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Need some help with safe food ideas

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Posted 10/11/2011 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I know we are all so different with what we can and can't eat when we are sick, but I need some new ideas. It seems that everyone of my "safe" foods isn't safe anymore. I have been trying to not eat and then just nibble, but that ends up backfiring when I get ravenous and eat things I shouldn't. If I stick to just my white food diet, I still end up miserable by late afternoon. I am just out of ideas of things to try so I thought maybe I would ask the experts to brainstorm some food thoughts other than chicken broth. Eggs, fish, rice, pasta, potato, bread, chicken all seem to make me sick, even yogurt isn't working, but I can't live on water and tea.
Posted 10/11/2011 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Zanne, I wish I could help, but I'm having the same problem, even toast is no longer 'safe'. I can't help
but wonder if when feeling as we do right now, whether diet is gonna make any difference :(
Posted 10/11/2011 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Ya Vicky I know, which is probably why I haven't stopped eating entirely. In the past, during other flares or while waiting for surgery, I have gone all liquid, and I felt better, but this time it doesn't seem to make a difference so why bother to suffer through an all liquid purgatory if it isn't going to make a difference. I am just hoping to find a few things that might be easier. A few weeks ago I tried sushi for the first time. Rice and fish are usually safe for me, so.... I was eating it 2 meals a day for 2 weeks and it seemed to go well, but now its bothering me too. : (
Posted 10/11/2011 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure how fruit effects you but one thing my mom did was make me homemade jellos using different fruit flavors. She would take fruit juice and use that as flavoring. Not very filling but could help?

It can be so depressing when you feel like you can't eat anything even though you still have an appetite.

Have you been cooking them all the same ways or mixing it up? Could it be the way you are preparing the food? I'm sure you have already thought of that, I just wish I had more suggestions!

Best of luck!
Posted 10/12/2011 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
When I am flaring I live on Ensure, make sure to sip it slowly do not goulp. Also chicken broth and lots of mint and peppermint teas. I also take UltraInflamX - it is medical food that provides nutritional support for people with IBD.
Posted 10/12/2011 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!

Do not have so much experiences with food. But I also would recommend liquids. Here in Europe you can buy Nutricomp Standard Neutral from Braun. Maybe you should try like Nutren 1.5 or 2.0 /1.5cal/ml or 2.0cal/ml of liquid.
Or Modulen IBD or elementals like Elental (Japan) or Elemental 028 (elemental liquid).

Do try liquids. They give bowel rest and body nutrients, D should decrease. Check ingredients if you are milk/soy intolerable.

Best!

YP9
Posted 10/12/2011 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Would avocado work, Zanne?

Or a banana pureed in milk / milk substitute, with smooth peanut butter added if your body can tolerate it?

It's so horrible when you're hungry and can't eat. :-(

Ivy.
Posted 10/12/2011 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
The last time I ate a banana I was curled up for hours in intense pain. Since then I stay clear of them. I have no idea what changed in me because I used to eat them without a problem before I was dx'ed. I did manage to eat an avocado now and then but they are very fatty (even tho it's the good kind) and sometimes that would bother my stomach.

I eat cream of wheat cereal with a touch of 2% milk and honey for breakfast everyday - the real stuff not the instant. The instant just sits in my stomach. The one you cook for a few minutes is wonderful. I also like pastina, or almond butter with polaner no seed jelly on white bread for lunch. I also use some extra virgin olive oil and scramble mashed firm tofu with sea salt, tumeric, black pepper and a little garlic powder (it looks like scrambled eggs), and then I steam white tortillas on top of it when it is almost done and then wrap them up. Apple sauce without anything added also helped to get me through the tough times of the last 2 years.

I know you must be freaking since even yogurt is bothering you. When I've been like that I drink tons of chamomile tea and also sleepy time tea which also has a lot of chamomile in it and some mint.

I'm still having a hard time with trying new foods since my resection. I know you are supposed to wait the first 2 months or so before you add fiber. But I'm wondering if I will ever be ok with eating beans and salsa again. I used to love to make nachos. I'm too scared to try it. I mean what would happen?? I don't have the stricture anymore. I started putting some hot sauce on things and it didn't bother me but fiber.. well. that's another thing. I am just content that I was able to eat honeydew tonight.
NY VEGGIE
Posted 10/12/2011 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Sleepy-time tea is just wonderful, isn't it? Mine has vanilla in it, along with the chamomile and spearmint and other things, and it's such a lovely way to end the day.
Posted 10/12/2011 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
You don't mention if it's the pain or the D that is the result of eating - or maybe it's both. Have you had your gallbladder out? That could be affecting you. Have you added IBS to your system since the surgery which could change your reaction to safe foods. How about pureeing some soups? Maybe some chicken stock based soups with some saltines? Maybe since your surgery you've developed a change to your medications. Have they upped your prednisone? What is your inflammation marker at? Just some questions to help you evaluate.
Posted 10/12/2011 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
How are you preparing your chicken? Chicken is generally such a safe food for us. I try to eat it very plain. Generally its only grilled or baked, not lots of spices added to it. How about grilling some fish, maybe that would agree with you more.

I know you are a big cooker, and like trying new things etc. But maybe its the way you are preparing it that is causing you to not be able to handle it. Maybe make things one way for the family and prepared more bland for you??? Sorry not more help!!
Posted 10/12/2011 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ivy got there first! I was going to say a banana blended into chocolate ensure...it gets me through when I can't tolerate other things. If you can do applesauce, try a banana blended into applesauce...I add yogurt for a smoothie taste if you can.
Posted 10/12/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
So you are all where I am. Chicken and fish are grilled plain. Banana, used to be a safe food, now its iffy. Crackers bother me! Can't tolerate milk or ensure products in any quantity, same for nut butters. Its the rumble grumble gas pains that get me. If I really go off the deep end then I will have bad CD pain but for the most part I am sticking to really soft bland food so the pain is OK.

I will give avocado a try and see how that goes. Still waiting to hear about my next appointment.
Posted 10/12/2011 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was going to suggest a few other things that you didn't have in the OP, but you've now listed them here - crackers, peanut butter, ice cream, ensure. What can you eat?

You even mentioned potatoes....all types of potatoes and cooking styles are no good?

Any cheeses?

Can't remember if you mentioned it in another thread...have you been checked for SIBO?
Posted 10/12/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
I think I'm loosing my marbles, I thought I read this thread this morning and saw that you, Zanne had posted a long reply to thank everyone and explained everything in great detail, so when I came back to this thread and that reply wasn't there I got all confused. Now I realized it was all a dream.

Haha
Posted 10/12/2011 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Zanne, have you tried some of the anti-gas medications, like Degas or charcoal?

Alternatively, it might be a good idea to discuss the situation with a dietitian, as maybe you'd be better off on all- liquids, tpn or IV or n/g feeding until your gut heals properly.

Hang in there.

Ivy.
Posted 10/13/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone.

Today has actually not been too bad. I just didn't eat very much, and I boosted my prednisone back up to 10mg, so that may be the difference. I had been trying to drop back down to 7.5mg where I had been before the surgery.

Try to answer some of the questions. I do take an anti-gas most days, not sure it does much. Can't take anything with mint, it upsets my tummy terribly, always has, and I HATE chamomile tea. I have not been able to eat oatmeal, but I will try cream of wheat. Can't do applesauce. I actually make my own for my family, so all natural, put through a food mill, no chunks, but I can't process ANY cooked fruit, haven't been able too for years. Oh and according to my doctor, I can't have SIBO because I am on Xifaxan which is one of the drugs that treat it.
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