WHAT do I eat now?!?

MoonMyst3
MoonMyst3 Posts: 423 Member
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
PLEASE HELP!!

I'm really confused as to what to eat now. Yesterday my doctor told me (among other things) that I have a fatty liver, my insulin is too high and I'm on the verge of diabetes, I have an intolerance to gluten, and a lot of food allergies - almost everything I really like including eggs. So, essentially I was told NO gluten, dairy, eggs, starches, sugar, sweets, soda, coffee, and, of course, those allergic foods. He wants me on a high protein, high (essential fatty acid) fat diet. :s I sure could use some help here as I have no clue where to begin.... and I'm hungry!

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sassy

Replies

  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    eek, that's a long list of no-no's. I'm only lactose-intolerant...
    BUT I have a few friends who have some pretty severe food allergies, including celiac's disease (gluten intolerance).

    there are actually quite a bit of good gluten-free options, the only problem is, they're kind of expensive. taste-wise a-okay though.

    try a healthfood store (I've found mom & pop ones are best). they'll have more food geared toward people with allergies, especially the big ones like gluten, dairy and eggs.

    GOOD LUCK!!
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    http://funkyfoodallergies.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-03-15T18:10:00-07:00

    You might find some recipes on this blog. This lady's kids are allergic to a lot of stuff, so she posts what she makes for them to eat. You can find her posts categorized on the right hand side if you scroll down a bit.

    It will help if you just decide to think in terms of all new food, rather than substitutions for what you're used to. Think of it as an adventure in food. Take a deep breath, turn off those alarm bells that are ringing in your head, and press forward. You can find a lot of allergen-free cookbooks at the bookstore or on Amazon.

    Good luck!
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Have you ever heard of Quinoa? I think it's considered a grain, but it is gluten free and high in protein as well. You can literally do anything with it. Something sweet and it can be breakfast, for lunch you can mix in black beans and tomatoes, etc. Lots of great recipes online.

    Here's one recipe that I posted a while back. It's delicious!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/mbcarreno08/view/quinoa-salad-with-cherries-and-pecans-80963
  • Heatherbelle_87
    Heatherbelle_87 Posts: 1,078 Member
    I hate to say it but you are going to have to supplement ontop of the healthy eating. My sister eats clean, my parents eat primarily gluten free (due to intolerances just not severe)

    Hemp, almond, soy, or rice milk

    There ARE gluten free breads you can buy but i HIGHLY recommend learning to bake your own (it tastes soo much better) gluten free breads are heavier (the gluten makes bread light & fluffy) Also bisquick makes a gluten free waffle/pancake mix available at most grocers and its pretty darn good.

    Get to know your local Whole Foods (and Sprouts if you have one) VERY well because you will discover all kinds of options there.

    Look up Livingwithout Magazine (the only thing its doesnt cover is nut allergies which I have) and buy a copy or sign up for it

    VEGA is the protein shake mix certified gluten free and has all the essential fatty acids you need, it also has essential acid replacement drops on their website you can add to baked goods ect.

    Are you allergic to eggs all together or certain proteins? I am allergic to vertain proteins so I can eat eggs in certain baked goods and/or egg whites (so you can still have some type of egg) m ratio for scrambled eggs is 1 full egg to 2 egg whites.

    You are going to end up eating SOME natural sugars just avoid the processed ones. Fruits & Veggies are going to be your friends!!

    Rice it completly gluten free so look into rice noodles & corn noodles (whole foods has LOTS of options including bunny shaped ones :)). And you can substitute rice for pasta whenever you have a dish you normally serve over pasta most of the time.
  • sunshine79
    sunshine79 Posts: 758 Member
    Sorry to hear about what the doctor said. The great thing is that you can do so much to change the situation and reverse your health.

    I'm working on increasing my protein so I tend to eat a lot of fish. Some ideas:

    , tuna (obviously)
    - tilapia (very low in cals in my opinion)
    - I have ryvita instead of bread,
    - spelt bread
    - chicken
    - I lame fruit smoothies from various berries

    Have a look at my food diary (but not the last 2 weeks as I took a break from logging). It's not perfect but you may get some ideas as I'm a very fussy eater, no milk, no eggs, no cheese, no pork........ and the list goes on
  • hmschultz
    hmschultz Posts: 32
    Shrimp (if there is no allergy) lean chicken, broccoli, peas, spinach, any fresh veggies!
  • Heatherbelle_87
    Heatherbelle_87 Posts: 1,078 Member
    There are tons of other gluten free things in my house but unfortunantly I would have to hunt for them because gluten free is newer to me
  • barefootbeautiful
    barefootbeautiful Posts: 144
    Sassy - never fear. There IS food, and good TASTING food out there for you. It's just going to mean a major revamp. My suggestion - look into "Paleo." You can google it online, you can probably even get Paleo cookbooks from your library, but I think it's a fantastic place to start.

    The idea behind Paleo is to cut out foods/ingredients that go through a process and get back to the basics. It focuses, fittingly enough, on healthy protein, healthy fat, and "raw" foods. Basically, if it's a non-processed meat, veggie, or fruit, it's good. It is gluten free - the only "flour" you cook with is nut flour (Almond, Walnut, etc.), so the gluten won't become an issue. Dairy, sweets, etc., are all considered processed, so those won't be an issue. If you follow the initial diet, healthy fat will be part of at least three of your daily meals, so you're covered.

    I'd start with a book called the "Paleo Solution" by Robb Wolf. Not only will it explain the theory behind what you're eating, but it includes a month's worth of recipes complete with shopping lists. The food is actually fabulous,the recipes are very easy, and you'll find yourself full after every meal. You can try some paleo baking if you're craving sweets - I have a fantastic pumpkin bar recipe my kids can't get enough of - and still stick completely to your diet AND the doctor's orders.

    Don't worry - it's not as bad as you think. And you'll be shocked by how much energy you'll have by the second week when your body has had time to rid itself of all of the processes. I speak from experience on this. Good luck! Feel free to email me if you want some support.
  • tmaksparkie
    tmaksparkie Posts: 279
    Look on bodybuilding.com and look up keto diet, this is what I do and yes it is a low carb, high fat, high protein diet.
  • MoonMyst3
    MoonMyst3 Posts: 423 Member
    Thank you all for your responses. I truly appreciate your encouragement, suggestions, and support. To clear some questions up... I'm allergic to just eggs (whites mainly), shrimp, walnuts and almonds (borderline). Not allowed soy either. I have already been taking supplements and that number has been increased to address the new health issues and deficiencies.

    @ajbean -- the bells have pretty much subsided and thank you for the link.

    @mbcarreno08 -- I have heard of Quinoa but have yet to try it. Thanks for the info and I'm hoping to substitute it for my daily oatmeal (that is no longer allowed). I'll check into it.... and the salad sounds yummy!!

    @Heatherbelle_87 -- Yes, definitely, taking supplements. I can't have rice or pasta and it's just the eggs I'm allergic too. Thank you for the magazine referral - much appreciated.

    @sunshine79 -- The AWESOME thing is that at this stage, I CAN (AND WILL) reverse the fatty liver issue and diabetes risk. I just need to educate myself on how to adjust my diet to avoid the allergenic and restricted foods and I'll be well on my way to a healthier me!! :drinker:

    @barefootbeautiful -- Thank you soOo much for suggesting the Paleo diet and the book referral. My doctor mentioned this diet and wrote it down but I couldn't remember the name or decipher his writing... you've cleared that up!! I'm actually heading to the bookstore today. :happy:

    @tmaksparkie -- I recognize the Keto diet is a bit more advanced than the Atkin's Diet - which I have tried, lost and then gained the weight back - but it seems a bit too complicated for me to take on while learning about the foods I'm allowed. I may look at it again in the future but for right now, I have to keep things simple. Thanks for the suggestion anyways.

    Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to comment. :flowerforyou:
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