always agree about certain foods.  We’re going for 60 to 80%, not perfection, so don’t stress.

3.    Nothing is more annoying than a zealot.  I know.  I’ve been one.  But when a person finds something amazing, like children who say “please” and “thank-you,” they want to tell the world.  Let your new, beautiful self do the talking for you.

4.    Change can be disconcerting.  Find someone or a group of someone’s who will support you in your effort.   Today is the someday you’ve been talking about.  Or is it, someday is not a day of the week, it’s a day of the weak.

5.    Finally, there are articles out there (if it’s in print it must be true) that will tell you that this whole alkaline/acid thing is a bunch of nonsense.   Note that the core of the alkaline/acid advice is to eat a substantial amount of fruits and vegetables, less meat, less processed carbohydrates, and ditch the junk food.  Wild and crazy, don’t you think?

For those of you who are looking for a little assist, visit my blog at http://2ndchildhoodcreations.blogspot.com.  There you'll find recipes added on an ongoing basis.  Become a follower and join in the conversation.  
 

"What is life but a series of inspired follies?  The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn't come every day." - George Bernard Shaw

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Second Childhood Creations * PO Box 694, Monticello, Wi  53570 * Phone 608-658-3279

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