Food for Thought *

* But, seriously . . . pea protein?!

Last month I participated in the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program at the Rochester clinic. I met with someone from the diabetic team who confirmed what I already knew. My blood sugar has been WAY out of control. I have NOT been watching my carbs for the last 6-7 months.

Unexpected results came from the cardio team. Two exercise tests, including an exercise EKG, plus an angiogram, revealed that I have an 80% blockage in the main artery to my heart. This determination explained symptoms that I've been experiencing over the past few months, most noticeably shortness of breath & general fatigue. [Of course, being fat & out-of-shape hasn't helped.]

It looks like I'm headed for a stent procedure in the very near future. In the meantime, the cardiologist ganged up w/the endocrinologist to strong arm-me into agreeing that, yes, I should start on a Mediterranean diet. While recognizing the need for a drastically healthful diet, both for the sake of my diabetes type 2 + heart health, it has also left me feeling depressed and/or anxious because of the change of lifestyle that will be necessary. To wit:

• Less red meat. According to several sources this means beef & other red meat no more than "several" times per month. 
• More protein from fish + beans *. [Not to be confused w/pork & beans.] I like fish. I like it fried in beer batter. I do not think this is recommended. * I like garbanzo beans.
• Thinking of protein as more of a side dish than an entree. Wait . . . what?
• Substituting whole wheat bread & pasta & brown rice for whatever the opposite is. I think I can cope w/this, although it does mean disdaining donuts, sweet rolls, fries, hash browns, & generally minimizing potatoes. [Apparently there is no such thing as "whole wheat" baked potatoes]
• Vegetables should comprise 1/2 of my dietary "plates" each meal. I have a confession to make. My brother Mark--for good reason--developed quite a reputation for avoiding vegetables at meal time. This included lettuce salad. My confession? I am no great lover of most vegetables either, & I have studiously avoided them. My idea of favorite vegetables are onion rings & corn-on-the-cob. Fortunately I do like green beans, edamame [I shouldn't have looked up this word, because I found out that edamame are soybeans. Yum.], snow peas, raw carrots, raw cauliflower, tomatoes. Olives are on the list, which makes sense in a Mediterranean diet. Broccoli? Let's not go there. [There was no edamame when I was growing up. Had any of us kids said, "Pass the edamame" at the dinner table, I think we would have gotten our mouths washed out w/soap.]
• Substituting a piece of fruit for sweet desserts. Ice cream is out. Apples & grapes are in. I like apples & grapes. [But I REALLY love ice cream, cake, pie, fruit cobbler . . . you get the picture.]

Ultimately, I must live w/the consequences of my slovenly eating habits & embrace a healthier eating lifestyle. And I must try to do so w/o having a pity party. This could be a challenge. *
* This WILL be a challenge. CBLCT **
** Cornhusker Blog Lite Consulting Team

From Omaha World Herald (2/11):  "Minnesota firm with Iowa roots bets on popularity of pea protein. The Lorenzen family was into pea protein long before it became trendy. Iowa seed salesman Jerry Lorenzen started developing strains of organic peas in the mid-1980s. Today, his family's company, Puris LLC, is the largest US. pea protein producer with more than $100 million in annual sales . . . Minneapolis-based Puris mills yellow peas, the fodder for pea soup, into protein powder & nuggets that are used  in products ranging from sports drinks to snack bars. The pea protein business has taken off in recent years as consumers seek more protein generally, & particularly from plants. Soy protein has traditionally been the leading plant protein. But pea protein is surging as demand grows for organic & non-GMO food products." COMMENTS:  Does this mean that menu boards at McD's will start adding items such as the Big Pea? Pea McNuggets? What about Burger King? Home of the Whop-pea? What about finishing a workout & saying, "Time to munch on an energy-pea bar?" Excuse me if I am NOT jumping on this bandwagon.