The Gold Bunny

I love the gold bunny with the red ribbon and bell.  You know the one I'm talking about.  They start appearing in February and as Easter approaches, I buy a small one for me and my husband and a big one for my Dad.

I spoil my Dad at Easter (and all the rest of the time!) because he loves chocolate and he has always been the one who takes care of everyone else.  His family didn't have much money growing up but my Papa always made sure each of his children had an Easter treat.   My Dad loves to tell the story of how he would break out the bottoms of his younger sibling's Easter bunnies and hens, with the hope they wouldn't notice, in order to get more chocolate.  He laughs about it now (and his sisters spoil him too)...so he gets a big bunny.  

When I buy Easter chocolate, I give it to my husband for safe keeping.  It's a game we play.  I know where he hides it so if I really want to eat it pre-Easter, I can find it but for the most part, it's out of sight... (not out of mind) which helps...

Less Chips, More Fruits and Veg

A lifetime of bad eating has left my husband with kidney disease.  Not all of it is his fault as genetics predisposing him to high-blood pressure did not help, but neither did his usual lunch of chips and Pepsi.  

We have always had a hands-off approach with each other when it came to indulgences.  I'm independent and I get my back up when I see people criticising their partner's eating choices.  Unless you're Mary Poppins and practically perfect in every way, I say live and let live.  I shop healthy and there is always a good variety of fruits/veg, lean protein etc, available for meals.  The problem is when we are on our own.  He likes his chips, I like chocolate.

Now he's had a wake up call.  If he doesn't halt the progression with lifestyle changes, he will be a candidate for dialysis.  

The problem with kidney disease diets is there is a lot of leeway between what you can and can't have.  I don't know about you but I do better when I have a specific plan to follow.  What we have gleaned is that he should cut salt, potassium and phosphates.  Eat lean protein but not too much.  More fruits and vegetables.  Cut back on bran and whole wheat products--which I thought was weird. Drink adequate beverages (water!), cut back on alcohol, nuts, cheese, fruit juices and dark sodas.  

So after so many years of the hands-off approach, I have to be more proactive.  I know he's an adult and capable of his own choices but I kinda want him to stick around.  Who knows? It will probably help me too.