Budget Recipes for Serious Diet Restrictions

[richmond282]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

 

[jedijill]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

She should look for Paleo or Primal recipes. They will not contain gluten and could be a good place to start. I find a lot of good stuff at marksdailyapple.com or paleomg.com

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[disfan07]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

Potatoes do NOT contain gluten so I don't know where she got that information from. Potatoes are a staple for a lot of people on a gluten free diet....I know they are for me!

I am allergic to: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, soy, dairy, wheat, oats, coconut, sesame, sunflower seeds, broccoli, honey, ginger, melon, bananas, cucumbers, celery, raw fruits (except grapes), raw vegetables. We think I am also allergic to chicken and maybe turkey (waiting for test results) and I have to limit my fish intake.

Now, I'm assuming that since she is classifying these as "sensitivities" that cross contamination isn't a concern? I know for me, cross contamination is a huge concern so that greatly limits things as well. And honestly, she might have to figure out how to like fish....she's going to have to figure out how to adjust. It's not easy but I have had to learn to eat things I might not have chosen to eat before or else I would not eat anything.

I eat:
Beef
Pork
Lamb
Fish

I can eat most veggies as long as they are cooked. So I like sautéed veggies with almost every meal. She can still eat salads and raw fruit ( apples, grapes, oranges, cherries, etc) for a quick snack.

She can figure out how to bake with nut flours. That's something I don't know about because I'm allergic to all nuts but I know almond and coconut flours are very common to bake with.

She can make turkey meatballs or regular meatballs by browning them in a pan and baking them instead of making them with sauce.

She can make the insides of beef fajitas with peppers, onions and mushrooms with some guacamole and sour cream

Burgers (turkey, beef, or veggie) wrapped in lettuce

Antipasto salads (cheeses, meats, veggies)

I also like broth based soups. I like turkey soup with veggies, Italian wedding soup, Sausage and kale soup

She can make things like artichoke and spinach dip or hummus for snacks.

Pork chops are very common in my house. You can make them a variety of ways.

Honestly, there is nothing I can eat that would be considered fast food. But I also can't eat out at any restaurants (except in WDW ). I make my own food to freeze and that is my convenience food. I just grab it out of the freezer, microwave, and eat.

She should either look at some recipe websites (I use allrecipes.com) or look at some cookbooks to see if she can get some ideas. When I choose recipes, I don't just choose recipes that are completely safe. I also choose recipes that I can make adjustments to or lave something out to make it safe.

 

[pintamino]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

Yep, paleo is a great place to start! Whole30 recipes and their book It Starts With Food in particular. Best to plan ahead and avoid fast food, but "fine" options include burrito bowls without rice, corn, or beans, and bunless burgers. Of course salads!

I'd be concerned if my doctor told me potatoes had gluten though since they obviously don't. There are other reasons not to eat them but it's not because of gluten. Many gluten free products (which are not really healthy for you) are loaded with potato starch. If tomatoes are out potatoes are probably out because of a nightshade sensitivity.

IANAD, but a complete elimination diet followed by individually testing each food sensitivity is a good place to start.

 

[mistysue]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

She probably isn't going to be stopping for fast food anywhere unless it is for a salad.

She could carry raisins, fruit cups, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, applesauce pouches (they do a lot of different fruits now too), celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, little individual sized sauces like various nut butters, hummus, etc. Cheese.

She could pack herself lettuce wrap sandwiches, lentil soup travels well and can be packed away.
At home she could make roasts with any meat, veggies, seasonings and salt water.(store broth can have gluten, but if you don't use WAY too much water and add salt and seasonings it's enough flavor) I've been making tacos using lentils, seasoning and lettuce wraps for shells.


If she is the type of person you can talk to in depth about it, be sure she is completely clear on exactly what she is supposed to be avoiding when grains get involved because it would suck if she avoided extra ones out of a misunderstanding. Most grains do not have gluten (corn, rice and potatoes especially) - there are other similar proteins to gluten that are sometimes classified as glutens, but they are different proteins so it can be confusing.

 

[jedijill]

Yep, paleo is a great place to start! Whole30 recipes and their book It Starts With Food in particular. Best to plan ahead and avoid fast food, but "fine" options include burrito bowls without rice, corn, or beans, and bunless burgers. Of course salads!

I'd be concerned if my doctor told me potatoes had gluten though since they obviously don't. There are other reasons not to eat them but it's not because of gluten. Many gluten free products (which are not really healthy for you) are loaded with potato starch. If tomatoes are out potatoes are probably out because of a nightshade sensitivity.

IANAD, but a complete elimination diet followed by individually testing each food sensitivity is a good place to start.

Totally agree with the Whole30 recommendation!

Jill in Co

 

[sunnyday1972]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

KOOPS mustards are gluten free and there is no chance of cross contamination within the plant. Great option for a condiment on burgers, chicken, sausages and fish. I LOVE the Arizona heat.
It is easily portable too.
The Vinegar is derived from corn though so I'm not sure if its an option.

 

[pampam]

I too have to avoid all grain and potatoes. Speaking for myself, it is an intolerance to many foods, and not a gluten issue. I adhere very closely to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). All my breads, cookies cakes etc are made with nut flour, usually almond flour. When I take foods to pot lucks etc. the things I bring are the first to be scooped up. People love my meals, but all they are are recipes from SCD. Once she gets the hang of it, it will be so easy, and I'm sure she will feel wonderful, if she doesn't cheat. Since she doesn't care for red meat, she might want to consider ground chicken as a substitute in her casseroles. When I cook a roast, I throw in onions into the roasting pan. To thicken my gravy, I blend the onions in a blender and use that instead of flour. I am able to use tomatoes, however, and berries don't cause a problem for me. I use honey instead of sugar. I wish her well.

 

[Poohforyou]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

Personally I think your sister should go back to her dr and clarify this information. The potato info in incorrect for starters. Also, she can't have chicken but what about other poultry? I'd also ask about the need to give up rice to avoid gluten since rice isn't in the same family as wheat.

Perhaps your sister has a clear understanding and just isn't communicating it well to you but things aren't adding up here.

 

[cndij]

I bet her sensitivities go beyond gluten to the nightshade family as well. I have just been on an elimination diet to try to track down, sensitivities and one of the things I had to avoid in the process was the nightshade family, which includes: tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. She may have misunderstood the Dr about the grouping.

 

[Chelley00]

She probably isn't going to be stopping for fast food anywhere unless it is for a salad.

Just be careful about salad dressings. Many of them contain gluten and corn syrup.

 

[Sagginit]

My sis was just told by her doctor that she has an "intolerance" to several foods. She is supposed to cut these out of diet: ALL grains (gluten) including rice & corn, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes (said these contained gluten ), peaches, pears, and all berries. She doesn't want to eat too much red meat and doesn't really like fish. What is she supposed to eat? Anybody have any good recipes I can pass on? Does anybody have any suggestions for what she can eat on the go (fast food type food)? She is looking for variety and budget friendly options.

i would get a second opinion. gluten is not in rice, corn, or potatoes. i am a celiac and many drs that seem to be good otherwise are just not that educated on food allergies and often people can be misdiagnosed.

she should try elimination dieting to really ensure she can't tolerate all of that. since she is mostly going to eat veggies she might want to look at vegan/vegetarian recipes for inspiration. when i went GF i found a lot of these recipes worked for me as they are about clean eating and using simple ingredients.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

The gluten in potatoes sounds crazy. Is she diabetic by chance? Maybe he wants her to avoid carbohydrates, too?

There's tons of resources. Just look for any recipes that are paleo or low carb. Don't worry about red meat. It's perfectly healthy.

 

[LuLuO]

I would also get a second opinion if the doctor did indeed say that potatoes and tomatoes contain gluten. I wonder if he wanted her to remove nightshades from her diet and she just misunderstood. That would be Potatoes (not yams or sweet potatoes), tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, and cayenne peppers. Removing these foods may help reduce inflamation and help with arthritis and joint pain. I know some berries are included in that...I thing gogi berries.

I have cut out nightshades, starting about two weeks ago. Stinks because I have to cut out my Udi's gluten free bread. Oh well. I have noticed a small improvement in my joint pain and overall pain. I still have pain, it just slightly better. Time will tell if the elimination of the nightshades will prove to be beneficial.

I agree that she should go back to the doctor and discuss what she can and can't eat and why. Hopefully she just got confused and there isn't some doctor out there telling people that tomatoes contain gluten. Maybe she can take someone with her because this type of information can be overwhelming. She needs to have things written down so she can easily refer back to it.

I have a ton of allergies and and food intolerances. There are many options out there. Once she gets her head wrapped around the idea it won't be so difficult.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

This is a really random and varied list.

I was going to mention removing nightshades too, as the PP did. Did her doc test specifically for these things?

If peaches, did he want her to eliminate all stone fruit? Taking out the peaches/pears sounds like a low FODMAPS diet, too. It's used to control IBS symptoms by reducing the fermentable sugars in your diet. Docs usually recommend removing onions and garlic, too.

If she is worried about red meat from a cholesterol perspective, eliminating grains might help because its addressing issues with her insulin response. Eat more while she sorts out what works best for her.

Here might be a possible day for her--I may miss an intolerance somewhere
B: yogurt with bananas & pecans
Snack: hummus & carrots and celery
L: big salad with lots of lettuce & veggies, sliced steak, oil & vinegar dressing
S: apple with peanut butter
D: grilled pork chop, roasted broccoli & cauliflower with real butter, goat cheese stuffed dates for dessert

 

[LilyWDW]

That list seems sort of... random and confusing. There are some foods from specific groups listed, but not others. Then the whole potato/gluten thing. I think she needs to speak to her doctor again because something seems to be missing. Before she looks for recipes or follows this list, she needs to clarify exactly what is going on or it can cause further health issues.

 

[disfan07]

That list seems sort of... random and confusing. There are some foods from specific groups listed, but not others. Then the whole potato/gluten thing. I think she needs to speak to her doctor again because something seems to be missing. Before she looks for recipes or follows this list, she needs to clarify exactly what is going on or it can cause further health issues.

I was thinking the same thing. Now, don't get me wrong....it's very possible that the foods are that random as my list of foods is very random as well....but mine are confirmed IgE allergic responses and/or confirmed OAS cross reactions. Some are connected but some are not.

But the whole potato containing gluten thing is very weird. And if it's a nightshade sensitivity she would probably be advised to avoid eggplant and peppers as well.

I know some people with IBS or other GI problems are told to avoid grains or certain fruit but usually it's not just one random fruit. It's a whole family....as a PP said, peaches would mean avoiding all stone fruits.

Sme of the information just seems very off....and very incomplete. I know that while I have an amazing team of doctors (all 12 of them!). The only ones I trust when it comes to food avoidance are my allergist and GI. The other ones are much less informed in that department (at least with allergies, sensitivities) but they fully admit they do not know the information.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of doctor is she seeing and for what kinds of health issues?

Did she have a test for all these specific intolerances? The chicken one, in particular, seems like an outlier.