Calories - How Do You Make Sure That You Are Eating Enough?

[LookingforAnswers15]

Hey,

 

I have never thought I would be asking this question. If anything, I always had to count calories to make sure I did not eat too many. 

 

So, I started following AIP and it helped a bit with joint pain. However, I noticed that I lost weight. I do not want to loose any more and would like to gain. 

 

I eat bananas, tuna, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, apples, pineapple, pomegranate, celery, garlic, avocado, berries, cantaloupe, spinach.

 

So, in a day I might eat 4-5 bananas, 2 small tuna (about 160 grams together-cans), cucumbers (2-3), carrots, apple, pomegranate, avocado, sweet potatoes. I just do not know how to raise the number of calories right now eating only veggies,fruits, and tuna. I was looking up online all different ways to eat healthy and address possible arthritis pain and some guy suggested eating veggies and quinoa but I cannot find one here that is labeled gluten-free. It seems like I have been waiting for my results forever, so I do not know what my food intolerances are yet so i completely cut all processed food and anything with soya, milk, eggs, corn, etc. This is how I ended up eating only, veggies, fruits, and tuna.

 

How do you make sure you get enough calories? Everything in my diet is healthy but I don't think it is enough. Thank you!

[cyclinglady]

Please tell me that the foods you listed are a sample of what you ate in one day and not what you are eating on a daily basis!  

[ravenwoodglass]

You need protein and carbs. I do hope you are not eating just tuna everyday for a protein source. You don't want tuna more than a couple times a week. Add in some eggs, chicken, beef or pork. If you are not much of a meat eater then go with beans and rice, nuts and nut butters.  Add some freshly crushed hemp seeds to your salads. A good source of protein that is easy to digest. You can get a gluten-free Hemp milk. I liked the chocolate when I was trying to gain.

Quinona is naturally gluten free. I wouldn't worry about it saying gluten-free. There is a pasta with that and corn however I don't remember the name of it off hand.

There are quite a few gluten free pastas. You may want to try some of the cooked veggies mixed with one and smothered in olive oil or butter. On busy days I will boil some frozen veggies and garbanzo beans (canned, rinsed and drained) and at the end of the cook I throw in Thai Kitchen skinny rice noodles then smother it with butter and parmesan cheese. Plenty of calories and protein and you could use olive oil if you are avoiding dairy.

I am sure others will have more ideas for you.

[LookingforAnswers15]

Hi Cyclinglady,

 

These are the main veggies and fruits that I usually eat. I eat whichever one I have in my fridge. So, my diet pretty much is made of fruits and veggies and tuna. When I am at home, I also have cooked meals such as baked chicken with cabbage, meatballs with carrots, onions and olive oil, and soups. I am a pretty good cook and enjoy it but I just don't know what is safe for me to eat right now. All of these foods I found online to be anti-inflammatory so that is why i have included them in my diet. I read that meat, especially red meat is not good for arthritis and since my body was hurting, I stopped eating it. However, I am worried that what I have been eating lately is not enough. I have never been a vegetarian and I feel like I need to eat something else. I love lentils and rice but I do not buy it unless it is labeled gluten free. I am not at home right now and I am staying abroad only for a few days so all my dishes are in storage. Therefore, everything I prepare is easy to make but the truth is that I am also afraid how my body will react to other things. My results should be available in a week (finally!) so then I will know for sure what I need to avoid. 

 

I literally go to the grocery store every day but I just do not know what to eat. So, that is why I turned to you guys. When I was in England, I was able to buy freshly baked bread but that is not available here. I am pretty sure I react to corn so I cannot eat some corn pasta I am able to buy here. 

[LookingforAnswers15]

Hi Ravenwoodglass,

 

I love meat and could eat it every day but because I read it could cause joint pain, I stopped. However, I will start eating chicken again. My symptoms this summer became worse after eating eggs,drinking coffee with milk, some soft cheese, nightshades, and gluten free products (chocolate and cookies). Maybe my symptoms were caused by nightshades and dairy but since I ate all these around the same time, I cut eggs as well until my allergy test comes back.

 

I need to find Thai Kitchen skinny noodles. That sounds amazing! They are so easy to make and delicious! Thank you. I love olive oil so I cook with it. I also know how to prepare amazing lentils with turmeric, onion, and olive oil.

 

In general, I do love food. I don't think there is anything that I actually do not like but there is not much selection when it comes to gluten-free products here. When I go home, I need to learn how to make bread. They sell small packages of nuts that are overpriced so I am looking forward to fall markets where I can buy walnuts. I found banana chips and was ecstatic but the label said that it could contain up to 20 ppm, and since I have had so many problems lately, I did not dare to even try it.

Thank you again. 

[cyclinglady]

Whew!  Being away from home is tricky, but your limited ( but safe diet)  should be fine in the short term.  Try to see if you can find another protein source besides tuna.  That's a lot of mercury exposure!  What about canned salmon?  Is that available?  Sardines?  

[LookingforAnswers15]

Hi Cyclinglady,

sorry for not responding sooner. I have not been on here in a few days. Thank you for your advice about sardines. I will try to find good ones here but I am not sure about canned salmon and its quality here. Anyhow, I am back at home and I am eating well, so I am gaining weight. I just need to find out if my results will reveal any food allergies. I have been waiting for my results for so long but this doctor was the only nice one willing to carefully look through all my previous tests and order new ones. However, the hospital is extremely busy so I could not get them any sooner. I think I might get them either tomorrow or later next week. 

Soon after posting on here, I bought a granola bar that was gluten free, soy free and dairy free. The entire September I did not eat any processed food apart from this granola bar. Within an hour of eating it, I began having a sharp stomach pain on my left side (I know it is celiac related for sure) and my flat stomach (from loosing weight) looked like I was pregnant. Since then, my hands have been hurting. I just hope it gets better soon but I am still worried about the results. So, I know for sure that this granola bar probably was causing some issues in May and June when I ate it but I was eating other gluten-free processed food and did not realize it.  So, I would recommend to all newly diagnosed celiacs to stick to clean eating and see what might be causing any other symptoms. I was so happy when a local grocery store started offering more gluten free products (cookies, oats, granola bars) that I did not take into consideration cross-reactors and other intolerances. I actually knew nothing about this.

Anyhow, thanks for the advice.

[cyclinglady]

Did that granola bar contain gluten free certified oats?  Even if it did, some celiacs do not process oats well at all.  This has been a topic discussed for years by the celiac community.   For some it does trigger gluten like  reactions.  Many of our members have strange food intolerances.  Others are more common (soy, corn).  I have issues still with Xanthan Gum.  Go figure!  Never bothers my hubby at all.  So I eat lettuce-wrapped sandwiches instead of using gluten-free commercial bread.  I bake using guar gum as a substitute for Xanthan Gum at home

Glad that you are figuring it out!

[nvsmom]

I like to use myfitnesspal to log my foods. It gives me a rough idea of my macros and calorie counts.  It could be a good tool for you to use.

[LookingforAnswers15]

Hi Cycling lady, I really do not remember anymore. I was so hungry at that time that I just concentrated on it being gluten-free free, dairy and soy free but I did not think about containing oats. However, I do not think it did. I think it was just dried fruit (dates) with coco and coconut. I meant to take a photo of a wrapper but forgot. I also try to stay away from oats. I enjoy lettuce wraps as well. I usually eat them with chicken and veggies.

Hi Nvsmom, you are right about myfitnesspal. I used to use it religiously when I was healthy (at least believed I was, before my diagnosis) and exercising every day to make sure to track my food and water intake. I need to start using it again and it can also serve as my food journal. Thanks for reminding me about it.