To be upset about going back on the Fodmap diet

[AnnoyedALot]

I was diagnosed with a bowel disease a couple of years ago. I revisited the consultant recently to get advice on my medicine/symptoms and he has diagnosed me with IBS as well.

Worse still, he is sending me to a dietician to try the fodmap diet. I gratefully agreed as I need to get my bowel under control again.

But I have already tried this diet years ago and it was awful. Most of the stuff I should eat was out of our budget. So I ended up eating a tiny limited diet. I was so miserable.

Is there anything I can do to make it bearable or affordable this time around ?

Sounds like your palate needs re educating , apparently you need too try a good you don't like 40 times before you get to like it. I'm also on a medically restricted diet so do appreciate how you feel

Can't fry anything

I love the crisp maker that could give me a crunchy food.

Yes I will make my own bland spag bol which I can also eat with rice.

Yes, I do need to repeatedly try the food I dislike, to see if any of the grow on me.

However I stop eating food which tastes off to me. I can not afford to buy food I know I don't like and don't eat atm.

Can you guys force yourself to eat food which taste or texture is unappealing to you ? Genuine question as I can't and wondered if other people can do that.
Shame there is not a quick way of figuring out which food I would like after 40 tastes. Then I could just buy them.

Are you vegetarian or do you just not like touching meat or fish?

I'm sorry, but I don't buy the "I can't cook" excuse. Everyone can cook, provided that they can read and don't have any physical disabilities that prevents them from doing so. You just need some foolproof recipes that spell out every step. Delia smith is good for this.

I'm not having a go at you. You are looking at this negatively because you aren't feeling well. That is fine - everyone feels negative when they don't feel well.

But, you can do this. Tell yourself that you can do this. Good luck.

Maybe gradually expand your tastes. Ask people what foods taste similar to foods you already like, and get used to them, gradually move towards new textures.

I tried Dela Smith. I still can't cook.
There is another poster below who said the same. I cook a recipe it is horrible. My husband cooks the same recipe it is lovely and yes I follow the recipe carefully.

Everyone has something they are not good at and mine is cooking even when I try my best. Believe me last time I was on this diet I tried baking bread, casseroles, soups, even steamed things, sauces and everything...everything tasted off or under cooked or overcooked or just strange.

I genuinely can't cook. :(

Not a vegetarian. I will eat small amount of well cooked meat, if it is cut up small has no gristle or fat and is not on the bone and I don't have to deal with it raw.

I would not care if I never ate meat again, it isn't something I am that bothered about tbh.

I really think your dh could do more to support you. I have no idea how he allows himself to cook and enjoy lovely food while you're eating boiled rice.

I'm stunned by his selfishness tbh. I couldn't sit at a table with my husband eating rice and veg while I tuck into garlic and onions. I feel so sad for you.

I'm not suggesting he has to eat the same things as you all the time, but even if once or twice a week you got to enjoy the same meal as your family would really help I think. And then the boring meals might be more tolerable.

I do not expect DH and the kids to eat the same as me. That is just being terribly selfish. I would prefer if everyone had a nice meal including me. But if the only alternative is 5/6 having a nice meal then that is ok.

Tbh DH tried so hard he even got this foul smelling off eggs herb with a long nane starting with A to add to our food. It was meant to make up for not having onions and garlic but it just tasted weird. Even he could not make my meals nice. The Fodmap combined with my own fussy issues does not leave much choice.

Going to buy that microwave crisp maker :)

Asafoetida

Hello! I am a fellow victim follower of the FODMAP diet.

Firstly It absolutely IS boring, restrictive and demoralising at first, BUT remember the things you CAN eat. So ALL meat and fish are fine, Rice, Potatoes and Polenta are good.

Someone up-thread said lentils, but they are on the red 'no' list in my fodmap guide.

I think the herb you're talking about is Asafoetida, It's actually a very good substitute, but you need to be not too heavy handed. I used smoked paprika, and asafoetida in place of onions and garlic which were the ingredients I used to start EVERY dish with.

I'm afraid you are going to have to learn to cook from scratch a bit more. That's what I had to do too.

I suggest you learn how to make Spanish omelettes, and also Risotto. you can then add veggies and chicken or fish etc to the risotto and it will give you some variation on a theme for your tea. plus will be tasty enough that the rest of the family can eat it too. Also there is a variety of 'freezer food' which is suitable. For Example Sainsburys do frozen quarter pounder burgers which (unlike many others) don't have onion in them. Chips also ARe still do-able in the oven even without oil, and you can do sweet potato ones too.

The lack of stock powders/cubes/pots that are suitable is the hardest thing to replace in my experience. I agree that a lot of things are out of budget, I am on a limited income too, but I would suggest that the 1 thing which IS worth it and not too much more expensive it GF pasta, Sainsburys own is good.

Try not to lose too much hope OP and speak to your Dietician, you are supposed to be able to trial the different segments of the FODMAP diet to work out which types of sugars are actually affecting you specifically and so some things may come off your list for you eventually.

If you would like any particular examples of meals then PM me and I'll get back to you with whatever answers you need.

I watch a lot of cookery programmes and social media videos of cooking. These are brilliant for hints and tips and knowing what food should look like when cooked correctly.

((soupforbrains))

Can I cook an omelette with oil ? Bake it maybe.
I like Spanish omelette use to be with onions garlic and cheese. Guess it will have to be salt, potato and eggs now.

without oil.

Yes, I should watch of cooking shows and get better educated.

Yes rice and potatoes...joy.

I can alternate them as evening meals with veg and one night with mince and tomatoes and one night eggs and potatoes and one night eggs and rice.

I have never done low foodmap, so sorry if some of these are things you can't eat, but here are some easy ideas that you or husband could prepare for the whole family.
Roast potatoes (no oil) and green beans topped with fried egg
Veg/chicken stir fry with lots of ginger for flavour with rice
I think you can have tomatoes? Chicken in tomato sauce with rice or potatoes
Baked fish/chicken with lemon and herbs (if allowed?) and roast potato
Fishcakes made with tinned tuna or salmon, oats and/or poatoes, flavoured with ginger or lemon (two quite different tastes there)
Baked/steamed salmon (frozen is affordable as a treat and you can steam in microwave) with allowed veg/potato or rice
Scrambled eggs with allowed herbs

Good suggestions.

I think I am having scrambled eggs for my lunch.

I miss the toast to go with it . Will try potatoes in the eggs tomorrow.

Do you not eat any meat other than mince? What are your other sources of protein?

Protein is eggs.

Meat is expensive so we don't eat much. Usually get mince for spag bol OR casserole beef for a casserole.
Husband sometimes gets chicken for a curry.

We eat use to eat a lot of pasta and sauce but I can't eat them now.

Spanish omelette you usually start on the hob and finish under the grill. You can do it without oil, it's just a bit trickier to get out of the pan.

It doesn't have to just be salt potatoes and egg, you can add paprika, oregano and tomato too. also spinach and even grated carrot if you like. basically any veg you are allowed.

Are you specifically lactose intolerant or is the 'no dairy' in your diet because of the fodmap diet? because if it's the latter there are some things you ARE allowed.

I know it's really tough, but do try to be a little more positive thinking it will help a lot if you're more positive in your approach to things.

When will you next see your dietician?

You can still do pasta and sauce, Bisto instant cheese sauce is ok on Fodmap IIRC, and also you can use passata to make your own tomatoey sauce. just add herbs to passata and you're sorted. can also add a bit of ham if you want. GF pasta really is worth it I promise, and remember DS and DH don't have to eat the GF pasta, so you can make the slightly more expensive GF pasta last longer as it's just for you.

oh and you can make good baked fishcakes using tinned tuna and also tinned potatoes. really quite and easy and quite tasty with some veggies and a poached egg.

I can't eat cheese, milk or fat because of my bowel disease. That is on top of the Fodmap list.

So the cheese sauce is a no for the cheese and milk powder ingredients.

I had two eggs with salt and pepper still very hungry but need to save other eggs for. tea. I only eat carrots whole and cold, so that is not an option. Spinach I dislike the taste. I could add ham.

So eggs, potato, ham and salt and pepper for tea.

Then I will work down the suggestions on this thread and see if any could work and get a shopping list sorted.

I think it is a couple of months before I see the Dietician officially. Consultant told me to go on Fodmap and 'avoid other problematic foods whilst I am being referred to the dietician.

Don't eat hot tubs...Which is ashame. Wonder what I could add to tinned potatoes to bake.

Hot Tuna !