"Great new foods for restricted diets" article

[WhirledPeas]

If anyone tries any of these products, please post in this thread how they taste. :) I am happy to report my symptoms were at a minimum during my two week vacation and I was able to eat a more varied diet than usual. More well steamed and grilled non-cruciferious veggies along with lobster and snapper. Yum. I exercised more than usual too which I think helped regulate my system. A few bouts of gastritis, but manageable. Waiting for my enterolab results.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/bl ... cted-diets

Tamara's Oscar Roster: Best Picks for the Pantry
By TAMARA DUKER FREUMAN
July 2, 2013

Tamara Duker Freuman
When managing a health condition requires some sort of dietary restriction, it generally doesn't take too long for my patients to wrap their heads around which foods are off-limits.

When celiac disease is the problem, my patients quickly learn how to avoid foods that contain traces of wheat, barley, rye and conventionally-grown and processed oats. In the case of food allergy, they become well-versed in how to spot allergens on nutrition labels. My patients with pre-diabetes following a reduced-carb, lower-glycemic diet know to watch portions of starchy foods like pasta, potatoes, bread and rice. And with practice, my patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) learn how to spot ingredients that are high in digestively troublesome "FODMAP" ingredients from a mile away.

[Read IBS? Could be the FODMAPS]

In other words, learning what foods to avoid is often the easy part. Far more challenging for folks with restricted diets is a bigger question: What CAN I eat? Specifically, questions arise about practical swaps for foods that were once dietary staples; convenient snacks that can be kept in purses or gym bags; or ingredient substitutions for favorite recipes.

So I'm always scanning the shelves of supermarkets for the latest and greatest foods to debut, making mental notes about which ones could enhance the restricted diets of my various patient populations. And I especially look forward to attending the food industry trade shows, where thousands of companies gather to hawk their wares.

[Read: Favorite Foods and Drinks from Expo West.]

This past weekend, a few such food shows were in town, and I had the chance to nibble my way through them for the noble cause of identifying healthy new foods that would be a welcome addition to the restricted diets of my patients. Here are a few of my new favorites: (Please note that I have no material connections to and have received no compensation from any of these companies.)

• Great news for weight-conscious, gluten-free bakers: Wholesome Cravings Protein Baking Mixes. The world needs another gluten-free brownie mix like I need another hole in the head.

[Read: What is Gluten, Anyway?]

Nowadays, there are plenty of decadent, you'd-never-know-they're-gluten-free cakes, cookies and muffin mixes to choose from; heck, even Betty Crocker has thrown her hat in the ring! But generally, their calorie counts are appalling high – even by sweet treat standards – as these products rely heavily on oil, sugar and super-starchy, blood-sugar-spiking flours like tapioca, rice and potato to match the moist texture of wheat-based prototypes.

Enter Bageshree Blasius: a foodie mom who formulated several muffin-baking mixes from lower-glycemic, gluten-free oat flour and flaxseeds, boosted with a hefty dose of pea protein … and no added sugar. To prepare, you add your own fat replacer – depending on the flavor, the packaging recommends mashed bananas, applesauce or pumpkin puree – and up to 2 tablespoons of the sweetener of your own choosing. Use sugar, stevia, Splenda, agave nectar or my preference – nothing at all. The result is a muffin with about 11 grams (!) of protein and a modest level of carbs and sugars customized to your tastes and dietary needs. The Banana Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Spice were my faves. Yum!

[See: 10 Healthy Desserts – and They're Tasty, too.]

• Must-have nut-free butter: The Sneaky Chef Creamy No-Nut Butter. I recently wrote that moms of kids without food allergies might consider swapping in nut-free sunflower seed butter or soynut butter to sandwiches destined for public consumption to help keep nuts out of shared kiddie spaces. Soon after, I happened upon another delicious nut-free butter made from a most unexpected ingredient: golden peas! The Sneaky Chef nailed the golden color and creamy texture of actual peanut butter in her No-Nut Butter, and the result is eat-straight-from-the-jar, possibly-better-than-the-real-thing good.

[Read It Takes a Village to Raise a Child (With Food Allergy)]

• Best new easily digestible breakfast for the IBS crowd: Little Duck Organics Mighty Oats. While these single-serve, instant, hot cereal cups are actually marketed to babies and young children, I think they're a better option than most instant oatmeals on the market, period.

These wheat-free (but not gluten-free) cereals feature a blend of grains and seeds rich in soluble-fiber (oats, millet, amaranth, quinoa, chia and buckwheat) and flavored only with low-FODMAP fruits like banana and blueberry. There is absolutely no added sugar – which is, of course, how foods marketed to children SHOULD be formulated (but almost never are).

[Read: Children's Cereal: Healthy Start or Junk Food?]

If you need some sweetness, add your own easily digestible sweetener to taste. Until the company comes out with grown-up sized portions (hint, hint), you'll likely want to pair this 70-calorie cereal cup with some fresh fruit, eggs, lactose-free yogurt or another gentle-on-your-tummy breakfast accompaniment to address an adult-sized appetite.

[Read: A Tale of Two Fibers]

Runner up: Garden Lites Veggie Muffins. Here's a rare find indeed: a muffin that's differentiated nutritionally from a cupcake, with a modest 120 calories and 5 grams of fiber per appropriately-portioned 2-ounce muffin.

Coming soon to a supermarket freezer near you, these gluten-free, dairy free and nut-free muffins feature an all-natural ingredient lineup in which vegetables are first on the list. And not just any veggies, but low-FODMAP veggies that are high in tummy-friendly soluble fiber, like zucchini and carrots. Their IBS street cred extends further down the ingredient list as well: The muffins contain naturally low-FODMAP bananas and berries as well as soluble corn fiber. I liked the moist, non-gummy texture as well. In fact, the only reason these didn't win first place is that, despite being all natural, they are relatively more processed and still contain 11 grams of sugar (almost 3 teaspoons) per muffin.

[Read: Is All Processed Food Unhealthy?]

• Your best new low-carb dinner companion: Gold Mine Kelp Noodles. I often recommend low-carb dinners as a key pillar of my weight-loss protocol. But when noodle cravings strike in the evening, these kelp noodles would make a great low-carb, low-calorie stand-in for veggie-heavy stir-fries or Asian-style entrée soups. Made from calcium- and iodine-rich seaweed, kelp noodles are naturally gluten-free, shelf stable and require no cooking. A 4-ounce serving has just 6 calories and 1 gram of fiber. Go crazy and have a double portion for a whopping 12 calories! Woo hoo!

[See Top-Rated Diets Overall.]

Hungry for more? Write to eatandrun@usnews.com with your questions, concerns, and feedback.

Tamara Duker Freuman, MS, RD, CDN, is a NYC-based registered dietitian whose clinical practice specializes in digestive disorders, Celiac Disease, and food intolerances. Her personal blog, www.tamaraduker.com, focuses on healthy eating and gluten-free living.

Tags: celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten, diet and nutrition, exercise and fitness, health, weight loss, digestive disorders

[Fritcher]

Hello to anyone who may be reading this post. This my first post, so I will give you a little background.
I am 74 years old and I was diagnosed with Lymphoytic colitis less than a month ago. The doctor prescribed entocort ?, but
also budesonide ec. which I chose because of difference in price. My immediate concern is what kind of liquid to use with my
cereal. We have been using soy milk instead of regular milk.
I just joined this forum yesterday afternoon and one of the first things mentioned is no soy anything. so what kind liquid is OK to use on cereal.

[tex]

Hi,

Welcome to the group. Not everyone here is sensitive to soy, but it's true that most of us are.

Most of us (myself included) use almond milk. A few members who are sensitive to almonds, or who just prefer the taste, use coconut milk. The drawback with coconut milk is that most brands contain carageenan, which can cause other health problems for some people, and some of us react to it (see the article at the link below, for more information on the safety of carageenan).

Hemp milk is another option, but it seems to cause mild to moderate bloating for some of us.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401181/I ... -Safe.html

Tex

[Fritcher]

Hi Tex;
Thank you for the welcome and the invitation to feel free to ask questions (I am sure that I will have many).
I notice that you are from central Texas. I lived in Austin for 22 years until I decided to get out of the rat race We have been
here in Canon City,Colorado since August of 1983. We really like it here.
As you noticed I was diagnosed with Lymphoytic Colitis last month. I did not very much information from the Doctor at time
because I said that I would go online to more information. I have to take a lot of pain medication for an injury to my right
heel. Two of the medication are Methadone (up t0 80 mg a day) and also Naproxin. He took me off od Naproxin immediately.
I went online to find a book about this disease and luckily I found Mr. Wayne Presky's "Microscoptic Colitis". After reading much
of the book, I went online to try to find a discussion board (forum) and luckily I found his forum.
So far it seems that more information I find the, more question I have, so right now I am not sure I know enough to ask the
right questions.
From what I have so far you seem to have more information than anyone on line.
I am less than half way through Mr. Persky's book.
I will go back to the Doctor Tuesday.
Again thank you your offer to help.

Gene

[tex]

Hi Gene,

Some of us have been sharing experiences and information that's helpful for controlling this disease for over 10 years now, first on the old discussion board that preceded this one, and for over 8 years on this board, so that's why we've accumulated a lot of data about the disease.

I moved out of Austin in 1973. I live on a farm about 50 miles north of there. We're still outside their circle of influence, but the city is slowly sneaking up on us.

I have a confession to make — I'm the author of that book. I hope you won't hold that against me, though.

Tex

[Fritcher]

Hi again Tex;
I owned some property along IH 35 and FM 487 in Jarrell. It was a good investment. I bought in the early 1970s and sold it
about 11 or 12 years ago.
So your are the author of that book. It is a very well written and easy to understand except for the medical terms. I now know
that I have the person who can answer all of my questions.
I am extremely impressed and so glad that I have met you online.
I will be asking more questions after I meet with the Docter Tuesday.

Gene

[JLH]

Gene

You have found the best place in the world for information and support. I love how you found Tex's book and then us.

Unless you have a very special doctor, don't expect him to know or agree with the book.

[tex]

Gene,

Thank you for the kind words. It's a pleasure meeting you online, too. I also owned a farm in that area (also bought in the early 1970s), but I traded it for farmland about 10 miles east of there back in 1985. That area is rapidly changing now, as housing developments spread across the countryside.

Tex

[Fritcher]

Gene

You have found the best place in the world for information and support. I love how you found Tex's book and then us.

Unless you have a very special doctor, don't expect him to know or agree with the book.

Joan;
I really feel lucky that that I was able to find both as quickly as I did. Thank to the internet.
Have a good day,

Gene

[Fritcher]

Hi Tex;
Have good day,

Gene

[Fritcher]

Gene

You have found the best place in the world for information and support. I love how you found Tex's book and then us.

Unless you have a very special doctor, don't expect him to know or agree with the book.

Hi JLH;
I apoligize for taking so long to get back to you. Lots of things going on along with trying to get as much information as possible.
I trully believe that I have found the right place. Tex has been super along with everyone else in this forum.
Thank you for being here for me,

Gene