How HelloFresh Helps with My Migraines

The sudden change in temperature (80 on Thursday to snow on Saturday) and barometric pressure have joined forces to give me one massive migraine. And while I'm no stranger to this sometimes-debilitating health issue, familiarity breeds a lot of contempt, and I am over it!

I started getting migraines as a teenager, and I will never forget the first one I experienced after arriving from a very humid Baltimore climate to the very dry Las Vegas desert with my family as we began our west coast tour. I don't remember how I handled the headache, but we were at The Luxor when it hit, and I wanted to chop off my head! If you get migraines, you know my pain.

Once I moved to NYC in August 2001, stress triggered a lot of my migraines, and there were a few times I had to go home from the office because the aura was nauseating and the sudden stabbing pain on the left side made me concerned that I was having a stroke.

Fast forward to December 2009—an ex took me on a skiing trip to Switzerland for Christmas and New Year's Eve. I hadn't skied since college, and it was my first time ever skiing in The Alps (the snow is soooo different), I crashed hard and ended up with a concussion. Once I got back to the States, I started with physical therapy to rehab the injury on the lower lefthand side of my head, but I stopped after only a few sessions because I couldn't afford it. Now I've got arthritis at the nape of my neck, and that's where the majority of my migraines start too.

Sometimes they begin with sudden yawning, nausea and tearing in my eyes, and other times I can feel the headache begin in my jaw. I immediately either pop an Excedrin Migraine or four Advil and pull out my portable shoulder and neck massager to try and massage it away. Sometimes it works, and other times I'm stuck with a headache that could last for a week. It's brutal and if I can't leave my place for days, HelloFresh is there to help.

About HelloFresh

So, what's HelloFresh?  It's one of the most popular meal kit delivery services and subscriptions that helps you save time and money! Not sure what to cook during the winter and don't feel like venturing out into the cold? They've got you covered! Whether you're feeding a family of 2 or 6, you'll get high-quality, pre-portioned and fresh ingredients, along with easy-to-follow recipes that you can choose week by week. It’s no wonder HelloFresh is consistently one of our readers’ favorite meal kits, coming it at #1 on our annual list of Best Meal Kit Delivery Subscriptions.

HelloFresh sources high-quality and totally fresh ingredients like produce (fruits & veggies), organic items, and meat, seafood and poultry from sustainable suppliers and delivers them right to your door. They offer vegetarian, pescatarian, and reduced-calorie menu plans, and you can customize your order, so if you're oddly picky like me (I don't eat pork, beef or fish) simply use the HelloCustom option to swap out sides or proteins.

When you sign up, choose your plan preference—Meats & Veggies, Veggies, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome (around 700 calories per serving), Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian—the number of people you'll be serving (2-4), and the number of recipes you'd like to receive per week. Then, confirm your plan and scroll through the meal choices—each week you'll get to choose from over 30 different recipes.

Migraine Triggers

If you know anything about migraines, you're probably aware there are certain triggers like a sudden change in barometric pressure, red wine, stress, medication, hormones and diet. And as someone who's never been the healthiest eater, it's no surprise that sometimes my comforting Thai and Chinese (hello, MSG) food cravings might trigger a sudden attack.

I've managed to trigger many attacks with my food and drink choices, and while I'm aware there are ways for me to avoid the pain, I can be a glutton for punishment. But when things like my period and sudden weather changes occur, I'm forced to suffer in silence and if I simply can't leave my place for food, or go downstairs to pick up delivery, HelloFresh is there to help!

You may be wondering what types of food trigger a migraine? While different people have different triggers—and it's suggested you keep a food diary to pinpoint your own triggers—here are some of the most common causes:

• Caffeine
• Red wine
• Beer
• Cured meat
• Smoked fish
• Chocolate
• Aged cheese
• Beans
• Yogurt
• Fake sugar like aspartame

Even though there's no cure for migraines, once you learn your triggers, it might be beneficial to avoid those foods and drinks, and focus on a healthier, cleaner diet.

HelloFresh to the rescue

So, what's on my migraine prevention diet next week?

Creamy, crunchy and dreamy, this pecan-crusted chicken dish makes being stuck at home so much better! The chicken breast is coated in a honey mustard sauce, and crusted in a mix of crushed pecans, panko, and butter. It's also accompanied with lemony, apple-studded mixed greens and even more honey mustard dipping sauce.

Since I had to avoid the MSG in Chinese food, I chose a healthier, Asian-inspired dish. HelloFresh's riff on the classic Korean rice bowl is bursting with flavor like sweet carrot ribbons, tender zucchini, lightly charred snap peas, and pickled scallions, which are arranged over a bed of steamy rice. Then it's topped with sesame-Sriracha-soy sauce for savory-sweet heat.

Who doesn't love pasta? This delicious mushroom ravioli is tossed with garlicky kale and toasted walnuts and served in silky crème fraîche with rich brown butter and Parmesan cheese for a creamy, nutty flavor.

Remember, if you follow strict diets like Paleo or Keto, you're vegan, gluten-free or allergen-free, HelloFresh does offer some options, but if you're all or nothing with these diets, you may have better luck with a meal delivery service that caters to these dietary needs.

Verdict

Since there's really no cure for a migraine aside from time and sleep, there's no way I can say that HelloFresh is the cure to what ails me, but for the days I am unable to leave my place, or when I just need to eat healthier as a preventive measure, my friends at HelloFresh just make life easier.

And now that my head feels a little better, I'm about to order Thai food! Whoops.