One hundred twenty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents!

That was the register tape total from my most recent grocery store trip. You’re probably thinking that amount isn’t unusual. And it’s not, for a regular trip to the store … but this was no regular trip. I was buying food to cook for the dog—and this was only my first week.

Last week, we sat in the holistic veterinarian’s office, having just learned that our dog Jade had lymphoma. How she got it is a mystery. Of course, we began by blaming ourselves. Did we use too many yard chemicals? Did we ever use Round-Up? Not a day goes by without seeing a billboard or TV commercial from a lawyer offering his services. Is there a legal precedent for a dog, I wonder?

Anyway, we left the vet, determined to do everything we could to put her cancer into remission. Her treatment plan includes several medications, along with Chinese herbs and a diet of fresh meat and vegetables. The diet makes perfect sense. I’m a huge fan of the philosophy that food is medicine.

We used to, and still do, say, “You are what you eat,” which conjures up all kinds of images. Have you ever filled out one of those body-type questionnaires? You know the ones … where you end up as an apple shape or a pear shape. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to be either of those shapes!

A friend in my group of female friends was receiving treatments for cancer, so we all wanted to do something. Generally, we cook for each other. New baby—death in the family—illness—we start a sign-up sheet and deliver meals. We call it the meal train. This time around, since we were cooking for our friend being treated for cancer, the directions were very clear … NO restaurant food, only home-cooked meals, and limit the simple carbs and sodium. Basically, it’s the food we all know we should eat but don’t.

But what does that mean for “Comfort Food?” Mashed potatoes—out; macaroni and cheese—no way. And when dreaming about the epitome of comfort food, I’ve had my heart set on a certain wildly expensive Italian pasta maker for ages. It’s a beautiful machine—gleaming stainless steel with attachments to make radiatori and garganelli. I have no idea what shapes those are, but anything made with this marvel of a machine has to be elegant and delicious. Pasta is definitely on the comfort food list … so pasta is out. On the bright side, I’ve saved myself a thousand dollars.

So, I’m meal prepping for the dog, which leaves little time to prep my own meals. Last night’s dinner consisted of a hard-boiled egg and the heel of the last bit of bread. It’s quite likely that my dog will come out of this healthier than ever, and I will turn into a pear. Between the high cost of the fresh meat and vegetables and the time it takes to measure out 50% meat, 25% starches, and 25% vegetables … all cooked separately in a special savory sauce … I’m not sure that I can afford to keep this up! For either the dog’s sake or mine.

I wonder if my dog could be added to the delivery list for the meal train.