Prednisone Food Management

While on prednisone, I have found that I can stay in control by planning out my meals and sticking exactly to the plan. I’m not saying any of this will prevent you from gaining weight, but it has helped me keep my body mass in check. So, here are some tips that have helped me and might help you too. Of course some of these are common sense, it’s all a matter of willpower, but here they are anyway:

-- I don’t eat three hours before bedtime.

-- If I am going to eat something full of sugar or fat (my favorites) I eat it for breakfast.

-- I eat a lot of pasta with marinara sauce, I pack my lunch and stay away from fast food.

-- I stay away from excess bread and starch.

-- I don’t add extra salt to foods.

-- If I eat something bad, I only eat half of it.

-- If I don’t exercise for the day, I try to do work around the house.

-- If I have to drink soda, it is sugar free.

-- Nutrasweet, Nutrasweet, Nutrasweet*.

-- I drink at least 2 liters of water a day.

-- I weigh myself daily and keep track of what is and what is not working with my eating habits.

-- I never totally deprive myself. If I really truly want to eat something, I do, but I make sure that it doesn’t become a habit.

-- I love candy bars, but if I eat one, I try to make it stretch over a couple days. I am currently working on a Big Kit Kat.
 

*Some people feel very strongly against Nutrasweet® or aspartame, like it is the anti-Christ, but I happen to endorse it. It keeps me from looking like a fat elephant and if it gives me a third eye, I will deal with it later. This is the only chemical I ever dump into my body and I don’t smoke or do drugs, so let me have it. Decide for yourself. Other sweeteners you can use besides table sugar (sucrose), are honey and fructose (fruit-derived sweetener).
 

It is tough, sometimes I have chewed my cuticles entirely away, waiting for the next mealtime, but I will NOT give in to my hunger and I will NOT let prednisone pack on unwanted pounds. I will win this battle. I chew sugarfree gum to pass the time, and try to stay busy.
 
 

Foods to Avoid:
Processed meats such as ham, smoked turkey,
hot dogs, salami, pepperoni
Bacon
Smoked salmon and smoked meats
Pickles and other things soaked in sodium
Salted chips, crackers, or pretzels
Many cheeses
Spices that have salt in them
Fast foods (duh!)
Soy sauce
Most pizza (what else is there???)

Foods to Use:
No-salt-added chips, crackers, and pretzels
Spices low in salt: pepper, garlic, onion flakes
No salt pickles
Lower-salt meats: chicken, turkey, most fish, beef-- all if not "preserved"
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Pasta
Rice
Couscous
 

Click here for some prednisone friendly RECIPES.