Christmas 2024 has come and gone. In a flash. As we begin the last few days of 2024, I’ve been thinking about 2025.
What’s the plan?
Part of the plan is to continue researching, learning, and putting into practice how diet plays a part in keeping my husband alive for as long as possible.
What spurs us on to educate others
I can tell you of one occasion that just absolutely astounded me and has spurred me on to highlight the role that good nutrition plays. I’m talking about the menu that was offered at the Prostate Cancer Support Group Christmas break-up that Ian belongs to. Here are the offerings:
- Meat-based pizza
- Garlic bread
- 3 Pavlovas
- Full sugar Coke and Sprite
We are talking about men with terminal illnesses here. Surely, we want our men to live as healthy as possible. I’m guessing that the psychology behind it is that men won’t eat anything resembling salad and they will choose junk food every time. But what’s more important—being men living the stereotype or having a life-threatening disease? I’ve also heard members of the group saying that they meet up for a beer because that’s what men do—even though alcohol can cause irritation.
Breaking Down Outdated Stereotypes
It’s incredibly frustrating to see such outdated assumptions about men’s eating habits when we know how crucial nutrition is, especially for those facing terminal illnesses like prostate cancer. Eating well isn’t just about salads or skipping the beer—it’s about giving the body what it needs to stay as strong and resilient as possible.
What if we started redefining masculinity around self-care, strength, and longevity instead of outdated stereotypes? That could be a game-changer, not just for men living with cancer but for every man.
A Commitment to Better Health for men with cancer in 2025
This experience at the Christmas breakup only reinforces the importance of staying committed to helping Ian make the best choices for his health. It’s not just about avoiding harm; it’s about actively fuelling his body with the nutrients it needs to fight, repair, and heal.
As we go into 2025, my goal is to continue advocating for better awareness and supporting Ian—and others like him—through the power of nutrition and breaking down these outdated norms. After all, isn’t thriving worth changing the narrative?
If you have liked this blog post, please check out this one on how we keep going on this prostate cancer road : Resilience is my superpower
You can also find great advice from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia here: https://www.prostate.org.au/health-wellbeing/healthy-diet-lifestyle/#balanced
What People Say
Nicki King
August 21, 2024
Michelle Boyd catered for our wedding ceremony, and the food was absolutely incredible! We had a few guests with dietary needs, and Michelle made sure every dish was not only delicious but also met everyone’s requirements. I’ve been lucky enough to taste Michelle’s food on several occasions, and I always look forward to seeing what amazing dishes she creates. My husband and I also bought a Thermomix from Michelle, and she came to our home for a demonstration. We use the Thermomix all the time now, and the recipes she shared with us are regulars in our meals. We’re so excited to learn more from Michelle and can’t wait to attend one of her dinner events soon!
Jane-Marie Pfeiffer
May 26, 2024
Last week I attended Michelle’s Real Food Dinner -Gut health edition. Michelle informed us with very valuable information about gut health and how we can look after our gut by eating food with a higher fibre content. She prepared some beautiful tasty dishes show casing some great gut health foods. I highly recommended attending these nights when they come available. It was a fun night of information, chats and yummy food. Thank you Michelle. Can’t wait to see what you will be presenting next.
Sandy Andrews
May 26, 2024
YumHugs catered for my 70th birthday tea at a local hall. Michelle and Ian came and plated up the delicious finger food and served it too, so I didn't have so much to organise and could spend time with my guests. The food was amazing and their calming presence made the event so much better! They even packed up the left overs. Yum Hugs is great and Michelle and Ian are wonderful!
Lee-anne Voigt
May 26, 2024
Thank you Michelle and Ian for welcoming us to your dining room table for a Real Food Gut Health evening. LOVED the food you prepared, together with learning more about gut health and enjoying animated round the table conversation. I’ll be signing up for another event 😀😀
Kelly Hody
May 24, 2024
I have ordered Yum Hugs products several times now and cannot speak highly enough of the quality of the food and exceptional customer service. I took a large sweet treat grazing box to an event today and everyone absolutely loved it! There's something to please everyone in these boxes and I will definitely be ordering time and time again. I also attended Yum Hugs 'Real Food Dinner - Gut Health Edition' and this was an amazing experience. I loved being able to try new foods in a social setting, and learn about ingredients and simple ways to improve my nutrition. Michelle has a real knack for creating delicious food combinations that are also easy to recreate at home.
Wendy Stanton
April 26, 2024
I attended Michelle’s first Real Food Dinner - Gut Health Edition as I wanted to learn more about gut health and options for switching up my diet. I received all that and more! Not only was Michelle very knowledgeable about the subject but she also cooked a variety of high fibre, and very delicious dishes for us to try. I had a great evening and can highly recommend the experience to anyone with an interest in food and talking about food! Michelle also produces some amazing sweet treats and my favourite - the energy seed bars. Thankyou Michelle!
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