Counseling Sheet

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D.
Preventive Medicine‍

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FRUITS‍

Buy a variety of fresh, ripe fruits to use at breakfast with your whole grain cereals or at supper time. Buy in bulk and buy fruit that is in season to economize. Apples are one of the best fruits. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, etc., are good, too.‍

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VEGETABLES

‍Buy also a wide variety of vegetables, preferably the deep green and yellow ones. Avocados are very high in oil content, therefore, use sparingly on the therapeutic diet. Canned foods contain a small amount of salt, which is permissible; however, avoid adding extra salt in their preparation. Read labels, for some contain sugar. Frozen vegetables prepared without added salt are permissible; however, avoid those with any kind of sauce, for they will have oil in them.

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GRAINS

‍Buy a variety of whole grains, such as whole wheat, rye, oats, rolled oats, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, 100% cornmeal, and whole barley. Cook whole by themselves or in a mixture with other grains. For variety, grind some in the Moulinex grinder.

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PASTAS

‍Buy whole wheat products, such as spaghetti, lasagna, and macaroni. Check labels carefully for some are made with soy flour or egg yolks added to it. These are high in fat and protein.‍

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LEGUMES

‍Legumes or dry beans and peas. Buy these in bulk for economy. Use a variety throughout the week or month. Good choices are: pinto beans, red beans, garbanzos (chick peas), lentils, black beans, split peas, great northern beans, navy beans, lima beans, etc. (Soy beans are very high in fat and protein, thus should be used sparingly on the therapeutic diet).‍

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NUTS AND SEEDS

‍Use VERY sparingly in the therapeutic diet. Eat sparingly in the maintenance diet for these foods come under the classification of concentrated foods, because of their high fat content.

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DAIRY PRODUCTS

‍None, except for those that must have milk, the nonfat (not low-fat), in small quantities to be used occasionally with breakfast is recommended.

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BREAD

‍Make your own, if at all possible. Health food stores are beginning to sell oil-less, sugarless bread. Even some of the supermarkets in some cities carry them. Consider making an agreement with a small local bakery to have a quantity of loaves baked for you once or twice each month, which you then can store in your freezer.‍

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CRACKERS

‍A few are available in the health food section or foreign section of supermarkets without oil, sugar, and salt; however, most contain some salt. Also, read labels carefully as some companies make more than one product.‍

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CONDIMENTS

‍Sweet herbs may be used to enhance the natural flavors of foods. Most of these are available in supermarkets. Some health food stores carry them in bulk, at much lower prices. See the list for healthful condiments to use and harmful spices to avoid.