Tag: food allergies

Daily Food Diary – Day 261 of 365 Days

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today it is 261 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 💓

Today it is also my sister Elaine’s BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Elaine! 🎈

Speaking of birthday cake… I love cake, I love icing, and I especially love the icing on commercially made cakes. 👍

Unfortunately, I (as well as my daughter and her daughters) cannot eat yeast and commercially baked anything these days is made with powdered egg whites – which are made with yeast. 

That is just one of the allergy/ intolerances discoveries that I have made recently. 

A few weeks ago, I ate something that should have been perfectly fine.  I immediately got seriously bloated and started experiencing violent abdominal cramps.  🙄

I checked the ingredients and the only thing that was slightly questionable was that the product contained palm oil.  I decided to keep that in mind.

A couple of days later, daughter Jen messaged  me that she was violently ill.  She sent me the nutritional label/ingredient list for what she had just eaten…and it noted  palm oil.

I have been fine since, but Jen has been checking anything she eats for palm oil (she has several severe food allergies so she is generally extra careful). 

She has not been feeling well for some time and been experiencing allergy type issues – but she couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

This morning she messaged me that she happened to notice that the margarine that she has been using for cooking and baking has palm oil in it now. 

No doubt, palm oil is becoming as ubiquitous as yeast!

That is the issue I have with a number of professionals – business administrators, doctors, investment counsellors, chefs apparently… They find one thing that works and that becomes the norm for the entire industry  – until it turns out that the norm doesn’t work all that well. (At least for some  of their customers) 🤦

In the meantime  buyer beware, be mindful, be alert…

Daily Food Diary – Day 261

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) paratha (240)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(1 1/2) oz ham (43)

(1) tomato (22)

(12) Doritos (153)

Snacks:

(1) vodka Caesar (168)

(48) oz water

(12) oz lemon water

Supper:

(11) chicken air fried wing flats (468)

(2) tbsp Frank’s Honey Garlic sauce (80)

(1) Serving Caesar Salad (250)

(1) c Apple crisp (227)

Total calories consumed: 1808

Total calories used: 439

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min garden/yardwork (88)

(30) min housework (67)

(30) min food prep/cooking (56)

Total net calories: 1369

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1369 = 139 over

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💓🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 236 of 369

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 236 of my Daily Food Diary.😍

Almost eight months ago, I started keeping a Daily Food Diary.   My main goal was to eat less high calorie/low nutritional foods and to eat more foods that are high in nutritional value.

One of my secondary goals, was to determine which foods I am allergic to, or for whatever reason I cannot tolerate. 

I have a few foods that I knew I cannot eat – pumpkin seeds (home made pumpkin pie is fine), cranberries (but I can drink cranberry tea), and YEAST.

It isn’t terribly difficult to avoid pumpkin seeds or cranberries.   Yeast is a whole different story.  Despite avoiding brewers yeast and baking yeast (in obvious products) I have still been having issues with yeast showing up in less likely foods.  I have found that restaurants use red and white sauces that contain yeast, canned gravy and store bought broths contain yeast, some soda crackers, potato chips and  other snack foods  contain yeast.   But there are other foods that bother me for no conceivable reason – store bought or restaurant served cakes, pancakes, muffins and the like.

Recently, I found that a LOT of commercial baking, including cake (icing), pancakes, and  muffins contain powdered egg whites and powdered egg whites contain Yeast.  🤦

According to Google, yeast is added to egg white powder to improve product stability and prevent discoloration and off-odors.

So, there’s that!

I have also discovered recently,  as has my daughter, that foods containing palm oil cause an allergic reaction.  (A severe one for Jen!). One more thing to check for on product ingredients.

We are fortunate that in Canada  we have strict packaging labels for food that contain comprehensive ingredient and national value lists.

I am also fortunate that my daughter, and hers, work at a restaurant where they have access  to information on typical commercial food ingredients used.   (Unfortunately, they both share my food sensitivities plus have their own to deal with). 

And I am fortunate that I have become more mindful of what I eat, by using my Daily Food Diary.   It is definitely helping me to zero in on foods that I should avoid going forward. 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 236

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (182)

(3) strips bacon (130)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1/2) red tomato (22)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1/2) bag popcorn (160)

(3/4) c Butterscotch ice cream (180)

(9) pecan halves (59)

(1) tbsp chocolate sauce  (52)

(1) tbsp caramel syrup (130)

Supper:

(3) c potato soup: white potatoes & onions, green chives & parsley, bacon bits, & cream mixed with water from potatoes  (420)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (120)

(5) soda crackers (63)

Total net calories: 1587

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1587 = 358 over 🤦

That’s it for today.   Take care and have a great day! 💞😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 192 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 192 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  192 Days without one single miss! 😊🙌

I plan to stop posting my diary at the end of 365 days as I originally planned, but I may keep tracking my food intake indefinitely.  It’s never going to be about perfecting my diet – but I do appreciate the practice of being mindful of what I eat.

Speaking of being mindful…

Yesterday morning I went on a very rare shopping expedition.  I had THREE specific goals:

(1) To buy an outfit for a family event this coming week

(2) To buy new sneakers (the price of an increasingly active lifestyle)

(3) And.. to buy a card for said family event

Dan came with me to chauffeur and offer his input as required. 

After a frustrating walk around Southland Mall, Dan led me down a hallway that I had missed. (My sense of direction is as lacking as my shopping skills 🤦)

To my delight, we came across a Ricki’s store.  I thought the entire chain had closed down, but apparently not!  I went in and the  amazing sales clerk helped me to find the perfect dress – which was on sale! 

Our next stop was DSW – Designer Shoe Warehouse.  I scored not one pair of sneakers but TWO – and both for less than the regular price of one, including taxes.

In keeping with my lack of shopping skills, I totally forgot about the card (Goal #3) when I realized it was lunch time.

With my yeast allergy/intolerance, choosing a restaurant gets complicated.  There  was an Olive Garden in the same general parking lot as DSW, so that seemed like a good sign. 🤭

On the good side… The service was great.  When I asked the waitress to hold the croutons on my salad, she (very professionally) asked if that was simply a preference.  When I told her about my  yeast allergy, she brought the manager to our table to discuss yeast free options.   He provided not only a crouton free salad, but also a yeast free butter & garlic alternative for their regular scampi sauce.   My lunch was amazing and I suffered no ill effects.  And the price for our meal was very reasonable. 👍

On the not so good side.. I was reminded how dicey it is for me to eat anywhere outside of our own kitchen.   I thought Olive Garden would be a pretty safe bet compared to most restaurants where much of the lunch menu is sandwiches (bread or bun).   I was wrong.   At Olive Garden most of their appetizers are breaded, there is yeast in all of  their pasta sauces, and there is even yeast in their Tuxedo Cake (which was a HUGE  disappointment for me. 😢) Fortunately, the manager and our waitress made sure I didn’t order anything containing yeast, for which I am grateful, but the experience will make me even more cautious going forward.

*** After Dan dropped me off at home, he did go to a store to pick up the card that we needed.  🤗💓

Daily Food Diary – Day 192

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Lunch:

(1) Olive Garden salad (140)

(1) Olive Garden shrimp scampi – shrimp, red pepper, & asparagus (490)

Snacks:

(3/4) c Butterscotch Sundae ice cream (180)

(2) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (105)

(9) pecan halves (59)

(25) light salted ripple chips (160)

(60) oz water

Total net calories: 1133

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1133 = 95 under

* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️☺️

Thank you, granddaughter Genie for this photo taken during your time in Toronto (working for the midway and wandering the streets looking for photos to take and restaurants that served homemade soup) 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 162 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 162 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 😊

We are at son Dan’s for a few days.  Theoretically we are here to help Dan hold down the fort and keep their two sons – Lucas (10) and Cason (6), while Dan’s wife is out of town.   In reality, Dan has some unexpected time off  so  has  a handle on everything.  We  aren’t doing much except enjoying our visit.   

Tomorrow, Dan & son Dan are spending the day at a golf tournament so I will get a chance to step up a bit.

I did get my aerobics done yesterday.  We also had enough of a break from the smoke that I  got outside for a bit of  fresh air.   💪

There is plenty of  space (and flowers) to enjoy on the deck that wraps around much of their house. 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 162

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(25) Blueberry Mini Wheats (190)

Snacks:

(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)

(1) Mott’s Clamato/vodka Caesar (168) (1 SVG)

Supper:

(5) dry garlic pork ribs (400)

(15) French fries (50)

***Potatoes do not count as a vegetable 🤦

(2) c  raw vegetables (35) (4 SVG)

(1) tbsp ranch dressing (55)

Total net calories: 1194

Net calories goal: 1238 – 1194 = 44 under 👍

Total fruits & vegetables: 5

Fruits & vegetable goal: 7 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a good day!

, FC : (0,0,0)

Daily Food Diary – Day 115 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 115 of my 365 day Food Diary.  Now that we are moving into barbecue season, we will see  significant changes in our diet.  

Our barbecue is ready to go but it will be a couple of weeks before we can pressure wash the patio, put the cover and curtains on the gazebo, and set out the patio furniture.

With the change in weather, it is already meaning a lot more time outside enjoying the fresh air.  Taking walks with Molly is also so much easier now that we do not have to bundle up in winter coats, boots, gloves etc and drive across the city to snow free paths.  

Life is getting way more active and healthier!  

Speaking of health, I did recover from my meal of restaurant served lasagna.   After our granddaughter Genie read my blog yesterday, she texted me to tell me the problem was the meat sauce.   Since she realized that yeast is an issue for her as well, she has been checking out the ingredients that they use in the kitchen of the restaurant where she works.  The tomato meat sauce they use does include yeast.

I researched it further and found that tomato meat sauce can include nutritional or autolyzed yeast.  I’m not sure I understand what nutritional or autolyzed yeast is, but I definitely know that I need to avoid it!

Since my yeast free existence has become a multi- generational effort (food allergies are genetic 🙄), it has become easier to recognize and avoid the yeast that shows up in unexpected places and to find products that are yeast free.  Daughter Jen (Genie’s mother)  called yesterday to give me a head’s up to try Jordan’s yeast free granola cereal.    It is relatively high in sugar, but it  will make a good snack (in moderation) or a healthier ice cream topping. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 115

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8) (2.1 grams)

(1) Cashew granola bar (160) (140 mg)          (7 grams)

Lunch:

(2/3) c Cavendish Home Fries (80) (150 mg)

(2) sl. Back bacon (73) (620 mg)

(1/4) c green onion (10)

(1/2) c mushrooms (22) (1.6 mg)

(2) tsp olive oil (80)

Snacks:

(30) oz water

(1) c Hibiscus tea

Supper:

(1) Bbq’d 6 oz PC Burger (410) (662 mg)

(1) Caesar Salad – Lettuce, Bacon, Red Onion, Parmesan Cheese, Caesar Salad Dressing, Dried Fried Onions (262) (700.3 mg) (2.1 grams)

(1/2) tomato (11) (3.1 mg)

(10) Old Dutch Ripple Chips (100) (85.5 mg)

(1) tbsp Philadelphia onion chip dip (23) (75 mg) (1.5 grams)

Total Net Calories:  1064

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1064 = 183 under 👍

Total Processed sugar: 12.7 grams

Processed sugar goal: <25 grams 👍

Total Sodium:  1849.4 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300mg 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊

Dan’s Bleeding Heart is just starting to sprout this week.  I can’t wait to see flowers blooming around our yard again.

Daily Food Diary – Day 114 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 114 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 🎊

I started this process to get a better handle on what, and how much, I have been consuming each day. 

For the past month I have been tracking my processed sugar, sodium, and net calorie intake. 

A few notes on this…

(1) My Total Net Calories is based on calories consumed minus calories burned by exercise.  I haven’t been posting my daily exercise here since it is generally morning aerobics and afternoon walking (weather permitting).

(2) Yesterday, for the first time in months, I missed my six morning a week aerobics, but  I did walk – a lot!

(3) Due to a yeast allergy, I avoid consuming  anything containing yeast.  I also avoid consuming processed sugar for health reasons.   I generally eat foods that I make  from scratch.  This helps me to avoid yeast and processed sugar.  👍

(4)  Yesterday, having spent a good part of the day walking  (a lengthy and irrelevant story), I decided we deserved supper out.  (my second mistake of the day).   We went to a local restaurant that has always been a favourite.  We went early, so I had visions of an evening snack.   Totally out of character, I ordered lasagna.  (THIRD and worst mistake of the day).  The lasagna looked, smelled, and tasted amazing! I ate every bite.   We returned home and it became obvious that the lasagna had been a bad idea.  The intestinal distress hit hard and fast.  I can’t imagine why lasagna would be filled with yeast and sugar (and sodium 🙄) but my body did not appreciate it.  By the time, I felt human again, the last thing I wanted was an evening snack.   I finished the day  260 net calories under my goal.

So there you have it.  Today is a new day and a new start to reaching my diet goals.  A diet where lasagna, and probably any restaurant meal,  will not be found any time soon. 🤦

Daily Food Diary – Day Day 114

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(1) Baking Powder Biscuits (40) (45.6 mg)

(1) sl Back bacon (36) (306 mg)

(1) egg (80) (70 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) tsp butter (34) (31.7 mg)

Snacks:

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(48) oz water

(1) peach (58)

(6) strawberries (23) (.7 mg)

Supper:

(2 1/2) c lasagna (796) (2201 mg) (6.5 grams)

Total net calories: 987

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 987 = 260 under 👍

Total Processed sugar:  6.5 grams

Processed sugar goal: < 25 grams  👍

Total Sodium: 2659.7 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💕😊