Monday, August 06, 2007

Help Please!

My dear internet, I need help!
My dd has been put on a special diet. Here are the things she can not eat:
orange
orange juice
soy milk products
cow's milk products (i.e. milk, cheese, cottage cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, ice cream, frozen yogurt)
spelt
kamut
barley
rye
corn and corn products
all wheat products (most breads, many deserts, cereals, crackers, pasta, certain soup)
eggs
shellfish
beef
pork
processed meats such as cold cuts
soy products
peanut and peanut butter
high-glycemic-index vegetables
creamed vegetables
margarine
spreads
butter
store-bought salad dressings
mayonnaise
soda pop or soft drinks
white/brown sugars
honey
maple syrup
high fructose corn syrup
ketchup
relish
chutney
barbecue sauce
chocolate
soy sauce
teriyaki


So, I got this huge lit from the doctor. And the book came with about 10 recipes to give me an idea of what to feed her. Um, yeah, some of them contain orange juice and quite a few have eggs. So, yeah. I am feeling sort of stuck here people. And I need help on figuring out what to feed her. I bought two gluten-free cookbooks today - but many of their recipes have eggs and other items on her not allowed to eat list.

I am so sad for her. She needs to be on this diet for 3 weeks. Then (assuming of course we have noticed changes for the better) we can slowly begin to add things back in to see which of them is causing her problems. Part of me hopes this works -according to what we were told not only can this diet help her digestive issues (which trust me would be enough) it could also help with her neurological issues which would be like a huge bonus! Anyway, I am hoping this will help her. But yet, we went to the store tonight (of course it was just Target but they did just put out an organic line of food) and I had a very hard time finding things she can eat. (I've been told to get to a Trader's Joe ASAP for many of the things that she can eat.) And wow, I am having a hard time finding things I can feed her aside from from fruits and veggies. And this will really put a strain on me for the net 3 weeks - Although rest assured, if there is hope it can help her I will do it. I just might whine and complain here about it LOL!

Anyway, is there someone out there who has had to do this for a child or for them self that can give me links or tips or recipes?
And thank you very much for any advice/suggestions/or just even hugs and prayers you can offer!

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:22 AM

    I wish I could help you! Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea where you'll find recipes that restricted! Goodness. That list is so long! Your poor dd must be miserable!

    My only advice--be very simple with the meals. Chicken lightly sautéed in lemon juice, salt and pepper. Grilled (until they are bursting) tomatoes with a little salt. All this served over rice. Any of those items restricted? I didn't seem them on your list. I had this for dinner last night--it's my husband's favorite meal. Think kabob without the stick.

    Check out foreign dishes. If rice is okay, maybe rice noodles okay? Middle eastern food is usually very basic. Maybe some vegetarian dishes? Asian dishes? (Not Asian-american, which is loaded with sugar.) Looks like she can have salad--just make your own dressing. Nuts! Are they okay? I noticed peanuts were on the list, but how about walnuts? Pecans? Almonds? These are all great in salads, and are filling.

    Really, the list is mostly carbs, with the exception of the eggs, shellfish, beef, and pork.

    I hope I helped out some. I've been on restricted diets for gestastional diabetes before, and I know how hard it is to cut food groups out of your diet! (Your poor girl!)

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  2. There is a substitute for eggs that my mother uses. My father can't have eggs either but this substitute works in things that you have to cook or bake. (doesn't work as actual eggs - like frying or anything. Its just meant to "hold" things together as an egg does) Let me know and I can get you the name of that if you want.

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  3. I was thinking about asian food too.

    Do you have insurance? Maybe they have a dietician available who can work you through this time.

    Or maybe a dietician forum might enable you to find someone, or recipes.

    I'm not allowed fresh fruit, mildproducts and high protein and I eat very simple.

    Children love to have a choice, so I always offer thinsg in little bowls and they can mix it the way they want.
    That gives them the feeling of control, and it makes them more accepting of what they have to eat.

    Good luck!!

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  4. Wow! That's quite a restrictive list. I don't have any suggestions better than the ones people have already left here, but know I'll be thinking about you!!

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  5. Hey, We lived with dietary restraints, and still do for that matter.

    Chicken grilled is yummy. Rice steamed or fried is great. We love the kabob idea... onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers and pineapple (I can't eat all of those, but those are the ones my family loves.)

    Garlic?? It makes everything taste better... ditto for onions, celery and peppers sauteed together...

    Rice bread in the health food store. Check the ingredients.

    breakfast...oatmeal? my boys could never have milk, so they used juice on things... apple juice or white grape. Homemade applesauce... ingredients apples and water...

    When we had the problems we took out the most likely culprits one at a time and waited three weeks, then took out the next. Was longer perhaps, but easier. baked potato with broccoli... or olive oil...

    bread dipped in olive oil mixed with herbs

    fruit raw; or purreed with ice/water to make a slushy; or on the grill...

    It is hard and frustrating. But, you do get used to cooking for her that way... believe me. We have had to cook for various food allergies in this house and it is complicated sometimes, but usually not. I just learn to focus on what I CAN have, not what I can't. That might help your daughter... when I focus on what I am missing that is when I get depressed.

    Oh, in the freezer section they have something called "Rice Dream" which is a rice based ice cream substitute. Not sure what the sweeteners are though...

    praying praying praying!!
    Kim

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  6. Oh my goodness! I wish I could help. I have heard though that three tablespoons of flax seed is a substitute for one egg.

    If I run into recipes I will be sure to send them your way.

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  7. Anonymous4:08 PM

    Just offering hugs and prayers. Good luck with the diet. I was just at the library looking through cookbooks and saw a few vegan and gluten free for the family cookbooks...made me think of you. Hopefully your research skills will turn up some good recipes for M. Hang in there...if you need to talk...I'm here :)

    ~Jen (SissyQQ)

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Seeing your comments makes me smile! Thank you so much =)