Jennifer Hess, a ChronicBabe contributor, knows that eating minimally processed foods without many additives helps keep her pain under control. Instead of eating junk when she’s exhausted, in pain and can’t think, she has invested in good kitchen tools and always has easy-to-prepare, good-for-you food on hand. Jennifer shares her secrets in Chronic in the Kitchen! Tips to Keep You Cooking.
Tag: ChronicBabe
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
At the grocery store this morning, I walked happily through the produce section, greeting all the employees with a big smile. While I’m generally a friendly person, I was extra perky today.
Why the spring in my step? Because the fruits and vegetables were beautiful today. It’s not that they were brightly colored or smelled terrific, which they did, but simply that they were there.
The season of delicious, plentiful produce is upon us. Artichokes, spinach and radishes are only the beginning. Cherries, berries and peaches are right around the corner.
Of course you know that fruits and vegetables are good for people. But I’m thoroughly convinced that they are especially good for those of us with chronic illness. You only get maximum performance if you put the right fuel in.
In her latest Chronic in the Kitchen article, Jennifer Hess describes the benefits of produce that’s in season now, complete with easy recipes to enjoy the bounty.
Guilt & One’s Social Life
Having to cancel plans, not pulling your share around the house, letting down co-workers (or not being able to work at all)… Everyone with chronic illness has an overabundance of guilt. Writer Laurie Edwards explores the affect guilt has on her social life and ways she’s tried to overcome this.
I’ve raved about Laurie’s other ChronicBabe articles and am thrilled that she now has her own blog, Chronic Dose.
How to Respond to “How Are You?”
When someone asks how you are, how do you respond? It’s a tough question when you have a life-altering illness — should you shrug it off with an “OK” and deny your own experience or be truthful and risk scaring off the other person?
My response varies depending on the person, how I feel in that moment, how much energy I have, and if I really want to get into it. It’s usually along the lines of “I’m still here,” “I’m alive,” “I’ve been better,” or “OK right now, though it’s been a rough week.” If I don’t want to talk about it, I immediately follow my response by turning the question around. Most people love to talk about what’s going on in their lives and are thrilled to have someone who is ready to listen.
100 Ways to Answer the Question “How Are You?” (PDF) is an excellent new resource from ChronicBabe that’ll help you answer that difficult question. There’s bound to be a suggestion that will help you no matter how you’re feeling on a particular day and how much you want to talk about.
I particularly like the section on authenticity where she points out that answering the question honestly can establish intimacy and trust, leading to a deeper connection between you and the people in your life and, thus, greater support. Need more encouragement to open up? Check out The Power and Strength of Vulnerability.
Small Talk on ChronicBabe
Not only is ChronicBabe a fabulous new site, it’s a fabulous new site that I’m now a contributor to. Full Disclosure? No Disclosure? One Babe Considers Her Small Talk Options is a version of Too Much Information.