Food suggestions

[elaby]

I've been having some stomach trouble over the last several months and the gastroenterologist I'm seeing has asked me to start avoiding dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, and nuts for a month. I know lots of people with varying food habits and choices and restrictions, so I wanted to ask you all for suggestions about anything in these categories that you like to eat.

Since I already don't eat meat, with this dietary change, I'll be eating vegan, wheat-free, soy-free, and nut-free. I'm particularly interested in sources of protein, snacks, and breakfast (I feel like lunch and dinner might be easier).

My wonderful mother has been looking up recipes online for me, but I also wanted to ask all of you, because I know what fabulous cooks some of you are and I'd love to hear any ideas that you have. <3

Thank you! I'm looking forward to seeing if this makes me feel better. I figure it can only make me healthier!

P.S. We watched the "new" Starsky and Hutch movie last night (with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson) and I wasn't expecting to like it, but it was really good XD They OBVIOUSLY did their research, apart from the weird personality-switch they inflicted on the boys. I expect they did that because this was their "first meeting" story rather than the "known you for years" era of the show. I was impressed by the homages: we swore that they used the same sets and on-location scenes that were in the show, and there were shots that were straight-up recreations of shots from the openings and stuff. And of course they kept pointing out how much they TOUCH each other XD The cameos were worth the price of the DVD, too. AND THEY HAD THE SWEATER. The horrendous, amazing sweater that Starsky wears in the earlier episodes. I love that sweater.

Comments

[lathriel.livejournal.com]

beans and rice! if you're having digestive problems, maybe stick to white basmati since brown can sometimes be difficult to digest, but beans and rice make a complete protein. Are you avoiding gluten, or just wheat? Because oatmeal used to be a favorite of mine until I dropped all grains, sweetened with a little brown sugar or maple syrup. There are some brown rice protein powders out there if you're into smoothies, but they are a bit pricey.

As for snacks: popcorn, dried fruit, veggies...dry roasted and spiced chickpeas are awesome, too.

Hope that helps! You might want to try looking at Paleo blogs for things like side-dishes. They're usually dairy, nut, and wheat free at the very least, can be made meat free.

Good luck!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you! This is all incredibly helpful. I didn't even think of popcorn! And I LOVE beans and rice, so that's a huge plus :) The doctor just said wheat, but I'm going to try to avoid gluten since it seems like most things that are wheat-free are also gluten-free (unless I'm confused, which is possible). I found some gluten-free oats that I think will make good oatmeal :)

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

*HUGE hugs* <3

I've gone completely gluten free adding on top of my veganism this month, too, which I have to do a big post about (which...PSYCHIC TWINS! BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY for the both of us ;D <3)...but suffice it to say that experimenting with the gluten free flours is going to prove awesome and fun and I'll tell you anything I find that's super tasty. <3 <3 <3

I love you. This is proving to help me immensely and I hope, so much, it'll help you, too. <3

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Holy whoa XD I kind of LOVE our psychic-twins-ness, even if it isn't about good things, because it makes me happy to know that you and/or Jenn are experiencing some of the same things we are <3

I can't wait to hear about how your experiments are turning out! I'm SO glad this is helping you, and I hope our psychic-twins-ness will mean it helps me too :) I love you! <3 (ALSO YOUR COOKIES ARE MADE OF LOVE AND DELIGHT.)

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

BUT THEY WERE NOT GLUTEN FREEEEEEEEEEE. :((((((((((

BUT NOW I KNOW. :D

I've been SO EXCITED about experimenting with low sugar stuff for Rachel (BECAUSE I DO NOT WANTS TO HURT HER), so I'm excited about finding the best recipes for both of you, and then sending you a meeeeellioin backed goods. <3

I LOVE YOU!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

OMG It will be SO INCREDIBLY AWESOME to get baked goods from you that are suited to both of our diets XD *HUGS TIMES A MILLION* You are the most thoughtful person ever, you know?

I totally ate the cookies already and I'm starting the food sensitivity diet tomorrow, so that was all good <3

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

I mean, BASICALLY, this is the most exciting challenge of my life.

IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH A BAKED GOOD MUST NOT ONLY BE DEEEEEELICIOUS, BUT: vegan, wheat-free, soy-free, and nut-free and as LOW SUGAR AS POSSIBLE.

You have ENTERED the WORLD of UNICORN BAKED GOODS.

IT. WILL. BE. MAGICAL. <3 <3 <3

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

Less funny, but an IMPORTANT QUESTION: flax milk would be okay if you're nut free, right?

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I believe so. The doctor didn't mention anything about seeds, so I think he's just trying to test me against common allergens (which includes nuts). YOU ARE INCREDIBLE, HAVE I MENTIONED?

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm making lists in my head. :D

Flax milk by itself is kind of terrible, as an aside, but it's great in baked stuff. If you're going vegan, coconut milk is probably your best bet, with rice milk as a distant second. I grew up on rice milk, but the taste/texture of coconut milk is much more palatable to other people.

Which, you probably knew all of this, but just in case! Also, Earth Balance makes a soy free butter that's pretty good. If there are any substitutes that you're already craving, let me know--I KIND OF LOVE FOOD, and helping you make this into a fun game by looking at it as a Fun! Challenge! helps SO MUCH BETTER when you're on a restrictive diet. Which isn't a restrictive diet! It's a Diet Of Awesome(TM). <3 <3 <3

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE <3 <3 <3 It really DOES help to think of it as a fun challenge, which is what we're trying to do (Rachel is really good at that XD). It's so helpful and comforting to know that you've had experience with these kinds of food and can suggest stuff. I'm very glad to hear about the Earth Balance <3

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3 Let me know about anything you're missing and are having trouble finding a substitute for, or just want recommendations, and we'll find you a substitute or UNICORNS DO NOT SPARKLE. AND WE, OF COURSE, KNOW THAT THEY DO. <3333333333

[elaby.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3 <3 YOU AND JENN ARE SO WONDERFUL. I'm sure there will be things I come across that I'll want substitutes for. What do you usually eat for breakfast? I was thinking about having a lot of smoothies and also gluten-free oatmeal.

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

I totally eat a smoothie every morning for breakfast. THIS IS WHAT I PUT IN IT (I also put in peanut butter, but you wouldn't):

- blueberries, blackberries and raspberries -- Wymans makes a HUGE bag of lots of fruit for inexpensive. It's three pounds for, I think, ten bucks, and it'll last you about half a month, and if you don't like the berry blend they have lots more--I mention this because fruit can be expensive!
- A BANANA :D
- chia seeds and flax seeds for protein and immune boosting awesomeness!
- Super! Rainbows! Love! Go! (when she has it in stock). IT IS SO GOOD FOR YOU, and so good, and Alexis is one of the nicest people on the planet. :)
- Nature's Way Pea Protein! - This is SO GREAT because it's soy free and vegan and has a TON of good stuff for you, including a great digestive blend. I didn't look at the ingredients, but I think it has very, very little nut in it if it has any at all.
- Flax milk!
- Orange juice!

All of that together, blended, is one of the tastiest things in the world, and then you're full for hours! AND YOU SORT OF HAD DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST, so happiness right there. :)

(I used to design smoothies for the health food store deli I worked at ONCE LONG AGO, so let me know if you want different flavors/options! <3)

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Aaaaah, this is SO HELPFUL <3 <3 <3 My smoothie experience is limited to what Amanda taught me last November at Enchanted Days, and those were the MOST DELICIOUS SMOOTHIES, but it was only one formula. I can't wait to try yours <3 <3 Thank you!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

XD XD XD WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH <3 I just read this to Rachel and she was utterly delighted! You're amazing :)

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

WELL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're reading this to Rachel ;D, what kind of sugars/how much sugar can she have? I've NEVER been able to cook well with stevia, but I've read that raw honey (while not technically vegan, I cook with honey, so if that'd work for you, I could use it?) or agave syrup? ARE THESE THINGS WRONG? :O

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I did read it to Rachel :D She says that basically you can use anything (she stays away from Stevia too just because she doesn't like the anise-y taste). With a diabetic person, what you want to keep an eye on is not exactly the sugar, but the amount of carbohydrates - because carbohydrates break down into sugars. If you can figure out carbohydrates (and you absolutely don't have to worry about this, because Rachel can estimate it herself) then 15 grams of carbohydrates is a amount for a good snack. Any kind of sugar (agave, honey, cane sugar, or anything else) is good :)

<3 <3 <3 THERE IS SO MUCH APPRECIATION OVER HERE IT'S PRACTICALLY GLOWING.

[mermaiden.livejournal.com]

OMG, this makes so much sense, okay! I just looked at a carb counter thingie, and that means that like two of the cookies I sent you would break down to about 16 grams of carbohydrates, and that makes a pretty good snack. With using the garbonzo bean flour I'm going to try out on you two, I think that would be even less! I'll try to figure out how many carbs might be in any cookies I send you. :) <3 <3 <3

WELL WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU AND WE GLOW IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME, SO. <33333333333333

[elaby.livejournal.com]

AWWWWWWWW <3 I am SO HAPPY reading these comments, I can't even say <3 Rachel said she suspects the garbanzo bean flour will definitely make the carb count less, so that's wonderful! THANK YOU!

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

I hope you find out soon which food group triggers your upset gut. With me it was soy and dairy proteins (not lactose which everyone assumes it is). Once I stopped eating those things I had a good deal less of the bloating, distension, gas, cramps and explosive poops. My insides feel so much better! As for what to eat, pulses and rice are a great combo, fills you up and keeps you going. I do now eat fish, I felt that since I had to cut out the dairy, I needed a different source of protein.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's encouraging :) I'm glad they found out what was making you feel sick!