I’ve never been too imaginative in my breakfast making – cereal, usually, sometimes scrambled eggs.

That is changing. Creativity is my salvation, in my life, in my eating.  I’ll change almost anything and endure almost anything if I can do it creatively.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to see many doctors. I made it a point of asking each one what kind of food they would recommend for someone like me.

I have diabetes and heart disease, and I want to get healthier and more imaginative about breakfast, which is, say the doctors, the most important meal of the day.

I gathered all their replies and went to work buying different foods. I am familiar with the standard and mostly boring healthy diets – fish, vegetables, fruit.

These diets have long been recommended for people like me or those who are seeking creative ways to eat healthy food. I’ve eaten well for years, but I can do better and am doing better.

This morning, I made a breakfast I consider ideal for me and for anyone who wants to eat healthily and well, whether they have a chronic illness or not. These foods are an excellent way to stay healthy if you already are and get more benefits if you’re not.

I thank my doctors for being forthcoming and helpful. They got into it. I’m not into diets; if I don’t like the food and it doesn’t fill me up, I know it’s just a matter of time before I drop it. So I want to plan and think carefully about what I am eating. I want to enjoy food without letting it dominate me.

As the doctors told me, as I get older, my body changes, and so should the foot I eat change. I asked some questions about what and why.

First, I have entirely given up most store-bought bread, white or wheat: too many carbs and calories for me. I’ve found a bread called “Fitness Bread,” created by the German baker’s Mestemacher and is widely available in the United States,  and sold in most co-ops, health food stores, and supermarkets (where I first bought it).

I can also buy it on Amazon, a sign of the time.

I’ve changed my diabetes medication; I am edging back to my natural weight in conjunction with my doctors. Insulin makes it very difficult to lose weight.

This bread tastes great, especially when toasted. It’s made of whole kernel rye, oat kernels, wholemeal rye, flour, idolized salt, wheat germ, oat fiber, yeast, and traces of soy milk and tree nuts. 2 mgs of sugar, 0 cholesterol, 30 g of total carbs per serving.

This bread has been a very real benefit to my diet and my health.

The bread is filling. I put some oat milk butter on it, or slices of cheese, sometimes hummus. I also had a boiled egg, a small cup of mixed nuts and blueberries, and a glass of tomato juice, which I drink at breakfast and lunch. It’s a good meal, it tastes good, is extremely healthy for me, I’m not starving a couple of hours later.

In the past couple of years, I’ve learned that what I eat becomes crucial, even critical, as I age.

I need to take care of myself.  My body demands it.

Eating in this new and different way has already changed my life dramatically. Thanks to a sleep apnea mask, I’m sleeping between five and seven hours a night, record-breaking for me. I’ve lost more than ten pounds, those drowsy moments are gone, and I’m starting physical therapy next week to get my legs loosened up after months of walking around in a surgical boot.

In addition, I’m skipping a traditional dinner, having a protein drink instead. I like what I am eating, having a light dinner is really helping me to lose weight and sleep well. I’m at the point now where all I have to do is eat well, go on my walks and keep doing what I’m doing. It’s going to get better and better.

I’ll keep on sharing what I’m learning.

It’s not a crash or extreme diet.  I’m not starving myself all day.

The nuts and berries are my idea; they feel good. I’m conscious of carbs these days, being diabetic, and my weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure have all dropped slowly but surely.

There is no sugar of any kind in my diet, and I have a protein drink for dinner, no solid food except pizza one night a week, and fish another.

Being rigid in this stuff leads to failure and boredom. I’m not bored with my food these days, and so far, I’m not inclined to give it up. I just need to find creative ways to cook and eat. There are many ways to do it. Learning is godly.