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ou know I’m really seeing a huge difference in how I feel” my husband says two weeks into the magnesium regimen while I prepare his dinner plate.

“Placebo effect” I mutter.

“Anyway I found another bunch of lectures to listen to.”

“Yes?”

This isn’t happening! Before I know it we’ll need another closet to store all those vitamins! Maybe I need to apply for a second job to support this new vitamin hobby? 

“It’s really fascinating.”

I haven’t seen my husband this animated since who- knows -when.

“What did you learn?” And how many vitamins did you learn that you need?

“Actually a whole lot of other stuff; not just about vitamins.”

“What is it that intrigues you? You’re not usually one to fall for something or someone at the drop of a hat. Your mother’s been trying to get you to take vitamins like forever ."

“For starters I’m finding a lot of factual info based on actual studies; not just some philosophy from someone’s sister’s friend’s uncle."

I laugh. My sisters’ words are often quoted as “proof” of something or other.

“A large part of what I’m reading focuses on getting people to be healthy before their ill health escalates to a medical condition. And I think that’s what’s important for us to know.”

My head is foggy from all this talk about a topic I really don’t want to discuss.

“And by the way” my husband says as I set the dinner plate before him “I don’t need the potatoes.”

“What?”

“I’ll eat more of the meat loaf instead. You don’t have to make side dishes for me anymore.”

“What?! What are you going to eat?”

“The protein soup and vegetables. The sides are full of carbs.”

“And?”

“And carbs translate into sugar. They raise the blood sugar levels just like sugar does.”

“You don’t eat that much sugar; it isn’t something you have to worry about. Besides you can’t cut food out of your diet just like that. What in the world am I supposed to serve you? With your food allergies you’re so limited as it is!”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine eating plain chicken every night. Something wrong with that?”

No! There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s what you’re eating most nights anyway. But why do I feel so uptight?

"What about lunch? Are oatmeal cookies still good?”

“Uh…where’s the carton?”

I pull it out of the cabinet hoping hoping hoping there's nothing wrong with it. What am I going to do if there is?!

Dinner lies abandoned on the table as my husband follows me to the pantry.

The scene is comical. The man who has a hard time appreciating the most basic of culinary skills and barely knows which kitchen cabinets contain which items is suddenly plumbing the depths of my pantry.

I find nothing funny about it though.

“This is fantastic.” My husband removes his head from a cabinet.

I’m glad something meets with your approval. He holds up a bag of chopped filberts. “What do you use it for?”

“Mostly baking.”

“These too?” Several bags of chopped nuts are in his hands.

“Yeah.”

“These are really good.”

Finally!

“I can have this for lunch/snack. See I’m not all that limited in what I can eat.”

“I don’t know; normal people don’t eat these things for lunch. It’s not enough to tide you over till supper.”

“What do normal people eat?” he asks.

“I take vegetable soup to work with me in a thermos. Some of my workmates bring chicken salad…”

“That’s what women do. The men I see get themselves something at the bagel shop. Usually bagels.”

“Well I guess nuts are better than that overdose of white flour. I’ll stock up on those next time I do my grocery shopping.”

As you continue ripping the foundations of my kitchen apart…

To be continued...