The Tigger Theory

The other day I attended an inspirational talk about "Being Happy".  And something the speaker said really stuck out at me.

 He said: "Why be an Eyore when you can be a Tigger?"  (The speaker's name is Kevin Miller for anyone who's interested.)

I took that question and expanded it in my own way.

So... what's the answer to the question?  Why are we Eyores when we could be Tiggers?  What makes a Eyore and what makes a Tigger? 

Eyore is an old, depressed donkey that has a tendency to loose his tail.

Meanwhile Tigger is a delightful, exuberant tiger that's always bouncing all over the place singing his little chants.  Even the way he spells his name is dramatic with a

"T-I-double GAH- ER". 

So why would want to be Eyores?  Being a Tigger sounds a whole lot more fun. 

Let me go off on a little tangent and somehow return to this question later on.

One of Tigger's favorite chants goes like this:  "The wonderful thing about tiggers, Is tiggers are wonderful things! Their tops are made out of rubber!  Their bottoms are made out of springs!  They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy.  Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!  But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one!"

Everyone is different. 

For example, I'm fairly certain I'm the only left-handed, LDS girl with PKU that writes blogs and stories, and is a total bookworm.  (And if you find anyone with these characteristics that's not me, let me know!  I want to meet this girl!)

Tigger is happy because he embraces his individuality.  He likes being different. 

Now apply that to PKU... (because that's what this blog is dedicated to)

PKU makes you unique.  Embrace it!!!  Teach others about it!  Wear it proudly on your shirt!  (Seriously, if you make a shirt email me a pic!)

Be a Tigger!  Stop worrying about what people think about you and embrace your uniqueness!

Don't be an Eyore, all gloomy and sad.  Worrying that people will think you're weird because you're always carrying your formula around.  Worrying that people will ask why you aren't eating what their eating.  Worrying all the time that people will find out you're different.

STOP!!!  You can be different and still be happy!  People will probably ask questions about PKU; answer them proudly.  People will probably say, "I'm so sorry!!!"(Or some other irritating comment that makes you want to grind your teeth.)  Be nice.

Just remember:

Be different. 

Be a Tigger.

Be Happy.

BE YOU!         






   

Beating the Heat

I don't know about you guys, but where I live it's been in the 100's most of the summer (degrees Fahrenheit).  No one wants to cook when it's already boiling outside, in fact no one wants to GO outside!  So we've had to be pretty creative to "beat the heat" and still have a fun summer.  Here are some fun HOT day things:

1. Make Popsicles!  (SUPER easy.  Just make juice or lemonade and put it in ice cube trays.  After it's firmed a little, put in toothpicks and let it freeze all the way.)
2. Go to the pool  
3. Visit a beach/lake/ pond SOMETHING like that.  If you aren't near one you could always make an indoor beach and pretend (great for little kids)
4. Play in the sprinklers/ have a water fight (not JUST for little kids. ;)
5. Freeze some fruit and eat that.  Healthy as well as delicious!
6. Make a smoothie! ;)
7. Set up a tent and sleep outside (watch the stars they're amazing!)
8. Take walks in the evenings when it's cooling down.  (I know in my neighborhood, everyone is outside then so it's a great chance to socialize)
9. Go for an ice cream run.  
10. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!  (This is really important on hot days.)

Stay cool, and hydrated.  And have a great week!

*Note:  I know this isn't one of my typical PKU Posts, but if you look closely it definitely is influenced by my PKU lifestyle. :)*

Cheddar: A cheesy sequel

Last week I gave everyone the recipe for Mozerella cheese.  This week I'm giving you the recipe for Cheddar (thanks to sweetroots.blogspot.com for the recipe).

Coconut Milk Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients:

• 2 cans coconut milk (full fat, thai kitchen brand preferred)
• 3 Tbsp agar flakes* (see note below if using agar POWDER)
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 4 Tbsp tapioca starch
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional; but definitely gives it more cheesy-ness)    
• Pinch of Turmeric (optional; but gives it an authentic cheese color)

 Instructions:

1. Boil coconut until no longer separated.  
2. Add  white balsamic vinegar, agar flakes, and salt
3. Boil for 15 minutes (no need to boil if using agar powder)
4. Add remaining ingredients one at a time, whisking all the while.  
5. Cook another 5-10 minutes.
6. Remove from pan and but in greased, flat bottom glass dish, or parchment paper lined loaf pan (or rubber loaf pan).
7. Let cool 2 hours.  You could stick it in the fridge when cool and use the next day!  
8. Slice and enjoy (if put in fridge you can actually grate it!  Even if it's more slippery)

 *Note: Agar powder speeds this wonderful process of veagan cheese-making.  With the agar powder you don't have to boil it nearly as long.  Use only 3 tsp of powder!  After you add the vinegar, agar powder, and salt to the milk mixture, let it get a good boil then add all the remaining ingredients one-by-one, whisking all the while.  Remove from heat and place in container.  

   

Have fun with that Cheddar Cheese!  Bye!

Mozzarella Cheese... LOW PRO STYLE!!!

My family makes its own cheese.

That sentence makes me feel really self-sufficient.  Though if I were to be totally honest it's PKU cheese, and it's my mom who mainly makes it.  Haha. 

But now I have the recipe.  So I can make it when I move back to college in the Fall.  And soon you will have it too.  So you can try it too!

Enough chat, here's the recipe:  (it's very very good!)

Fresh Vegan Mozzarella Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 can good-quality coconut milk
• 1 tsp coconut vinegar
• 2/3 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp agar powder
• 1 TB tapioca flour

 Instructions:

1. Place the coconut milk into a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Whisk until well-emulsified (aka liquified evenly )
3. Add in the vinegar, salt, and agar
4. Whisk frequently for about 15 minutes or until a small boil occurs
5. Reduce the heat immediately 
6. Mix the tapioca flour  
7. Heat for 5-10 minutes more
8. Transfer to a flat bottomed glass prex dish to slightly gel for about an hour (we actually used silicon bread pans for this, and it worked)

 Then you are done!  You've made your own PKU CHEESE!!!  Don't you feel accomplished?  ;)  

Anyways credits for this recipe goes to www.olivesfordinner.com for their fabulous recipe, that my mom found one day.  They have some pretty good stuff if you want to check it out.  

Thanks!  And I'll see you soon! 
    

Living Examples

     In the past year I have met 3 different people who were all put on diets recently.  The diets were restrictive.  No dairy, no eggs, no grains... basically carbs and veggies. 

Does that sound familiar?  It should ;)  I've been talking about a diet like that for a couple years now.  Haha.  The diet they are on is NOT PKU (there are some differences)  but it is strikingly similar.

In fact, those 3 people have asked me "how I do it".  How do I find things to eat?  How have I followed my diet after all this time? 

     Here is my answer: (note: these individuals were put on their diets after years of no restrictions, which is always harder than following right after birth like I did.)  I just do it week by week, day by day.  I'm not perfect at it (who is?)  But I try.  There are lots of things you can eat.  You just have to look for them, and find things that you like.  True you have to cook a little more than the average person... but honestly home-cooked food TASTES better.  You just need to look,and experiment, and find things you like.  People tend to fall into eating grooves.  Just find your groove.  You'll be okay.

     Just by following their diets PKU'ers are great examples to people put on medical diets.  As I've talked to those three people and given them ideas, I feel like I've helped.  People can look at me as an example. of someone who is doing alright on a diet.  Then maybe they can feel more confident about their own lives. 

     I just want to ask PKU'ers one thing: PLEASE don't be shy about your PKU.  You could help so many people, and not even realize it at the time.  You could be an example that they look up to.  It's just one thing that's helping me stay on my diet, and helping me continue this blog.  So that I can help people.  Which as I grow is something that has become important to me. 

     So today blog post in 10 seconds:  PKU'ers be an example to other people on medical diets.  People on medical diets?  You'll be okay.  Just live it day by day.  :)

Okay, well see you soon.  Thanks for reading this. 

At the Check Out Stand

Recently I got a job at a grocery store.

And today I noticed something...  most people don't get fruit and veggies.  They get chips, and crackers, and soda, and candy, and other junk food.  But most of all they get meat.

I'm not anti-meat just because I can't have it.

But until today I never known so many different types of meats existed.  Or that the regular person used so much.  They hardly ever got fruits and veggies.  And when they did it was either: potatoes, apples, bananas, or grapes.

Then there are those who get LOTS of fruits and veggies.  And they are super healthy and buy only health foods.

I love fruits and veggies, and I just wanted to put a plug out there that fruits and veggies are GOOD!  They taste good, they are versatile, they are healthy.  You don't have to go all health-nut to enjoy some good fruits and veggies!

So below are a few of my favorites (had to limit to top 5) and some ways to enjoy them.

My Favorite Fruits are:

• Coconut (yes it is a fruit)- A PKU'er can do so much with this!  I use coconut milk in all sorts of recipes, but it's also very good just shredded.
• Apples- Very good raw.  You can also dip them in almond bark, or cut them into slices and pour lemon juice on them, or you could caramelize them.
• Pineapple- This fruit tastes carbonated.  A good healthy snack when you feel like having a soda.  It's also good grilled, on a pizza, fresh, or dipped in almond bark.
• Grapes- Frozen grapes are perfect for a warm sunny day.  But grapes are also good fresh, or in a fruit salad, or a smoothie.
• Bananas- I HAD to mention the Banana.  It is the base of EVERY good smoothie.  :)  And it's good in almond bark, or fresh, or frozen.

(Yes I know I just listed some of the most common fruits bought, but they're popular for a REASON and I never said I didn't fall into the same rut.  I just noticed it today)

My favorite Veggies:

• Bell Peppers- Doesn't matter the color, bell peppers are delicious.  You can roast them, eat them with a dip, have them raw, or add them to a stir fry.  
• Potatoes- Even though the potato has practically no nutritional value.  We all love it.  You can roast them, mash them, fry them, make hash browns.  They are very versatile.
• Corn- Again, not the healthiest of the veggies.  But they can be grilled or steamed it is really yummy.  
• Carrots- Dipped in ranch, or roasted, or steamed, or plain raw; Carrots are delicious.  And a fabulous snack!
• Zucchini- These veggies take on the taste of whatever you cook them in.

          In an earlier post: Tastiest Way To Get Rid Of Zucchini!            I showed you a weird yet delicious recipe for Zucchini Cobbler!  You could also saute them, roast       them, grill them, all sorts of things.  


Again I don't profess to be the healthiest of eaters.  But, this post is just meant or be a kind of reminder that fruits and veggies are good.  And you can do so much with them.  Go and buy more fruits and veggies. :)  I know I will... :D

A Post for Ladies

Sorry about the sudden break in blogging.  I had finals, then I moved back home, and then I had to find a job for the summer.

But I return bearing a really good post. 

Last night, the clinic in my area hosted a "Female Teen/Young Adult" get-together; in order to discuss topic a that every female PKU'er worries about.

PKU Pregnancy

It was actually pretty cool, because it brought people, who weren't following their diets currently, out.  I met several girls who I had never seen before.  (And the PKU community is a rather small one.)

We ate at a restaurant, which was kind enough to cook some low-pro food for us, and we talked.  We talked to woman who had already been pregnant or were currently pregnant and had PKU.  What they said was very reassuring.

It's not as hard as one might think. 

The lady I talked to said, "the hardest part was getting her levels down to a 2 before trying.  After that it's really easy to keep it down, because your tolerance goes up."  

Which makes sense, because suddenly you're feeding two people instead of one.  Some other helpful things she said were: 

"Your formula also goes up, but sometimes if you can't eat it all they'll half it with pills."

 "You have to keep a diet record and do weekly blood draws..."

"When I go see my doctor he doesn't have to do anything different than other pregnancies."

 And finally:

"It's a lot of work, but once your holding that little baby in your arms, it'll all seem worth it." 

It's not impossible.  That is the message I wanted to spread today.  Just a message of relief.  It's hard work; but every pregnancy is.  And if that's what you want... YOU CAN DO IT! 

(And I believe there are blogs of PKU woman who are currently or have been pregnant if you want to see more of the day-to-day stuff.)