Here is a (partial) list of the foods that I now eat. I do not eat 3 “traditional” meals. I eat every few hours, in an attempt to keep my body from feeling hungry or weak. (A slight bit of hunger, especially in the morning is a good thing. It proves that I did not overeat before bedtime.)

Meat: 92% Lean Beef, Boneless and Skinless Chicken Breast, Sliced Turkey (I do not eat, nor have I ever eaten seafood of any kind. I also do not eat pork.)

Fruits: Bananas, grapes, strawberries, apples (Fuji and Granny Smith), pineapple (canned), peaches (I live in Georgia!)

Vegetables: Potatoes (boiled or baked), green beans, butter beans, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, lettuce

Starches: Besides the starchy vegetables listed above, I also eat brown rice and whole wheat and whole grain bread. I also eat oatmeal and grits (again, I live in Georgia!).
Snacks: Popcorn, Kosher Dill Pickles, Sugar-Free Ice Cream

Supplements: Daily Vitamin and Calcium

Liquids: Water and Diet Mountain Dew

Here’s the basic daily food routine:

Breakfast: Oatmeal and Banana

Snack: Apple and Grilled Chicken

Lunch: Grilled Chicken, Baked Potato, Green Beans

Snack: Grapes and Strawberries

Supper: 4 Oz. Beef, Butter Beans, Brown Rice

Snack: Popcorn and Kosher Dill Pickle

(I also use salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, and a little teriyaki sauce. I’m still eating too much sodium and consuming too many soft drinks. As my health improves, I hope to break little habits, one by one, until my routine is completely healthy. As it is, I already feel 200 percent better than I did two weeks ago, and I’m super psyched about my new eating plan.)

For those of you who watch your carbs, proteins, fats, etc., I had to create a plan that I could actually follow. The above is just a “sample” of what I might eat. Again, the only “rules” that I have are: I must not feel lousy 1 hour after eating a food, and I must stay around 1500 – 2000 calories a day. Trust me, I know about insulin loads, glycemic indexes, anaerobic exercise, the whole nine. This time around, I’m keeping things super-simple, especially in the beginning.