My healthy food in Bangkok is a joy of my life since I moved here from California just over a year ago. I tried to eat healthy back in the states and made huge efforts to feed myself without getting sick. But I was sick all the time there.
I pretty much eat the same thing no matter where I am. I find what healthy food I can eat, and chop it up into a mix like this. Then later I turn it into soup, or a salad, or a stew, adding protein as I can find it.
When I chop up my healthy Bangkok food like you see here, the scent is life-giving. When I chopped it in California, you could barely smell it at all. The improvement in smell is one of the first things I noticed upon moving here.
Why I Worry About Healthy Food
I have autoimmune disease. Many of the additives in the American food supply make me very sick. I get sick with joint swelling, muscle pain, weakness, exhaustion, stomach trouble, headaches, and nausea, but the worst is cramps.
When I eat bad food, sometimes the result is a huge body cramp. I've had to teach myself not to scream or bite through my lips when it happens. Think of a bad charlie horse that is all over your body - not just your calf. It's in the big muscles - too internal to work on - too numerous to believe, and too excruciating to describe.
I have strategies to get through my symptoms when they happen, but it's not fun. Usually full body cramping lasts 18-24 hours and then I feel like I was in a boxing ring being pummeled by a big guy. It could be up to a week before I can walk easily again.
Not that walking is easy for me these days, but I cherish the fact that I can walk at all. I have a lot of friends in autoimmune disease groups who have it much worse than me.
How I get Healthy Food in Bangkok
I buy my food off the street in Bangkok. The food carts and open markets are my store now. I buy greens, other veggies, roots, seeds, fruit, sweet potatoes, squash, and anything else that works for my health.
I've moved a lot in both countries and had a hard time in the states. "Finding food that won't kill me" was my constant goal. Many foods had hidden traps of toxic additives and it got worse as the years went on. Each time I moved, I had to start on the hunt all over again.
But here in Bangkok, I can eat the food most anywhere. I still have my long list of foods to avoid, but as long as I do - my food is fantastic. Hundreds of additives allowed in the states are illegal in the Thai food supply. My health and strength are much better now than back in San Diego.
What's in My Healthy Food?
This chopped food made enough for three meals. I divide it up and then put what I don't eat in the fridge for later. It lasts several days and is different based on what is in it.
This version had:
Purple rice and white rice the vendor cooked
Steamed sweet potato
Steamed pumpkin
and raw:
Cilantro
Dill
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Turmeric root
Ginger root
Carrots
Cucumber
The smell was lovely as always here. I am very grateful for my food.
After I divided it all up, I added various other things for my meals, but I do not have photos for that. Now I have a project to work on in future.
My entry for #SundayScentExperience by
