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21 days gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol free

7 replies

TheDodgyEnd · 21/09/2017 09:01

I have to do a 21 day elimination diet for a number of health reasons but I'm getting pretty anxious about it, especially the no caffeine and no sugar bit. Anyone done similar and can offer some good snack choices or just motivation to get through it etc?

OP posts:
PollyPerky · 21/09/2017 09:43

With the exception of the sugar I've been all the others for 20 years! Health reasons. I have started having a small amount of Greek yoghurt lately.

You might get a withdrawal headache from the caffeine but push through it. I like camomile tea- buy the Teapigs bags, not the dust in tea bags! Or any other fruit teas. Or hot water with lemon and a slice of fresh ginger.

You can eat oats- so porridge is ok made with almond milk. Add blueberries or other fruit.

Are you allowed soya products? ie yoghurts?

Eggs for breakfast with gluten free toast.

Homemade soups- I use homemade chicken stock from a roast chicken - and make soups with carrots & sweet potatoes, or mushroom, (add almond milk), or loads of root veggies.

For snack you could try nut butters- almond is delicious. But check they are no sugar sort. Merdian are best.

Nut butters on oat cakes- yummy!

Sometimes I have apple slices spread with nut butter. Or celery sticks.

I'm not sure if your diet allows dried fruit? Very high in sugar. If it does you can snack on fruit.

If you are having loads of veg and protein with your main meals you shouldn't need to snack much anyway. if you do, those veggie crisp things are nice- the ones made from parsnips, beetroot etc.

Good luck!

TheDodgyEnd · 21/09/2017 10:05

Thank you so much that's so helpful! I guess as my knowledge improves it'll be less daunting. 20 years is incredible. I'm in awe - and feel a bit pathetic being nervous about starting with 21 days x

OP posts:
MrsLorimerlives · 21/09/2017 10:19

I'm doing the same as part of the whole life challenge at present, I've chosen to limit dairy as well which is working well for me
its about cooking meals from scratch I've found - so many ready made things have sugar in them.
So for today - I've had a 2 egg spinach and bacon omlette for breakfast
I've got an apple for my morning snack
lunch will be an avacado mashed up with some hummus with a pile of raw carrots, baby corn, celery and some tomatoes
dinner tonight will be roast chicken with lots of veg.
I'm drinking cinnamon tea today from T2, most days its mint or decaf with lemon and 2 litres of water a day (this isnt that hard, helps with the detox element and its better with a lump of cucumber or lemon in it)

I'm drinking fizzy water instead of alcohol (fruit juice is so sweet I'm finding it hard to drink) you could have dried fruit/raw cacao energy balls (not the Ella ones, they are awful) if you need something sweet & filling.

the headache from no caffeine and no sugar is a bugger, mine lasted for three days but I was drinking three pots of tea a day, once that is gone you will have a clear head and I'm finding I'm thinking better and my work rate has improved! I'm sleeping so much better too - a regular 7 hours a night where I used to get about 4, fewer spots

the first week is tough, it gets much much better I promise

PollyPerky · 21/09/2017 10:32

Also don't forget there is pasta made from corn or rice. I'd not bother buying loads of gluten free stuff because it all has sugar in (snacks etc) and isn't that healthy.

I know you want to avoid sugar and I do anyway as much as possible, but if after your detox you want a 'treat' I make cakes etc with gluten free flour and reduce the sugar as well in the recipe. I make a crumble topping with oats, butter, walnuts, ground almonds and a tiny amount of sugar whizzed up in a food processor.

I do have some dairy now but use lactose free milk , lactose free cheese and Greek yoghurt (which is supposedly very low lactose.)

Today I've had an egg and gluten free toast, lunch will be cauliflower and kale soup (bought and it does have dairy in it) and an apple, and tonight it's a salmon fillet with a big salad, fruit and yoghurt.

TheDodgyEnd · 21/09/2017 12:18

Fantastic thank you! I've noted all this down so it'll really help me xx

OP posts:
TlentifiniMaarhaysu · 22/09/2017 09:47

I'd recommend cutting down the caffeine slowly before you start the elimination diet, especially if you're a daily coffee drinker (as I am). I've gone cold turkey before and felt extremely unwell - so much so that I thought I had some kind of bug.

TheDodgyEnd · 22/09/2017 10:38

@TlentifiniMaarhaysu Noted! Thank you 😊

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