Sick of not being able to eat - help, please?

[DragonSnapCrimson]

Straight to the point - some foods make me very very bloated (my stomach looks 6 months pregnant) and I've identified the main culprits as bread and the like, and dairy.

I'm sat here having to not have any lunch as I can't even think what I'm able to eat other than veg and fruit (eating just that for lunch every sodding day is really tiresome).

Does ANYONE have any easy lunch ideas for me that don't involve bread/wraps etc or dairy? In the evening I just suffer through the bloat and discomfort but I'm sick of being uncomfortable all afternoon at work. I live in a place that doesn't have things like vegan cheese etc, so that's out.

I'm just really fucking hungry and it's making me sad (yes I've been to a doctor multiple times and basically there's nothing to be done).

Rice is supposed to be easily digestible so chicken and rice with veg? Add herbs, spices, etc to liven it up

Soups abs salads would be my go to. Gave you tried gluten free breads to see if you can tolerate them abs gave your usual lunches

Are you vegetarian or vegan? From your post, not sure if you are also avoiding meat, if not you need to add meat/fish if possible.

You can go with any type of salad, including potato, eggs, pulses, also soups. Iceberg lettuce makes for a good crunchy outside with fillings inside (even substitute burger bread). The main thing is that you need to be organized and plan lunch in advance but Tbh I have to avoid gluten as I am sensitive to it and I also struggle with being hungry quite a bit.

I'm a vegetarian so chicken is out, sorry, should've mentioned that.

Rice could probably work but I don't like it, although I may need to get over that and force it at this point.

I've had lots of salads and they're fine, some super tasty, but it's just got to the point where I'm sick of them now. Same with soups - I also don't find them very filling unless they're very thick or I can eat them with some bread, which I can't :(

I've tried the gluten-free breads that are available in the supermarkets round here - they taste ok, but the price is absolutely ridiculous for about 6 slices of bread, so not viable.

Also, I'm not a die-hard super strict vegetarian and have eaten fish if I really haven't had anything else available, so I'm fine with incorporating that into my diet and basically being pescatarian if it means I don't have to be hungry all the time.

Fried potatoes and mushrooms is nice

Broths like leek and potatoes

Maybe see a dietician?

A friend went to see one as a last resort. The diet was pretty simple - focussed on what you can eat rather than what you can’t and it really worked (migraines, diverticulitis, bloating and very high cholesterol).

Chunky Broth because for some reason that doesn't need bread for me ( explain action why given as option as op said no to soup )

Omelette. Add chopped fried off potatoes to make a Spanish type omelette. Lots of ham, tomatoes etc.

Jacket potatoes with salad, beans, maybe vegan cheese?

Look at dairy free diets for ideas.

Oatcakes?

I batch cook this for lunches and heat up. It’s really filling. I stir in cooked prawns when I’ve reheated it, but you could add white fish or tuna or tofu I guess if you don’t eat fish. Or just have it on its own with extra green veg.

(2 servings)
Chop half a red onion and 1 aubergine
Add glug of olive oil to heated large frying pan add onion and aubergine and cook until softened. Yo can also add some dried or fresh chillis if you like spicy food
Once softened add: 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1tsp ground turmeric and 1.5tsp garam masala. Cook for a minute or two
Add a tin of drained chickpeas (or a bean/pulse of your preference), a tin of chopped tomatoes plus half a tin of water.
Season
Simmer for about an hour, checking that it’s not too dry

Can you eat eggs?

I quite like an omelette at lunchtime

or jacket potato with ratatouille or with tuna (if you're happy eating that)

I'd definitely put the effort in to learn to like rice. Make sure you're cooking it nicely so that it's not claggy then throw in some coriander (frozen or fresh) after it's cooked to make it less bland. Then you could have what I call 'student rice': fry an onion plus any veg that'll work that you happen to have and stir into rice.

Curry! There are a million different curries

I'm gluten free, and things I have for lunch are things like soup with gf oatcakes, soup (esp tomato) with rice noodles in, omelettes, jacket potato with coleslaw/sweetcorn/tuna/hummus/garlic mushrooms, rice noodles with tuna and mayo, rice salad (mix veg, peanuts, french dressing), refried beans with corn tortillas or rice.

Please see a doctor. Bloating is a sign of ovarian cancer and it's very important it's caught early. X

Roasted chickpeas? I've been eating a Greek style salad (though obviously you'd have to cut out the feta) with some chickpeas roasted in cumin and za'atar for dinner the last few days as I'm losing weight and I've found that very filling and very tasty (I normally get bored quickly).
Roasted chickpeas (cumin, za'atar, olive oil)
Cucumber
Red pepper
Red onion
Spring onion
Black olives
Lettuce
Olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
Make a big bowl of it. I also like it mixed with a bit of orzo but it depends if you can eat any pasta.

Try rice cakes with the toppings you usually have on bread.

I like them with humus or a dip of some sort, slices of cheese and or cucumber, tomato and (red or yellow) pepper

Are you able to eat Quorn?
I take it you don’t eat eggs if you are vegan…
Sweet potato toast ? Can be made, keeps for 5 days and then microwaved when needed.
Jacket spud
Vegan cheese..

Maybe you can experiment at night with different cereal and exclude only wheat as some people react to wheat only but are fine with other cereal.

For example corn is gluten free, so you could add polenta (super easy to make) and corn wraps, you will likely be fine with those. Spelt is not gluten free but low gluten, so you might be ok there too.

Nowadays you can also find pasta made with pulses and GF pasta at the supermarket (I can recommend Barilla GF spaghetti). GF bread products are, as you say , super expensive and, in my experience, not nice at all.

Also, nuts are quite filling for snacks if you are not allergic, some can even be cooked into a curry

Fried potatoes and mushrooms could work, the thought has actually made me salivate a little. I don't like omelettes, but again, I may just have to get over that.

@KittenKong I've heard of oatcakes (I'm not in the UK), are they something I can make myself at home?

I think dietician is going to be the next step to be honest, it's just so disheartening being sat here hungry every day, wanting to eat but not having anything I can eat without being uncomfortable afterwards. I'd go to a shop right now if only I knew what I could actually buy.

Be careful with the chickpeas- chickpea curry vegan- delicious but gave me a few tummy issues!

Bean salads - chickpea, tomato, avocado, cucumber, red onion. Dressing.

Scrambled eggs

Dairy free yogurt with fruit, nuts and seeds

Do you eat eggs?
Flourless muffins are good, fill them with veg
Spanish omlette
Fritatta
Bean salads - I like white bean with tuna if you eat tuna
Ready to eat pouches of rice / quinoa / lentils are good bases for salads - roast a load of veg and then stir through when needed. herbs help with flavour

Corn wraps rather than wheat based ones, heat them up for a couple of seconds in the microwave and fill with whatever you like.

Do you have a dx of anything? I wouldn't put up with it 'just because'. I have IBS D and know what I have to avoid or endure the consequences. I tend to eat soup or salad but I do eat meat and dairy which makes it a lot easier.

I’d have leftovers.

Can you make something like aubergine parmigiana or risotto and have the leftovers for lunch.

Can you eat pasta?

Baked potatoes?

Noodles?

Can add to soups, stir frys and salads if cold.

Nuts are also good and filling