Dear Abby: My wife was recently diagnosed with partial artery occlusion. The blockage is not severe enough to require angioplasty or a stent, so doctors plan to treat it with medication and diet.
My wife now has to eat a special diet, so I said in front of her that I can no longer eat anything I can’t eat. I have to eat only what she eats. I am in good health and have no dietary restrictions. Is this request she is asking of me fair? How should I deal with it? — Punished in Illinois
Dear Punisher: I believe that the diet you are referring to in a roundabout way is a “heart-healthy” diet. If so, over the past 20 years (approximately), the American Heart Association has published many cookbooks that offer a variety of delicious recipes. (I know this to be true because I’ve dipped my beak into some of them.)
Eating a heart-healthy diet doesn’t have to be a hassle and can be beneficial to you too. If you want to eat something that your wife can’t eat, eat somewhere else so she won’t be tempted. It’s not a big sacrifice, her life might depend on it. Dig deep, give it a try, and remember that this is what supportive spouses do for their loved ones.
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Dear Abby was written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Dear Abby, contact: www.DearAbby.com or PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
