Challenges of Eating Healthy

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis I was inundated with information on how to manage this disease. At the heart of these suggestions was information on how to eat in a healthy way. Some of these were for diet protocols that claimed to cure MS and others were just the standard food pyramid recommendations. All of these assume that people living with MS have the time, money, and ability to follow that way of eating.

My kitchen tools

As someone who loves to cook, I have a wealth of cooking tools and education. I have had decades to accumulate all of the things needed to cook from scratch. I have a set of cast iron and aluminum cookware. I have a standard blender and a stick one. I have drawers and drawers full of niche instruments that I do not use on a regular basis. While I have a large crockpot, I finally gave in and purchased an Instant Pot. I am well-prepared to follow nearly any set of nutritional guidelines. I am more fortunate than many people living with multiple sclerosis. I do not face many challenges when it comes to healthy eating.

What do we need to eat healthy?

One thing that all MS eating protocols have in common is their key assumptions in regards to healthy eating:

• Access to fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, and/or fish.
• Possession of cooking tools, including things like chef's knives, cutting boards, or specialty appliances.
• Knowledge of basic cooking techniques.
• TIME! TIME! TIME!

For those who do not face barriers, this list is probably confusing. Who does not know how to cook or have knives or cutting boards? It turns out that a significant number of people with MS do not have access, tools, or time. Some of this is due to the social determinants of health which include aspects of socioeconomics.¹

Barriers to a healthier eating

Studies have shown that people living with MS are more likely to have problems with access to healthier food than the general population. Multiple sclerosis can keep people from working jobs that pay well and they suddenly find themselves living on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which for most recipients, puts them below the poverty level. Veterans living with MS are also an important population that struggles with healthier eating due to barriers. This is an issue that affects people living in rural regions and those whose residence is in an urban area where lack of access to fresh foods has created what is called a "food desert".¹

Food deserts mean that the fresh foods required for healthy eating are not readily available. It is an issue of grocery stores that are located too far away to walk and not near public transportation. The issue of cooking tools and appliances can mean that a person cannot place food into a crockpot in the morning and have a freshly cooked meal at night.¹

If you have lived without fresher foods and do not have access to tools, it is no wonder that cooking itself is a stretch.

Looking for solutions

There are organizations out there seeking to address the challenges faced by some people with MS. The need for access to good food is not specific to multiple sclerosis patients, but the same resources are available to them. Partnership for Healthier America is one such organization that works to improve access to healthy foods. Through their initiatives MS patients can find good food events and food banks. This organization partners with other groups to collaborate on solutions as does the Food Trust, another non-profit focused on food equity and access.

Do the best you can

If you are someone who has challenges and/or barriers to eating well, doing the best you can is often your only choice. If fast-food restaurants, bodegas, and convenience stores are your only options, there are ways to add healthier components to your diet. Stocking up on fresh foods and preparing to freeze them. Already frozen fruits and vegetables, like those you freeze yourself, can be stored for several months. If there is a sale, fresh or frozen, load up on as much as you can fit into your freezer. The same with canned foods which provide as many nutrients as fresh and frozen goods.

If you live in a food desert that does not mean you cannot make small changes to your diet. Fast food restaurants usually have salad options available as well as water or juice instead of burgers, chicken, and high-calorie soda pop. Choosing non-fried items on the menu will cut down on fats. Bodegas and convenience stores may carry canned vegetables or soups that can add nutrients to your diet. These suggestions are not replacements for fresh foods, of course. However, they are tiny steps to help improve what we eat.

Trying to make a difference

As someone who is not food insecure and who can cook all cuisines, I feel an obligation to help others. I do so by have a weekly box of fresh, mostly organic fruits and vegetables delivered each week. The GrowHaus is an example of an organization that allows me to help others simply by eating healthier myself. Their food boxes, nutrition programs, and grow house help those who are food insecure by using the proceeds from those weekly boxes. It is a win-win situation.

If you are not facing barriers to healthy eating, please check around your area for opportunities to help others. Heck, even donating cooking items and appliances in good working order can be a way of helping. As people living with MS eating healthy is a necessity we cannot take for granted.