Need help!

Sandy307

Just wondering if anyone out there can give me some suggestions, recipes etc., I have just been put on a very restrictive diet for health reasons. I am allowed no wheat products, no dairy products except goat yogurt, no citrus fruits or tomato products, no salt, no beef, pork or eggs.I am allowed just brown rice and pasta made with brown rice, all the vegetables I want. I can have fruit in moderation, and I am allowed fish, lamb and poultry. I know I can do okay on the things I am allowed to eat but I am finding them very blah! Do any of you know of ways that I can spice my meals up a little preferable using herbs etc.,

I was told today that I will probably lose weight on this eating plan and that I don't need to count calories. I am planning to keep track of everything anyway and continue to post just to see where this is going to take me.

The reason for this diet is to help cleanse my body and help get rid of the inflammation and hopefully get my pain under control.

Please wish me luck and any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.... Sandy

limonysal

It can take awhile to adjust your menu to new diet requirements! I suggest getting a feel for what flavors you like (herbs, spices, etc.) and exploring the different tastes of veggies- many of them can be flavorful in their own right!
Fish is something I am just learning to make, but I've found that grilling is my favorite way to eat it. Try grilling on a cedar plank (salmon and roasted red pepper is excellent- add pepper, basil, oregano, etc.) to add flavor, or you can grill white fish in little packets with fruit and veggies (bell peppers and mango or peaches is one of my favorites! add cumin and chile, or whatever spices you like!) Both of these types of dishes go well with brown rice or pasta as a side!
On the roasted red pepper note- I've found that this can sometimes help fill that tomato hole when making pasta. It may just be the color, but I like sauces based on this!
Avocado is also a good way to boost up your foods a little- it has a delicious buttery flavor!
Stir fries are basic, and a good way to mix simple foods, such as proteins and veggies. Just add whichever spice combination you like! I'll post a link to a page on spices that I like- it helps you figure out which ones go together and how to cook with them. Hope this helps and good luck! Let me know if you come up with any yummy concoctions!

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/02/mastering-the-art-of-herbs-spices.html

Sandy307

Thanks for the reply and I will certainly try some of your suggestions. I have never been that big on fish but I guess now is as good a time as any to change that. I know it is very good for us and often wish I could eat and enjoy it more than I do. The one thing my Dr said is that she wants me to separate the fruits from everything else I eat by at least an hour. (I do understand that and have already been doing that for the past year or so...it is due to our bodies digesting different things at different rates...)

I will keep you updated on here if I come up with anything worth sharing.

Thanks again,

Sandy.

cmriverside

hm....unless you have been medically diagnosed as having some intolerance, I think I would steer clear of anyone who is trying to limit my food choices so severely in order to "cleanse or reduce inflammation". I get that you have some sort of chronic pain - are you getting regular exercise, including stretching?

That sounds like something from a nutritionist or some particular "Magic Diet" believer. Nutritionists don't have a lot of training, don't really have a governing body that oversees their "ideas" and you are left with a wide range of not-so-good ideas from some of them.

Just be careful. That kind of restrictive diet is a recipe for failure if it is so far from what you are accustomed to eating. You will have trouble in compliance, and you may give up in frustration.

I can see eliminating grains or dairy to fight inflammation. One or the other, for a couple months, then switch, or add back a little of the eliminated items to see if you respond, but to eliminate all those foods you listed at once? Sounds fishy. If you don't like fish, all the worse.

Sandy307

Thank you for your reply and also for your concerns.

I am going to a certified Naturopathic Dr. who is having fantastic results treating Lyme Disease (Which I have been diagnosed with and there seems to be no treatment for long term Lyme here in Canada) I am slowly dieing and all my Dr and specialists want to do is push more and more pain pills, prednisone and Tylenol3's and percs at me. When I go back to them and tell them my pain is getting worse they just tell me to take more prednisone and I will feel like a million dollars. My Doctors have had me on the prednisone for over 4 years now with no end in sight. I don't want to just treat the symptoms, especially when we know what is causing them. This Naturopath has a very good reputation and I have researched her well.

I was somewhat on track with my diet and eating habits even before I went to her but needed more guidance. My own Dr admits he knows nothing about Lyme Disease.

I have just had repeat blood tests done with the Naturopath and had them sent to the states at my own expense where they have better testing facilities available. If these tests come back positive as well, then I am planning to go to the states to see a Dr. who herself had Lyme disease and used to practice here in Canada. She moved to the States to get treatment for herself and also to be available for those of us that can't get the treatment we need here.

I feel that we are falling between the cracks and our government are letting us down. There are people out there dieing with this disease and nobody seems to care.

The good news is, I have been under the care of the Naturopathic Dr for 2 weeks now and already I feel better. I still have pain but not as severe and my mobility has improved. I am still going to my family Dr and have an appointment with the infectious disease specialists again in early January. The last time I went to them they did nothing other than check my blood pressure and my heart...(and discovered a heart murmur) and proceeded to say they didn't "think" I had Lyme, even though my first blood tests had come back positive and the second one was inconclusive.

Anyway, we will wait and see what the results show and meanwhile, I am planning to follow the diet she has put me on. It is the brown rice diet and is very healthy, perfectly balanced. I will get all the nutrients my body needs and can keep to my daily calorie count as long as I am careful. She has also got me on supplements, fish oil, probiotics, Vit.D and Vit. B12 all of which I was already taking but not in the correct doses.

You mentioned that you were concerned that I may give up this way of eating if it was too far from what I have been accustomed to and may give up in frustration...... Firstly I have to say it wasn't too far off what I have been eating ... I can quite happily live on lamb, chicken, turkey and fish (even though fish isn't my first choice I do eat it) I already eat large amounts of fresh vegetables. The tomatoes and tomato products will be a bit of a challenge for me as will some of the condiments but these are not something we "need" to eat for a healthy diet. As for giving up....I can't afford to give up...I have too much to lose. This isn't just a diet to make me look good or lose weight...this is potentially a life or death situation if I continue down the path I have been going over the past 4 - 5 years.

You also mentioned exercises, I do stretching exercises every morning both before I get out of bed and also in my hot tub. I use weights in the tub to keep my upper body strength up. It has been the walking that I have had most trouble with.

My pain level typically is anything from a 5 out of 10 to a 9 out of 10 ... for the first time in months it has been as low as 2 out of 10 . I am not expecting to become pain free but if I can get it down to 1or 2 out of 10 I can live with that.

Pain is just one of the many symptoms I am coping with, lack of energy is another big issue but I am seeing an improvement there as well. As far as the other symptoms, it is too early to tell.

I will keep posting on here if anyone is interested, right now, I am just looking for ideas to help me make my meals a little less blah. Tonight I had lamb stew for supper, no thickening agent of course, just the natural broth. I had lots of onions, carrots, parsnips, cabbage and celery. I started by browning the lamb and adding the onions to soften and gently brown them also, then I added the rest of the vegetables with some dried rosemary. I found it to be a bit blah when I came to eat it so I added a few drops of lime juice and it made all the difference. Yummy!

I have to check with her to see if I can use pepper, I know I am not allowed salt, although I can have some of the rice crackers with sea salt on them. I had thought about crumbling a couple of the crackers into the broth for flavour?? Might try that tomorrow.

If you have any further thoughts, I would be happy to hear from you.

Sandy.

bathsheba_c

I'm a big fan of marinades for chicken. A really simple one that works great is soy sauce, mirin, and ginger. Just soak half an hour and cook. You can also do a google search for "kabob marinades" or "shishlik marinades." Those should all work great on chicken breast.

Second the recommendation to go for stir-fry.

Sandy307

Thanks that is a good suggestion......problem is...can I get a low sodium soy sauce?

bathsheba_c

I know that Kikkoman makes a low sodium soy sauce, but I think "low" may be relative in this case.

SuzieQ724

Hi Sandy~
You might want to try skinnytaste.com. There are loads of recipes that will fit into your diet.
Best of luck to you!
Susan

cmriverside

Sandy,

So sorry to hear you have Lyme's. I recently watched some documentary on Netflix about it, and it's heartbreaking that the diagnosis and treatments are so difficult. I'm glad to hear you are feeling some relief, and that your Naturopath is helping you.

I guess I'm so used to seeing people on these boards that have terrible doctors (and it sounds like you have had a few) and wacko nutritionists with all kinds of Magical Plans to Lose Weight. In your case, the elimination diet is working. In your case it isn't to lose weight so much as to treat disease. I know food-as-medicine works, since I've eliminated all my prescription medications by changing my diet, too. But I've seen people here try anything to eliminate chronic pain, and sometimes it just doesn't work for them.

Thanks for sharing your story, and I wish you good health in the future.

Sandy307

Hello everyone,

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and safety for those who are traveling at this time of year. Then I would like to thank everyone for their help, ideas and concerns regarding my new "diet" set out for me by my Naturopathic Dr.

Although it has only been a few days, I am already feeling the benefits of eating this way.....eliminating sugar, wheat and grain products, red meats and processed meats etc., I found my meals were a bit "blah" to start with but thanks to some of your ideas,and to a friend of mine who eats pretty much this way most of the time, I have been able to modify a few things and am getting used to it. I visited my friend this evening and she loaded me up with some organic seasoning products and gave me ideas of other products that I can purchase locally.

I really appreciate all your help and I know I can do this, especially with the support I am getting from my friends on MFP.

I am finding I can stay pretty much within my calorie allowance and my weight seems to be more stable..?(Maybe from the elimination of salt???) The bloated feeling I was getting after eating certain foods isn't there anymore.

I am not sure I would like to eat this way all of the time but at present it is just a trial for a few weeks to see what foods are causing problems for me. Eventually I will probably be able to go back on some of them, although, I do fully expect to be off wheat products for life. We will see...only time and trial and error will tell the story. I am so thankful I have found somebody locally that has the expertise and knowledge to guide me.

I am writing this in the early hours of Christmas morning, I am spending the day alone in my own home, I did have several invitations to go visit family and friends but I am quite happy to be in my own home with my dog. This way I can cook my own Christmas dinner without inconveniencing anyone else and besides, the 3 - 5 hour drive I would have to do to get to my family in the bad weather didn't appeal to me. We had our family Christmas celebrations a few weeks ago so we are not missing out on too much. Most of them will be celebrating with each other and their own children Christmas day. I am hoping to get to see them after Christmas for a day or two.

So, once again, thanks to everyone and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Safety for those of you who are traveling.

Sandy.

djbshort

I have a few ideas for you. These are off the top of my head. I will send more when I am not getting ready to go to bed. Review the following thoughts and let me know what you think:

Rice Saute With Vegetables: Chop up some onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms . If you can have oil, heat it in a skillet. I use olive oil. Saute the veggies in the olive oil. Add some spinach and allow it to wilt. Then add some rice and saute it just like you would Rice-A-Roni. When the rice begins to brown add some water and simmer it until everything is soft. I usually add some cheese (whatever I have on hand). If you are allowed, add some goat cheese. This would give it a great flavor. You can also add some seasoning to this (whatever you are allowed to have such as paprika, various flavors of Mrs. Dash, etc. It is very tasty and also good for you.

Chicken Burgers: Make ground chicken breast into burgers.
1 lb. of ground chicken
½ c. chopped spinach
1 tbsp. Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
¼ c. of shredded cheddar cheese
¼ c. Tuscan Garden tortilla strips
a couple of shakes of black pepper
enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan

Mix all together (except the olive oil). Form into patties. Cook until inside is done and outside is golden brown. Delicious! You can leave out the cheese and it will still be very good. We ate these with a couple of sides. My family loved them!




Chinese Coleslaw

Ingredients:
Servings:
4-6
• 1 (1 lb) package coleslaw mix
• 1 package ramen noodles (Oriental Flavor)
• 1 package slivered almond
• 1 bunch sliced green onion
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup oil


I am known among my friends for my "southern style" veggies.

Yellow Squash: I use a cast iron skillet and chopped yellow squash and onions up. I cook the squash in the skillet with a bit of butter (you could substitute oil if you can have it - I really don't use much butter, maybe a tablespoon), salt, black pepper, and enough water to keep it from sticking. Cook over medium heat until the squash and onions are soft. It comes out so delicious!

Skillet Corn: I buy frozen corn and place it in the iron skillet. I add a bit of butter (avoid if needed or add a little oil), water, salt, and black pepper. I let it cook over medium heat until it is soft. The flavor is fabulous!

Cabbage: I chop cabbage and onions and cook it the same way I cook the squash. It is also very tasty!

I am sure I have other recipes and will try to remember to share again. I am very tired and need to go to bed soon. Give me feedback as to how you like the recipes or which ones will and won't work for you.

TrekkerCynthia

I am curious if you can have light coconut milk. A lot of the thai places I patronize use that for their curry sauces and they are full of flavor and perfect for lamb or poultry. Find out and if so I'm sure a quick google search would turn up a lot of recipes. Good luck.

fattypattybinger

Ramen Noodles have wheat so please don't eat them

fattypattybinger

Try making some Indian food. The recipes are easy to make once you learn how to combine the seasonings. You can use alot of vegetables and serve them over rice as well. My hubby loves Curried Cauliflower. Most Indian dishes are also served with rice. Indian spices also great for your health. Tumeric is a great spice and also has healing properties in it. Enjoy.

bonjour24

bump- i'm liking some of these ideas! and i definately 2nd the indian food idea. you can have dry tandoori chicken- delish! don't know how to make it though, so i guess i'm not much use to you ;-)

Corjogo

Prednisone and most pain medication can contribute to weight gain. You mention goat yogurt - if you make your own (it's really pretty easy) you can probably fine a lot of recipes for "Greek Yogurt" (also easy -just strain the homemade yogurt) on line. Great for making salad dressings "creamed" dishes and yummy desserts. I'm with you on counting calories - wouldn't forgo that aspect of dieting. Much can be said for Homeopathic medicine and you may be on the right path there. Check with your therapist about salt substitutes. Many spice companies (like Penzey's, Spice Island) have combo salt free spice mixes (which by the way you can find many "clones"on line ). You might try a homemade salsa no salt - sometimes "hot" can be a spice source on it's own. Mostly I broil fish again lemon or lime flavors nicely. I think you will find after a few days you do not miss the salt. If you have left over fish, you can make your own salad (like tuna salad) just flake it and add seasonings (yogurt works great for mayo sub). Yogurt will make a grand dressing for fruit. Try roasting veggies. They taste great!
Oh I would love to cook for you - love challenges. Good luck. (Add me as a friend if you like.)

Sandy307

Hi everyone,

Once again, thanks for your ideas. I have tried some of them and am looking forward to researching and trying some of the others. At present, I am not allowed dairy so, no cheese, and I am not allowed sugar so that cuts into a few things that have been posted on here. However, they are great ideas for when (I am hoping) I am allowed some of the forbidden foods back into my diet.

I am not allowed "Mrs. Dash" to flavour my foods but I did find something in my grocery store the other day that is wonderful...it is called "Herbamare" and consists of over 15 dried herbs. It is totally free from MSG, gluten, lactose, milk protein, additives or preservatives. You only need a tiny amount to make the difference to your meal as it is a little on the spicy side... bonus though...it has 0 calories. It gives you the nutrition facts and they are based on a 1/4 teaspoon....however, that would be way too much for me to have on my food, I just have a few grains and that does the trick for me.

Over the past couple of days I have seen a definite improvement, not only in my pain level but also in my overall health. I never seem to get that bloated feeling anymore and I have to say, there have been a couple of meals where I really didn't feel that hungry. My Naturopath wants me to eat 6 times a day rather than 3 times so I am splitting my meals into smaller portions and having them more often. I am still losing weight (and also logging every day) so that is another bonus.

I have just put together an 8 vegetable stirfry with leftover turkey added to it. I have made 2 different versions of it now and I have to say it is great. I will add the recipe for that tomorrow if anyone is interested...it is super easy, makes a big pan full (enough for leftovers...) tastes pretty good, is flexible on the kinds of veggies you choose and it is low in calories...how good is that?

Well, time for me to sign off, that is another problem I am having ...not sleeping well. But that is a story for another day.

Hope everyone is doing okay. and thank you all once again,

Sandy.

starspeckled

Just wanted to say good luck to you. My husband was just told something similar, as he is a diabetic with extremely high triglycerides who has suffered 3 bouts of pancreatitis because of it over the past 4 months. At this point, parts of his pancreas have died and if he doesn't work on his diet and find a way to keep it from happening again, we're looking at some VERY serious consequences.

He's told to keep fats under 40g/day, and avoid carbs, sugar, most meat... all he really has left are veggies as main courses. Some of these ideas will be helpful to me too.

Again, best of luck!

Sandy307

Recipe for my 8 veggy stir fry if anyone is interested...


3-4 medium size onions peeled and sliced
1-2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
1-2 stalks of celery sliced
4-5 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped
1/2 small red or green sweet pepper
1 cup cauliflower
1 cup broccoli
1 cup sliced cabbage
1 small zucchini sliced
1 cup cooked chicken or turkey meat chopped.

Put 1 tablespoon of olive oil into large skillet and heat up, add onions and garlic. saute for a couple of minutes, you can add a little water if the onions start to brown too much. Add celery and carrot slices, cook for a couple more minutes then add pepper, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli, cook for about 1 minute more and add the zucchini and meat. Keep the mixture moving at all times so that the veggies don't burn, you may add a little water (or stock) if things get too dry. I also pop a lid on for a minute or two during the cooking process. You don't want to over cook as you need the veggies to still be a little crisp. You can season this to taste but as I am not allowed salt or regular soy sauce I add a little lime juice and then season it on my plate with the herb mixture that I mentioned in my earlier post and a few drops of the organic soy that my friend recommended to me.


This is just a very basic recipe and you can change the vegetables to suit your own taste. I have also used this recipe with a couple of adaptions to make a "lamb stew" (I omit the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli and serve them steamed on the side and I omit the zucchini altogether from the lamb stew. ) If you wish to use a thickening agent of some kind for the stew, you can use a gravy mix or just flour. The other thing I do with the lamb stew I brown the meat and onions before I add the vegetables.

I find this a very quick easy recipe to prepare and even quicker to cook. This amount makes enough for 3-4 servings depending on how hungry you are. I am sorry, I haven't done a true calorie breakdown so you will have to figure that out for yourselves. (pretty easy once you know how much of everything you put in and how big your serving is.)

Well, I guess you got two recipes out of that!

I hope you enjoy!

Sandy.

Sandy307

Your recipes sound lovely djbshort, I can't wait to try them...thank you!

Sandy.