I am at that age where pounds are hard to loose and every day that you see your waist getting thicker you wonder what to do. I also worry about my health. It is not just about being skinny but also about being able to keep up with life and having lots of energy to spare. Now that my workload has lightened I want to be able to trek around the world going down my bucket list and that involves a lot of walking. With that in mind I set out on a car ride from Miami to Tampa to visit Dr. Shilpa Saxena at her clinic in Ludz. Dr. Saxena is a functional medicine doctor. A functional medicine doctor addresses the underlying causes of the disease instead of just dealing with the symptoms like most traditional doctors. Full of determination I made the 4 hour drive with enough resolve to become a stellar patient. Driving through alligator alley felt like the road to health, to a new beginning where I vowed to listen to my body and not abuse it anymore.

My appointment was for 10 am until 4pm. That afternoon I was poked, pinched and examined but most of all I was heard. Dr. Saxena spent a lot of time talking to me about my symptoms, my disposition, my stresses and my ability to follow the new health plan. It not only involves food but exercise and relaxation techniques. Considering that the visit costs a pretty penny (although less than my cable bill!) I walked out of there thoroughly invested in the program and highly excited with the challenge.

I came back home with a list of Dos and Don’ts that at first glance were quite overwhelmingbut after a few days it was surprisingly easy to cook and to follow it even when going out. The truth is that all we need is to change our perception of what food should be and its role in our lives.

My mom used to say that we should eat to live and not live to eat. This coming from a woman that despised cooking and only exceled in buying cleaning supplies never stuck to me but maybe there was some truth in it. Since I was born with a healthy appetite and an adventurous taste I have decided to create dishes that I can savor guiltlessly and abundantly (yes, for a lot of people like me quantities are important).

So from now on I will share with you amongst the many recipes some that follow Dr. Saxena’s food recommendations and I will make sure to point it out to you. I will keep you posted on how my elimination diet is going. Maybe I can motivate you to follow suit…