What Did You Eat For Breakfast?

What Did You Eat For Breakfast Today?


I remember growing up in rural Virginia eating cookies, potato chips, or even a candy bar early in the morning. It didn’t matter if it was before or after breakfast. Sometimes junk food was my breakfast or dinner.


Up until a year ago, I continued to consume any type of junk food under the sun. My favorites – fruit cake, Devil’s Food cake, sweet potato and apple pie, chips, cookies, candy bars, etc., you get the idea.


I ate pork chops, pork bacon, spaghetti prepared with ground beef, pepperoni pizza, and fried chicken, which were among my favorite foods. My worse habit . . . eating sugary coated cereal-Cap’n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Honeycomb, Frosted Flakes, to name a few, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.


I don’t eat like that anymore. What happened? My first colonoscopy stopped my fifty-five years of poor eating habits quickly. My gastroenterologist removed six pre-cancerous polyps from my colon. In addition, I was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD], which caused me to modify my diet further.


How do you change something you’ve been doing all your life? It’s not easy. The journey to eating healthier foods has been one of strict self-discipline. It’s a challenge to shop and not venture down the cookie aisle. I don’t like to hear the words “Girl Scout Cookies” anymore. It’s torture.


My physician instructed me to discontinue eating beef, pork, acidic foods, and sugary products, including juices, sodas, and desserts. When he went down the list of items required to maintain a healthy colon and minimize GERD symptoms, I thought to myself, “life is over”.


But is it really? I considered my options on the ride home from the doctor’s office. 1) Keep eating poorly, visit the doctor more than I should, or adjust my eating habits. 2) Gradually try new foods to avoid painful bowel and gastroesophageal issues. This one is a no-brainer.


We don’t know when our time on Earth is up. I’d rather live the rest of my life with minimal health issues. Health issues interfere with what I’m able to do. Some things are out of my control. However, I prefer to concentrate on the things I can control. I wish to continue enjoying my family, writing, and helping others when possible.


In addition, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The diet won’t cure RA, but the right food choices can help control the inflammation that wreaks havoc in the body.


The point of this article…If you have health conditions requiring you to change your diet, go ahead and gradually make the adjustments. You’ll be glad you did. A year ago, I would have never considered eating yogurt, let alone sugar-free yogurt, or having a smoothie three days a week with kale and bananas as the main ingredients.


Here’s to a healthier you and a healthier me.




Edited by: Michael A. Robinson Jr