What Now? What Can I Eat?

[revenant]

I originally thought I only had problems with gluten, lactose, eggs, soy, corn, nightshades, and potatoes (wait, are potatoes nightshades??)

As time progressed, I gradually started having symptoms (less extreme, but nonetheless, obvious and lurking symptoms) with all types of sugar (including fructose), fish, chicken, and any grains including rice.

I don't eat redmeat... I don't eat it because I just don't like it. I haven't tested it

I. Am. Stumped. What the heck do I eat now? Vegetables and seeds? I am really stuck here...

All advice appreciated and very badly needed...

[mushroom]

Yes, potatoes are nightshades and are killers for me too. With the exception of lactose which I can now eat I am the same as you, except I cannot eat legumes. I do, however, eat red meat. You will have to start eating legumes, which I cannot eat - beans in all their forms, and peas, dried and fresh. Most vegetarians combine beans and rice to make a complete protein. Legumes can be eaten as salads, as baked beans, as hummus for a dip - you will have to explore them because I can't eat them....

[cahill]

I originally thought I only had problems with gluten, lactose, eggs, soy, corn, nightshades, and potatoes (wait, are potatoes nightshades??)

As time progressed, I gradually started having symptoms (less extreme, but nonetheless, obvious and lurking symptoms) with all types of sugar (including fructose), fish, chicken, and any grains including rice.

I don't eat redmeat... I don't eat it because I just don't like it. I haven't tested it

I. Am. Stumped. What the heck do I eat now? Vegetables and seeds? I am really stuck here...

All advice appreciated and very badly needed...

Have you tried quinoa Open Original Shared Link

or amaranth Open Original Shared Link

My understanding is that they are not actually grains but seeds.Both are gluten free. Both are high in protein and are a complete protein.

[missy'smom]

I originally thought I only had problems with gluten, lactose, eggs, soy, corn, nightshades, and potatoes (wait, are potatoes nightshades??)

As time progressed, I gradually started having symptoms (less extreme, but nonetheless, obvious and lurking symptoms) with all types of sugar (including fructose), fish, chicken, and any grains including rice.

I don't eat redmeat... I don't eat it because I just don't like it. I haven't tested it

I. Am. Stumped. What the heck do I eat now? Vegetables and seeds? I am really stuck here...

All advice appreciated and very badly needed...

Well, I am free of many many things(soy, grains, fruit, casein, etc.) due to diabetes and multiple food allergies. Major categories off limits to me so I survive on a limited diet(in comparison to most people), but still enjoy good health so it's doable.

Let's see...

No...

MEATS/PROTEINS

red meat

fish

chicken

eggs

That leaves you with turkey. Costco sells turkey burger patties that are just turkey and the "natural flavoring" is rosemary oil. I called. Applegate Farms have some pretty clean turkey products. As for the fish, I tested pos. for many of the white fish and mackerel and haven't successfully re-introduced any of them yet but I can still eat salmon without problem. If you can figure out just one variety that you can tolerate that would help. What about shrimp? Some of these other proteins are not ones that most people eat everday but we who are restricted need to work these things in to keep some balance for our health. Looks like you can still have pork? Ground turkey or ground pork are useful.

VEG AND GRAINS

NO...

soy

corn

nightshades

potatoes

You can still have all those green veggies. So many veg. I won't list them.

Grains-buckwheat(Kasha) Birkett Mills sells whole grain buckwheat that can be used in pilafs. Have you tried it?

NO FRUITS

What about dairy?

Yes, nuts and seeds are a good addition if you tolerate them! Coconut?

Herbs for flavor and single spices, coconut oil, flavored olive oils(I'm enjoying some lemon infused olive oil these days.

Start by listing all the things you CAN have and then figure out what you can do with them, how you can combine them. Start you meal plans with a meat and veg. meal, maybe paleo or low-carb inspired.

[RiceGuy]

As was mentioned, amaranth and quinoa aren't actually grains. Neither is buckwheat, which is a seed, and related to rhubarb. However, legumes are even better when it comes to protein, fiber, and many other nutrients. Lentils are especially good, and the red/yellow ones cook in about 20-30 minutes, no soaking required.

Sunflower seeds are also a good protein source, and when toasted and made into butter, taste remarkably like peanut butter. Sesame butter (tahini) is also tasty and versatile.

In place of potato, try taro root. It is white inside like a potato, and can be used in all the same ways as potato, including boiled, mashed, fried, baked, and even chips. The taste is very similar. I think it is more flavorful.

In place of tomato sauce, try a product called Nomato. The taste is very good IMO.

Last but not least, you might find it beneficial to take digestive enzymes with your meals. This may help you digest more foods without issues (as long as it's not an actual sensitivity).

[dilettantesteph]

One issue is are you reacting because you are intolerant to these foods, or is it trace gluten contamination?

For example, I ate tomatoes all summer from a particular supplier at the Farmer's Market. Before that I found that certain provider's tomatoes from the grocery store bothered me and certain others didn't. When my supplier stopped coming to the Farmer's market, I went back to the store tomatoes and started reacting again. I had some green tomatoes ripening in a bag from my home garden and I could eat those no problem. With tomatoes, I don't believe I am intolerant to them, I just need to find a safe source.

Another example, I couldn't find a soy yogurt which I didn't react to, yet if I buy edamame in the pod, shell and eat those, I don't react.

Grains are another example. To be able to eat them, I sort them, remove grains which don't belong, triple wash with soap, and rinse well.

I haven't found sugar which I can tolerate yet, but I did find a honey.

I eat eggs from pasture raised chickens. I get my dairy from a farmer who pasture raised his cows and supplements them with non gluten grains.

It is possible that methods like these will work for you too. It takes a lot of careful eating and gradually adding foods that are carefully sourced and cleaned.

I don't like red meat either. Too bad because it has a good amount of calories, and is a lot more economical than seafood.

With seafood, I buy wild, not farmed and I ask them to get it out of a new container with fresh gloves. That has been working well, I just can't afford to do it all that frequently. The first time I got it from the display case like everybody else and it made me have glutening symptoms. They sell various breaded seafood as well and there may have been some cc.

I hope this helps. It is no fun not having anything that you can eat.

[GFinDC]

Sweet potatoes are another option. I can eat them fine but I can't eat nightshades, (tomatoes, peppers, white potatoes, eggplant).

Cucumbers, broccoli, bananas, parsley, brown rice, mushrooms, leeks, onions, beans, there are lots of other veggies to consider also.

I get gassed up big time if I eat peas, but I can do them if I take a digestive enzyme with alpha-galactosidase in it. Same stuff as in Beano, but Beano has gluten, so look for another enzyme product. Bean-zyme is supposed to be good but I haven't tried it yet.

[revenant]

Thanks guys

How cheap is quinoa/amaranth? I'm currently in a money situation, but i'll look into that

I had sweetpotatoes and yams for lunch and with no ill effects yay! All this time thinking they were a nightshade.

Also will try turkey

[GFinDC]

Yeah, sweet taters are good for making soup too. Put a couple in a pressure cooker with water and give them about 20 minutes and they turn to mush when you stir it up. They add a nice flavor to soups or stews. I just started eating beans again and they seem to be going ok for me. Of course you could have some other veggies and some meats in there too.

[missy'smom]

The buckwheat is sold in the Jewish/Passover section. Can't remember the pricing but if I remember te Birkett Mills, which is a common brand is in a gluten-free facility. Check their website. They have lots of recipes there too.

Take ground pork, add your own seasonings and make sausage patties to have with those sweet potatoes. You can add in some cooked quinoa instead of the usual fillers.

Since turkeys are abundant this time of year, if you roast one. Take the leftover carcass and instead of tossing it, add it to a large stockpot with water, carrots, onions, peppercorns etc. and make your own stock for soups. Makes alot. Very cheap. Soy-free etc. Tastier than any storebought. Instructions can be found anywhere. Very easy. You can add the turkey meat later when you make soup or you can form little meatballs with raw ground turkey meat, a bit of herbs, salt etc. and gently simmer them in the broth.