Living
for the week and shop accordingly, so they have what they need
when they need it. Others keep a
“master” grocery list of staples such
as bread, eggs, milk or apples.
And still others like to be
spontaneous, like Elizabeth
Yarnell, diagnosed with MS in
1999 and the author of
Glorious One-Pot Meals and The
Effortless Eating Blog. “I’m
kind of a last-minute dinner
person, so I keep my freezer and
pantry stocked with all sorts of
options.” Dried pasta and jars
of marinara sauce are two such
items. “I can have dinner on the
table in 20 minutes by just boiling water.”
Elizabeth Yarnell, diagnosed 1999
DIET
Avoiding the
fast food trap
Fast food at home—
it’s possible!
by Marcella Durand and
Greta M. Herron
Fast food can look awfully inviting when the pantry is
bare and MS symptoms like
fatigue act up. But fast food,
much of which is low in nutrients and high in trans fats, can
lead to clogged arteries, irritable
bowel syndrome, weight gain
and other problems.
There are ways to resist the
siren call of the drive-in window.
With a little planning and a
few short-cuts, eating your own
food at home can be easier. And,
for nights when take-out is the
only choice, there are healthier
options even at the fastest of the
fast-food joints.
Plan and execute
An empty pantry is an excellent
reason to eat out. Conversely, a full
pantry is an excellent reason to eat
in. Some home cooks plan menus
Simple and flexible
Canned beans, rice, tortillas and
pizza dough are other culinary
Old Faithfuls. “You can top
pizza crusts with whatever you
happen to have,” Yarnell said.
“Last week I had no fresh veg-
etables at all, so I topped a pizza
crust with canned artichoke
hearts, chopped green chiles and
some cheese—it was delicious.”
As for the tortillas, “Open a can
of kidney beans, drain it, and
put the beans in a tortilla with
whatever else you have on hand
for a great wrap.”
Yarnell also likes foods that
can go straight from freezer to
stove. “Individually frozen bone-
less, skinless chicken breasts can
go right on a grill without being
thawed. So can hamburgers or
veggie patties.” (According to
the United States Department
