any ideas or recipes for a low fiber thanksgiving meal
Thu, November 19, 2009 5:55 PM
Hi....My 24 yr old is in the middle of the diagnostic process for IBD (has had blood work, CT scan, no colonscopy yet) ...seems probable that he does have IBD. Anyway, I am scouring the internet for low fiber/low residue recipes for Thanksgiving. I figured that I'd let him explore the SCD plan, himself, since that involves a lifestyle change. I think that I've got turkey, potatoes, and stuffing figured out. Has anyone figured out ways to adapt string bean casserole? Has anyone made a great desert that doesn't send one running to the bathroom? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
lorraineJoined Nov 4, 2009
Tue, November 24, 2009 1:17 PM
Reply posted for Titan1.
well....the makeshift rice pudding is in the oven (white rice, soy and almond milks-almond tooooo dry, eggs, canned peaches, sugar, and cinnamon...) . I have no clue as to how it will turn out, but if he handles it well, it has plenty of good nutrition. I am trying an adapted sweet potato trial-carrots, regular potatoes, maple syrup, and cinnamon...again, no clue. My girls are demanding cranberry sauce, so I asked my husband to pick up cheesecloth. I have no idea as to whether these things will help him feel any better--I will post here. If they do, maybe others will benefit from these ideas. The sad thing is, is that he is a very creative cook, as I am. He is a kid who could have easily become a chef. Kind of a bittersweet thing, isn't it?
lorraineJoined Nov 4, 2009
Mon, November 23, 2009 1:00 AM
Reply posted for lorraine.
If your son's not in a flare I wouldn't worry at all. If one stays on a low residue diet or shall I say too low for too long then there can be other problems as there isn't enough bulk to move food through the system.
I can't say about milk as I have a lactose intolerance and can only drink about 1/2 cup of 100% lactose free milk a day. I also have trouble with milk protein so I don't eat anything creamed.
Cranberry sauce probably wouldn't be a problem but then again your son will have to judge how he feels and what will agrees with him. While in a bad flare, nothing seems to sit well, it's barely enough to keep hydrated ( I use Enlive which at least has some calories).
I don't know if you've discussed this with him but that's ultimately the best route. He may not know yet what really bothers him if anything but asking never hurts. An honest, open question now and again is the only way you'll know. Depending where he is in the process of dealing with his disease and his personality will determine how he responds.
What I would remember is that if and when he has a flare not matter what you provided him with as far as food you didn't cause it. Right now no one knows what causes a true flare. Food may aggravate it as the food has to pass through an inflamed, raw, possibly ulcerated tube, but as far as known one food or food group isn't the cause. It's important early on not to get into any blame game on either end,
Just a thought from an old Crohnie
Joined Sep 1, 2008
Sun, November 22, 2009 8:28 PM
Reply posted for Titan1.
Thanks...I had so much fun going down the supermarket aisles reading labels today. I found that the low fat cream of mushroom soup is one gram of fiber vs 2. Canned string beans are 2 gr of fiber vs 3. The big discovery was that the canned onion rings are 0 gr of fiber. Of course, we have both lactaid and soy milks ready to use. I'm not using celery in my filling. My girls are nagging me for my cranberry sauce, so I was wondering if it would be a problem for him if I would use a cheesecloth to strain the skins and seeds. Do you know? I'm also think that rice pudding would be a good desert, as well. Guess the rest of the family will have to deal with it, huh?
lorraineJoined Nov 4, 2009
Sun, November 22, 2009 1:00 AM
Reply posted for lorraine.
Just as an aside. If your son is in remission he can probably eat anything. We all have our food sensitivities so he should be encouraged to keep a food diary so he knows what bothers him. Some guts are more fussy then others and often it takes a while to learn what bothers you. I don't tolerate fructose very well so for me sodas and even fresh fruit are troublesome. My body digests beef, poultry and fish well, but not grains all that well. It's a learning curve to be sure. It may be that your bean casserole would be just fine, unless he's in a flare. You're certainly think of him at every step, he's lucky to have you.
In general the low fiber/low residue diets are recommended during flares as the inflammation narrows the intestine and makes food more difficult to go through. Some people are more prone to obstructions, some to strictures, some to fissures, abscesses etc.. and some folks have pain and other symptoms but don't reach the point where anything other then medication is needed. It will take a while for your son to figure out where he is on the spectrum and what bothers him and what not. It's a process.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, hopefully your son will be in remission and can eat to his hearts content!
Joined Sep 1, 2008
Fri, November 20, 2009 2:05 PM
Reply posted for Titan1.
Thanks so much...we're not big gravy people....the one thing I didn't know is if there was a good way to adapt the old string bean casserole, but I may just give it up. I hate seeing my son in pain and running to the bathroom.
lorraineJoined Nov 4, 2009
Fri, November 20, 2009 1:36 PM
Reply posted for lorraine.
A low residue diet is more restrictive then low fiber but they are pretty close. Since it's not a good idea to "stuff" oneself when eating I tend to eat a relatively small amount even during holidays- although if I feel good two hours after eating I will take a bit more if I'm still hungry.
Turkey with potato (rice even better) and cooked vegetables should be fine and having a whole lot of "extra" dishes may be tempting and make him want to over eat. The simpler the better I think. When I'm on my low fiber/residue diet I eat cooked carrots for example and stay away from the cooked green beans and the like.
Personally staying away from sauces and gravies, nuts, seed, corn and for me any amount of lettuce are musts. Each person is a different. As I say not eating to the point of feeling "stuffed" is the best course, not always easy to do with tempting foods around. On low residue I stay away from squash as well, but others may not be bothered.
Joined Sep 1, 2008
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