PKU - Pig Pen

The dogs of change

Dog sitting has helped me realised how quickly we can adapt. Change may happen quickly or slowly, but we can adapt to either.

PKU

100 in June 2021

June was a busy month for the PKU family as we ran, cycled, walked, planked, push-upped our way towards International PKU day.

PKU

100 for PKU

The campaign aims to get people active by setting a target to hit this month. Your target is 100. 100 km cycling or running, 100 minutes exercising, 100 push-ups, 100 lengths of the pool, 100 hula hoops-a-hooping... The possibilities are endless.

PKU

PKU awareness month 2021

PKU Awareness month has been difficult for me. My adherence to diet has not been great. It is odd to admit that I’m over 40 and still find myself sneaking food.

PKU

PKU ‘Fish’ fingers

When I asked my friends for their recommendations for my first ‘fish’ finger supper, the reply was ‘I haven’t had those since I was 10.’ There is no reason for fish fingers to be a child only meal, we face too many food restrictions for that nonsense.

PKU

Four quick ‘school-night’ dinners

Quick, easy dinners to satisfy the taste buds and the PKU diet. Three of the recipes are Phe-free. The last has 2.5g Phe per adult portion with option to add more if needed.

PKU

PKU and non-PKU lasagne in the same dish.

The need to double up on meals is a common problem for people with PKU. Hence a 2-in-1 lasagne. A single dish with one half PKU lasagne and the other non-PKU lasagne.

PKU

Tips for PKU and non-PKU pasta

I once knew a Frenchman who insisted that pasta cooked without salt and oil was an abomination. I tried it, and can confirm that both PKU and non-PKU pasta benefit

PKU

Spring into spring with easy lunch ideas

With spring just around the corner, I’ve dusted off a few easy recipes to ‘spring’ out of the lunch rut. A PKU friendly Waldorf salad for those days when the sun comes out between the clouds. A protein free Mac & cheese for the days when we need a bit of comfort food, and quick soups.

PKU

PKU friendly recipes: carrot soup, and chewy ginger cookies

If you are a PKU batch cooker, then these Low-phe & Phe- free recipes are easy to scale up and fill the freezer or cookie jar this weekend.

PKU

PKU and being ‘Hangry’.

I can usually see when others are hangry, but it can be difficult to spot in myself. At least, difficult to spot before I say something I regret.

PKU

Resolution redux

If you have struggled with the changes, remember that by simply paying attention to what you are eating you are already making a difference. The habits and effects will come.

PKU

PKU at Christmas

This blog post has a plethora of links and I hope that some of them inspire you to a more PKU friendly Christmas.

PKU

Gyms and PKU

Like with everything, going to the gym should be fun and rewarding... it just takes a bit of time and care - like anything with PKU!

PKU

Moving with PKU: Get moving.

In his first blog for PigPen.Page, Soheb discussed the benefits and potential pitfalls facing a PKU-er moving out of home for the first time. Part two looks at practicalities of moving and how to prepare.

PKU

Moving with PKU: Get ready

Moving out can be pretty intimidating in itself, but when you have PKU, it can feel incredibly intimidating...If you are consideing moving out into a new place, there are a few things you will need to think about carefully.

PKU

A day in the life of PKU

A dietician’s focus on PKU may be a purely objective one... They only see us once every few months so how do you show them the daily perspective? How do you explain living with PKU to someone who approaches it from a medical or academic perspective?

PKU

Dark Chocolate & Ginger Hot Cross Bun loaf

What I really wanted was a Hot Cross Bun loaf which I could slice and toast like normal bread. And I have a bread maker

Brain Injury

Change, ambiguous loss and spoons

Change is a constant right now. We are bombarded with new concepts and rules to understand which can then change at a moments notice.

PKU

PKU in a time of Covid

This is a worrying time so I will start by highlighting the NSPKU Video on Coronavirus and the statement on their website.

Conferences

NSPKU 2020

This report covers the Saturday morning session which includes the latest research and legal wrangling on PKU.

PKU

Fad Diets & PKU

Being able to chose what you eat, or what you avoid, is not an option for anyone on a medically restricted diet.

PKU

Blogging Anxiety

I have never said that the PKU diet is easy but I do try to avoid negative thinking. It is not easy to be positive about having an inherited metabolic disorder...I don't leap out of bed in the morning and shout “Hurray! I have PKU!”

PKU

Eating out with PKU

Every now and then there is a request on social media for help when eating out with PKU. Here are some tips and recommendations for eating out in the UK.

PKU

What is PAL? Or PEG-PAL or Pegvaliase or Palynziq...?

The four terms refer to different aspects of a single method of treatment for PKU. This is an enzyme replacement therapy which is usually injected. Bear with me while I try untangle it all.