Easy to Digest (Non-Inflammatory) Meal Plan

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 151 Location: Colorado

Anybody know of a good layout for a very simple safe diet/meal plan for about a month?

I was just diagnosed with gluten sensitivity (not yet tested for CD) and do notice symptoms changing with and then without gluten. I wonder if there is something else causing issues, but it could just be the inflamed gut is having a problem if I am not consuming fresh juiced veggies or fruit.

I am starting to prepare mentally for the elimination diet, but not ready to tackle it. Shocked

I would like to see a meal plan for generally easy and safe foods. It would be a good idea to be kind to my digestive tract at this time, but I need to prepare psychologically.

Any websites or one posted here?

BTW: Should I give up all grains/flours/soy at the moment? For some reason, I have this idea that if I consume them with this inflammation that I am going to give myself problems to those grains, too. Is this fear unfounded?

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

I just finished up week 3, and I have very little time to make anything to eat, so I usually make everything on Sunday for my lunches/some dinners for the week.

I don't have much time, but week 1, I had chicken breasts and red potatoes. It was pretty bland, but I flavored it with butter and salt because I knew those were safe. (I'm not sure if margarine is ok yet. Week 2, I made a crock pot meal with sweet potatoes and pork tenderloin. I cooked that in the crock pot with 100% apple juice and brown sugar (I haven't checked it I'm almost 100% positive the brown sugar is ok). Breakfast is some combination of eggs with cheddar and cubed ham (both of which you have to check ingredients depending on the brand), strawberries, a banana, a gluten free breakfast bar, and/or a can of ensure. I obviously don't eat all of that each day, but it's the only meal I get some sort of variety in. I also got a prescription for Ensure (it's not just for old people, I'm 26), which I drink 2-3 cans of each day to help with the hunger pangs until I get better at knowing what I can eat. I don't know if every insurance will cover it, and usually you have to have lost a lot of weight, but it's been a lifesaver for me.

Hope that helps, I'll write more later if I can.

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 151 Location: Colorado

Thanks! I think as I get better and absorb more nutrients, I will probably have to eat less during the day. Have you noticed a difference? I think a crock pot type meal once or twice a week without grains to last a few days will be a good idea to start off.

I noticed that under the general tab Al posted a list of anti inflammatory foods. That will be good to read through.

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

My biggest problem with crock pot meals is that my favorite meal was a beef roast which i cooked in a mixture of beer and flour. The beer made the meat extra tender, and the flour of course thickened the sauce into more of a gravy. I'm so frustrated with the fact that I can't use that, that I haven't researched much into an alternative because I'm being stubborn, but I'm going to need to find one because chicken and potatoes is starting to get old. I'm assuming maybe gluten-free beer if I can find some and buckwheat flour, but that seems too simple. Maybe I'm just making things harder for myself like I usually do. Wink

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 151 Location: Colorado

sounds good. what about kudzu to thicken it or cornstarch? I started a thread asking for set substitutions for things like breading, bak ing, etc. some people had one's , others wanted to know exactly what I was making.

Do you have one of those sheets yet that talk about substitute grains and flours and gravy thickeners? I got mine at a health food store. Its a free hand out, plus there are books, and I am sure a link to one on this site.

I think that I am going to try to juice fresh veggies and fruit for a couple times a day for maybe a week, if I can hack it. Then eat a substantial but simple meal, too. I feel like I absorb best with the juices and feel most vibrant then. I am eating other grains but for right now my tummy is grumbling. It never does that. In anticipation, I just came home from the store with a pint of Haagen Daas chocolate peanut butter ice cream and a pint of soy dream french vanilla. See, baby steps. I just had to indulge, but am craving the green veggie juices for tomorrow.

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

I haven't had a ton of time to figure out substitutions, but I'll definitely look for one of those sheets next time I go the the health food store.

I thought about getting a juicer, but before this, I didn't eat many fruits or veggies because they made me realy gassy, and it would go bad before I got the guts to actually eat it. My stomach seems to be much better with fruits, but I don't want to overdo it.

Ice cream sounds so good to me right now, but I'm trying to eliminate extra things that are affecting me. I've been lactose intolerant for at least the past 5 years, but I was ok as long as I took a lactaid or things like cheese were ok in moderation. Suddenly, I think I'm having a much stronger reaction even with the lactaid, so I'm going to try cutting that out completely for about a month or so until I'm a little more "healed" than I am now. I was sad to eat my eggs without cheddar cheese this morning.

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 151 Location: Colorado

oops sorry, I didn't realize. I actually want to step back from dairy for a while, too, to see what happens, but I just needed to splurge tonight. Aunt Flow and all. I've been in a lot of pain with it, so I woke up from a nap and just wanted something.

If there is not a substitution chart on here somewhere, I will see if I can get mine together to post. I think the book i have is handy for that. I will get the name later, too.

I must sleep!

celiacmaine-iac · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 836 Location: Maine

Just a word of caution here.

Fifi · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 252 Location: Wauconda, IL

You could also use GF beer. I have tried them and they aren't too bad. They remind me of a dark beer. That would probably be good. I know Anheiser Bush makes one brand and I don't know who makes the other. I bought them because I felt if I thought I could never have a beer again I would feel deprived.