Let me tell you about what I had to eat last night. I began with a personal pizza- fresh dough, buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Then I sauntered into a pile of clams and mussels marinara (complete with ample bread for dipping). My main course was two colors of homemade pasta- yellow and green, covered in a delicious puttanesca sauce complete with chunks of tuna, olives and capers. Dessert was tiramisu and a nice cappuccino. Everything was heavenly. I also took some samples of my wife's ravioli. But she didn't want my aggressive fork near her dish so I backed off.
This was a splurge meal, dinner in NYC with a gift card, but with CF, it's so important to eat a high calorie/high fat/high protein diet. So why not enjoy it? If my body isn't going to absorb what I put in, then I want whatever I do absorb to be delicious.
I love eating. In some strange way, CF has given me the gift of being a garbage disposal, able to tackle any menu and food challenges presented.
My accomplishments are as follows:
-13 Hot Dogs "all the way" in 20 minutes from the Hot Grill in Clifton, New Jersey (I stopped for my friends sake who's house we were going to after the meal, but I was good for another 7, I swear!)
-2 full large pizza pies (back in my high school glory days when I was a champ)
-5 Fat Eddie sandwiches from a restaurant on the seaside New Jersey boardwalk which closed down since (one Fat Eddie is an 8 inch sub with chicken fingers, fries, marinara sauce, and mozzarella sticks)
-On many occasions, 3 to 5 pounds of chicken in various states, my favorites being BBQ
And the list goes on and on. There isn't a number high enough to quantify the number of my mother’s meatballs I've consumed.
One of my favorite things is when my wife makes London Broil once or twice a week. I usually eat the whole thing. (Luckily my wife is thin and does not require much sustenance!) Plus about a pound of tortellini. And somewhere we try to get in some veggies.
And...then we have milkshakes.
All of this is great in the quest for keeping up that body weight which in turn can positively affect lung/overall health. But costs can add up. London Broils don't come cheap. Growing up in an Italian family, food was our culture so my parents never drove the nicest cars, but we always had prosciutto on hand just in case someone desired cured meats. My wife and I are on the same page in that regard. We spend a lot on food for my wellness, but we are OK with that.
Here are some suggestions for food shopping:
-Generally, plan your week's meals in advance by shopping from what's on sale. If BBQ sauce is cheap that week, stock up. Of course, check out what coupons are going around as well. These are the common sense things.
-Meat is great for CF due to the protein and fat but is a heavy hitter on the wallet. When something you like is on sale, snag up the stock and freeze it until you're ready. It'll last.
-Look for deals on Greek yogurt, which has some solid protein and fat. Often stores will say "buy 10 for 10 dollars." That's not bad. Just know that you may be subject to whatever brand is on sale and brands can widely differ. For flavor, we likes Oikos. For low carb, we like Fage.
-Eggs are a relativity inexpensive source of protein and they do not mess around with blood sugar.
-Milkshakes are a great extra calorie snack/dessert. We usually add a scandi-shake and protein powder as well.
Of course, eating solidly is only one part of the complex CF puzzle. Speak with your doctor and/nutritionist (if part of your CF care team) about what works for you. Personally, I swear by whole milk, Greek yogurts and eggs. Of course I exercise to make sure these calories and nutrients are placed properly and don't go to my gut (losing that battle as of late but I am getting there!) With eggs, watch the cholesterol. Maybe eggs whites are a better choice in your case. So talk with professionals to create a food plan that meets your needs- CF or otherwise. In case I'm not clear, I just like eating and have no specialized knowledge here.
There are so many parts of CF that aren’t so great. Like needing to have a high caloric intake, taking enzymes, and managing diabetes in my case. But if it's got to be done, my parents taught me from a young age to enjoy each bite and to enjoy the people with whom you share those meals.
Happy eating, my CF friends! May the fork be with you! Now I've got a ham sandwich waiting...excuse me.
Joseph Armenti is a 27 year old lawyer with CF. He enjoys exercising, dining, and spending lazy afternoons with his wife.
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