Michelle Patidar, a cancer survivor and certified nutrition health coach, has taken to Instagram to share her healthier alternatives to foods often labelled as ‘unhealthy’. She aims to equip fellow cancer survivors with the ‘tools they need to heal themselves inside out’, offering healthier substitutes for foods such as pasta, baked goods, pancakes, crisps, and even hot chocolate.
In a short reel, Michelle is seen cheerfully opening a bag of crisps and pouring them into a bowl. Having been diagnosed with cancer in 2016, she titled her reel “Unhealthy foods I say YES to as a 7 year cancer survivor and nutrition health coach.”
The caption reads: “There are so many foods out there that are deemed ‘unhealthy’ but there are some GREAT alternatives I indulge in from time to time.”
She then details the foods and how she modifies some ingredients to make them more nutritious.
For example, pasta, her “ultimate favourite”, is switched from regular wheat pasta to organic red lentil pasta, which she explains provides her body with a good amount of fibre, protein and contains fewer toxins. The nutrition coach enjoys baked goods but prefers to create her own healthier versions, using ingredients like almond and coconut flour, pumpkin puree, and fresh herbs and spices for her muffins.
Pancakes are a regular family treat; she revealed that she makes homemade gluten-free pancakes every weekend.
Michelle shared: “I add ground flax seed and basil seeds to the batter, as well as cinnamon, vanilla, wild blueberries or dark chocolate chips.”
She also revealed her preference for crisps with “basic ingredients and no seed oils”, highlighting her favourites include sea salt crisps from Mexican-American brand Siete Family Foods or Boulder Canyon’s that are made with avocado or olive oil and “have three simple ingredients”.
Her Instagram reel proved a hit in the online community, amassing 445,000 views, garnering 1,545 likes and drawing nearly 900 comments. Michelle encouraged her followers to comment ‘treat’ on the reel to receive her free whole food swap list, with many responding enthusiastically.
Others shared their own health triumphs, with comments such as: “Two year cancer survivor here. I make buckwheat pancakes which are super delicious and nutritious! ” and “Treat. I am four years in remission and would love to learn about some healthy swaps.”
Another comment praised her, saying: “Your captions are both witty and informative.”
Michelle was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2016 when she was just 32. After undergoing six rounds of inpatient chemotherapy, she noticed a lack of programmes to help her detox and rebuild her health and immunity. In response, she founded Revival Health and Wellness to guide others on their recovery journey from cancer.
The NHS states that eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health. That means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions. We should aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, eat some higher fibre starchy foods, some daity or dairy alternatives, eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein, and drink plenty of fluids.