Comments on: Reading My Way to Straight Up Food

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:01:40 +0000

Thanks Will, and welcome to my blog! I’m glad you enjoyed this entry because I really enjoyed writing it. Glad you found if helpful, and thanks for sharing some of your own memories learning to cook with a recipe as a guide from your own mother. Well wishes and happiness back to you.

By: Will Miller

Will Miller — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:31:07 +0000

Ah, a joy of a website, helpful hints and references.
I learned cooking at my Mom’s side as a pre-schooler and given the advice to be careful of the instructions of recipes too.
Of course it was tempered by Mom’s advice that the recipe is a guide and she often deviated or re-wrote a recipe to her taste. Alas, I never developed the level of her skill and rely on the more prolific cooks to do the experimenting with the exception that I will omit or substitute as the mood suits me when I know a listed ingredient will not enhance the flavor or texture.

And ketchup has always been my ‘friend’ and I thank you for that addition.

Wishing you well and happiness.

Will

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:51:00 +0000

hi kally,

Oh dear I just lost my answer to you! So here goes again. I do not use any oils, including flax oil. My approach is closer to that of Dr. McDougall and Dr. Esselstyn. As I mentioned in the post, my baseline of added nuts and seeds is 1 tablespoon of ground flax a day. When I have additional nuts and seeds or avocado or olive, I count them as Dr. Swank would, so as to be sure not to go over 20 grams. Here is a link to the page that has those measurements on it if you scroll down.

http://www.swankmsdiet.org/About%20The%20Diet

This seems to work for me. I think I also elaborated on this in my answers to other comments on this post, so I hope you find those answers and the post itself helpful in making a decision that’s right for you.

Maria

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:44:50 +0000

Hi kally, I do not use oil at all, even flax oil. My approach is closer to that of Dr. McDougall or Dr. Esselstyn. I do take 1 tablespoon of ground flax a day, usually a teaspoon at a time, on each of my meals. You can read a little bit more about this in my post "Finding My Way to Straight Up Food." I also elaborated in answers to comments for that post. Beyond that, if I have any seeds or nuts, I use Dr. Swank's guidelines for how many nuts, seeds, avocado, olives, etc. translate into grams of fat, so I never go over 20 grams. Usually I am far below that. You can find a quick list of those measurements if you scroll down this page on the Swank site. This seems to work for me. I hope to get a FAQ page up since so many people are interested in how I handle this. Maybe after Thanksgiving! Maria

By: kally

kally — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:48:12 +0000

I am leaning towards becoming Swank friendly vegan. What changes did you make? Flax oil, etc. How did you handle please.

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:59:08 +0000

Welcome, Laloofah! I am honored to read of your own similar experience and so glad you are joining me. I believe we need to get the word out about how much this can help. Thank you for adding your own voice of encouraging experience by commenting here. It’ lovsely to connect with others on the same path.

Maria

By: Laloofah

Laloofah — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:32:13 +0000

Maria,
I followed Susan V’s blog to yours, and am glad I did. I’m amazed how very similar our paths are! I was diagnosed with MS 18 years ago this month. I, too, changed my diet beginning with learning about the Swank MS diet in 1995 and later about Dr. McDougall (finally attending his 10-Day Live-in Program five years ago). Becoming vegan in 2000 (along with my husband) was a great fit for me, given my love of animals and the planet. I take no drugs, have done very well since going vegan and have been completely symptom-free since “going McDougall,” and am so glad you are sharing this information with others through your blog! I find that even after all this time, there’s always more to learn – and more than a lifetime of delicious recipes to try! So I’m a happy new follower of your blog. Thank you to you and to Susan for all that you do and share!

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:14:23 +0000

Welcome, Donna! I am honored to have you follow along and chime in with your own years of experience with Dr. Swank and the Swank Diet. I will be interspersing my own little victories and epiphanies with food tips and gluten free good loves. So I hope I can be of help to you that way in future posts. You can do it! Here is a link to Gluten Free Goddess’s “How To Go Gluten Free” post:

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/p/how-to-go-g-free.html

all the best back to you,

Maria

By: Donna McFarland

Donna McFarland — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:41:34 +0000

So happy to find your blog Maria! I’ve been doing the Swank diet for twenty four years. As his patient, for ten…I knew I’d found the way to controlling this disease. RECENTLY found that I need to seriously cut gluten. WOW…now this, is challenging! Your blog came to me at just the right time…i sooooo look forward to learning more from you! If I can ever add clarity to your Swank diet cache’ of knowledge, please don’t hesitate to email me!

Best to you! Donna

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:57:29 +0000

Hi Diana,

Oh my goodness, American Girl!! I used to get that too. 🙂 Sure brings back memories. Thank you for sharing this. Glad to have you along!

Maria