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Food (and Life) while Immune Suppressed.

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The Basics

Some background and bits about Now What Can I Eat and the reason it exists:

What is Now What Can I Eat?

Now What Can I Eat The Cookbook

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⭐️COMPETITION⭐️ With summer, and the good weather, well and truly over I certainly don’t need much of an excuse to cuddle on the sofa 🛋 with a hot drink ☕️ and whether you plan to celebrate Halloween 🎃 or not these brilliant special editions from @whittarduk are completely delicious.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My favourite, the white sticky toffee pudding hot chocolate, is disappearing quickly here but Whittard have offered one lucky follower a chance to win the whole set.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ All be in with a chance you need to do is:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💛Make sure you’re following @nowwhatcanieat.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💛Follow @whittarduk⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💛Like this post and let us know who you would like to share this treat with 😇 or who you would trick by keeping it all for yourself 😈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ *For extra entries in the random draw please share the post*⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ *Competition will close at 11.59pm on the 24th of October and the winner, picked using a random generator, announced the next day*⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ *Winners will have 24 hours to provide their details for delivery of the prize*⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ *UK entries only this time I’m afraid!*⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #ad - the team at Whittard kindly gifted me some product and allowed me to run this competition

As a transplant patient as well as food we ‘Eat’ a whole load of tablets including for me:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Aciclover 💊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is an anti viral medication given post transplant to prevent something called CMV. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Outside of the transplant community it is better known as the treatment of herpes and shingles.⠀⠀ Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the recognised causes of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients and is among the most common infections in lung transplant recipients, closely following bacterial pneumonia.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So, 4 times a day I pop one of these and will do for the rest of my life 💊

Butter. 🐮 When I was little with CF butter was added to anything and everything possible. My parents were constantly advised that they needed to add additional calories into foods and butter (on top of the food supplements) was a great way to do this.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over recent years butter has taken a dip more generally in popularity with people fearing its high saturated fat contents was a negative thing but recently butter has seen a bit of a resurgence with people wanting to consumer more traceable and natural products and research showing no link between saturated fat intake and increased risk of heart disease or death from heart disease. Although butter is high in calories and fat, and so should be consumed with a variety of other heart-healthy fats as part of a well-rounded diet it also contains a variety of important nutrients. For example, it’s a good source of vitamin A (a fat-soluble vitamin needed for skin health, immune function, and healthy vision), Vitamin E (which supports heart health and acts as an antioxidant to protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals) and small amounts of other nutrients, including riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and phosphorus.

Today is World Mental Health Day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve talked a fair amount about mental health over the last year or so on here and it is fantastic to see what seems to be a shift in attitude to mental health more generally within our society.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Campaigns like #everymindmatter are great ideas, and their celebrity backers mean they are actually getting the attention they deserve and should get anyway, but from my personal experience I can’t help question if it’s enough.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The reality is the NHS needs more money to put behind these issues (and so many others). An online quiz with some basic tips and fancy adverts might raise awareness but I question what more they’re going to do. It’s (questionable) style over substance like so many government campaigns, health related or not, before it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This comes from me, someone who has asked constantly but seen 1 therapist for 3 sessions over the last 3 years. Who has been on the councils waiting list for over 10 months and who when I did get a slot immediately had them cancelled and was put back on the waitlist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So, let’s be realistic. What can we do until mental health catches up with physical health in terms of provisions:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Talk to each other, and check each other are okay⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Build a community of people you can trust and open up to⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Be kind to yourself and selfish if you need to be sometimes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Accept that sometimes it’s okay to cry⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • If you need help shout about it, and keep shouting about it until you get it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ...let’s hope this most recent campaign is the start of real change and in 10 years time on world mental health day people will be able to highlight all the fantastic services on offer in the UK but until then let’s use what we have and try and look after each other as best we can ♥️

Who said salad has to be boring? Or leave you hungry? I’m loving salads at the moment and experimenting with what we throw in them! This one was definitely a winner:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Rose Harrisa Chicken salad⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (Serves 2)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ingredients ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •1 chicken breast⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •1 large tablespoon of harrisa paste (I used @belazu_co Rose Harrisa for this)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •1/2 block of halloumi⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •10/12 cubes of bread (a great way to use up slightly stale bread)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •1 handful of frozen peas⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Salad leaves - I love rocket, watercress and the more peppery ones for this. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •A sprinkle of sunflower seeds⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Pink onions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Balsamic and wholegrain dressing ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - 5 tbsp olive oil⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - 1 tsp whole grain mustard⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - 1 squeeze of lemon juice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - salt⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - pepper...shaken ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Method⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - In a bowl or container loosen the harrisa paste with a little water and a small extra glug of olive oil - Place the raw chicken in this mix and leave to marinade for at least an hour⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Turn the oven on to 180oC⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - After marinating place the chicken in an oven proof dish and place in the oven for 20 minutes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - While the chicken cooks cube the halloumi into 1cm pieces⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Add these to a dry hot frying pan, ensuring you keep moving them to brown all sides and stop sticking⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Once cooked add the bread, lightly coated in olive oil, and allow these to slightly crisp. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Turn off the frying pan and put to the side⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Defrost the peas (just pop them in a mug with some boiling water for 2 minutes) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - In a large bowl add the salad, peas and the seeds⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Add enough dressing to lightly coat, toss⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Remove the chicken from the oven and slice into bite size pieces⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Throw the chicken, halloumi and bread into the salad. Toss again.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Lastly add 2 spoonfuls of pink onions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - Eat straight away 🥗

It’s flu season... 🤧😷🤒 While I know lots of people won’t be getting a flu jab this year, and that is completely your own choice, but I would like to make a plea...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you get the flu please stay at home and recover. Don’t make a quick trip to the shops, try and struggle on at work or pop some Paracetamol and hope for the best while out and about as while you might, and probably will, survive after a couple of weeks of feeling grotty there are others for whom your flu might be a whole lot more dangerous.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are many thousands of people across the UK for who the flu is a much bigger deal health wise: those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, those who are pregnant to name just a few and ever year people like this loose their lives to the flu.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These people are probably doing all they can to avoid the flu themselves, and are more than likely to have had a flu jab, but that doesn’t protect them 100% so please help protect them too...stay in, watch some daytime tv from the sofa, get waited on a little bit, moan all you like but don’t risk exposing others to your germs...please ♥️

🥫 Tins 🥫⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our cupboards are a constantly rotating and normally overflowing reality of tins and jars. While we do buy fresh stuff often the reality of a somewhat unpredictable lifestyle and eating plan means it’s these (and the freezer) that we rely on for the basis of lots of our meals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That’s fine with me though. I’m not talking tinned boring soup or dodgy curries 🙅🏻‍♀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fruits and vegetables used for canning are picked at peak freshness, ensuring the best flavor and nutrient quality and are often packaged into the can within just a few hours.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Canning preserves many of the nutrients that you might get from the fresh products (and can even perform better on this front than if the fresh stuff has been in the bottom of your fridge a few too many days). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The amount of minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, protein, fat and carbohydrate remain relatively unchanged by the process of canning and while some water soluble vitamins may be effected by the heat used during the packaging this is minimal. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In reality, the fact these products are often inexpensive and have a lengthy shelf life so are less likely to be wasted is also handy...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m often surprised at just what is possible when at first it seems your running low on the good stuff. With the base of just a few tins thrown together and a little love what can result from it can be delicious 🥣👩🏻‍🍳♥️

This sauce takes 5 minutes to put together and is full of things I already had in the house...the result was 10 x better than the stuff from a jar though. Sweet and sour pork (Serves 2) - For the sauce •50ml fruit juice (I used peach but pinapple/apple also work well) •2 tbsp cornflour •2 garlic cloves, chopped finely •15g fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated or chopped •1 tbsp dark soy sauce •2 tbsp white wine vinegar •2 tbsp soft light brown sugar •3 tbsp tomato ketchup •1/2 fresh chilli chopped or 1 pinch dried chilli flakes -Other ingredients: •Pork tenderloin (around 150g per person) or chicken breast/boneless thigh also works •1/2 onion •1 pepper •Black rice (50g per person) •Kale (4 large handfuls) Method •Turn your oven on to 180oC •Thinly chop your onion and slice the pepper. Put in an oven dish with a lid, add a little oil and put in the oven to start to soften a little •For the marinade add the cornflower and juice and mix, work through the rest of the list above adding all ingredients into a bowl and combining •Put your meat into the mix (you can leave it at this point to marinate if you like but it’s not essential) •Remove your veg from the oven and add your meat and sauce to the dish, stir until all is coated in the sauce •Put back in the oven with the lid on for 20 minutes •While this cooks, in a frying pan place your rinsed rice. Add boiling water and cook until it has a little bite and their is just a little water left in the base of the pan (you can add more through the cooking process if needed) •Take the lid off your sweet and sour, turn the oven onto the grill setting for 5 minutes and turn your meat half way •Add your kale on top of your rice, pop a lid on your frying pan and let steam for 5 minutes until the kale is cooked. Then splash with lemon juice, a sprinkle of salt and a tiny bit of olive oil •Remove the sweet and sour from the oven. Slice the meat. •Lay the meat on top of your kale and rice mix and layer with sauce • Enjoy!

#weareundefeatable⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are many sides of me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ While post transplant I have been lucky enough to be able to be much more active than I was for years pre transplant the reality is that sometimes I still have to adapt what I do to how I feel and my health and around the reality’s of life post transplant... these might not always be the moments I highlight but they are part of my journey too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Times when I have felt less well, times when I have been fighting an infection, times the hospital appointments still seem to come thick and fast and times when the mental impact of my health and the journey I have been, and am still, on has made getting up and being active more difficult.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For me on days like this it’s all about trying to be kind to yourself, listening to what your body is telling you and taking it gentle. That could mean sacking off the class planned and just going on a dog walk instead. It might mean just stretching out and listening to those deep breaths I am now able to take or it might in all honest mean doing nothing at all, accepting that and waiting for the moment to pass...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The point is to try when you can. Do what works for you and make the best of it. Don’t let others set your standards and don’t worry about what others are doing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I may never be able to run a marathon (or maybe I will...) but what I’m doing is enough and half the battle is knowing that.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Please note any views expressed on NowWhatCanIEat pages and social handles are my own. I am not a trained dietician and request not to be considered as such. Should any medical query’s arise from anything discussed in my post please seek the appropriate clinical advice.

In addition, while all recipes are cooked following the guidance I have been given on what it is safe to eat when immune suppressed they have not been checked by a dietician. If the advice you have been given differs from anything here please follow the advice of your team.

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