Elimination Diet…Or Just Torture?

For those of you that don’t know, I see a dietitian. Having struggled with food in the past my parents thought it wise to pack me off for a dietetic consultation when I was at my most unwell. She is probably unaware of the fact that she has turned my view of food around 360°. Before becoming ill I was a ‘cochon’ (pig) and I ate pretty much whatever I wanted and stayed reasonably trim. When I say ‘what I wanted’, I really mean: chocolate, chicken nuggets, potatoes, cheddar and crisps. As a fussy eater growing up my pallet hadn’t really developed. Having said that I was the world’s only two year old, sat in my buggy, munching on parmesan and olives. So I suppose in some aspects my pallet was fairly sophisticated, it was the ‘healthy’ foods and the foods that I thought of as ‘weird’ foods (like black pudding, haddock and aubergine) that I would refuse flat out. My idea of my 5 a day was potato, potato, potato, potato and clementine…and potatoes don’t even count!

If my illness has taught me one thing its that ‘healthy’ isn’t a synonym for gross or boring.

As anyone who’s read my previous posts will know, my mother suffers from several allergies. So after years of not getting anywhere with GP’s and attempting to teach herself through ‘Dummies Guides To…’ she finally relented and paid to visit my dietitian. So that was yesterdays task…

As I picked her up from the pretty terrace house, with an amazing view of Brighton, she revealed that it was recommended that she go on an exclusion diet. I knew automatically that this would mean a trip to the supermarket so I drove her straight to Marks and Spencer’s. I was keen to ‘get to know the beast’ as I cook all of the family suppers and I became very aware that all of the meals I had planned were not going to be suitable. So…sat in the coffee shop of Marks and Spencer’s, sipping my diet coke I began to read the booklet about the ‘Exclusion Diet’, given to my mum.

Oh. My. God…

When I heard exclusion I was expecting some restrictions, no booze, no chocolate, maybe cut out citrus fruit etc. but this was ‘next level’. Not only was it going to be an expensive way of eating as the limited vegetable and grain choices didn’t lend themselves to substantial vegetarian meals- meaning more meat would be eaten- but it was going to be boring. Half way through my drink I decided to try and set out a plan for the two weeks that was accommodating and interesting. We may be eating a lot of turkey and chicken over the next fortnight but hopefully I have thought of enough ways to mix it up. I have put the list of ‘Allowed Foods’ below just so as you can see how limited it really is.

The exclusion diet isn’t an easy option; it will be hard work for my mum (I’m just thankful that I can still have a glass of vino), so you really have to think whether it’s essential for you to do- treat it as a last resort. I wont go into the ins and outs of what the Exclusion Diet is, I’m no expert so here’s a link where you can buy the pack if you want to read up: http://www.ndr-uk.org/Allergy-or-intolerance/View-all-products.html, but I will be posting recipes that fit the criteria over the next two weeks, so if you are on the Exclusion Diet or thinking of starting it I may just give you some different ideas. I think that it goes without saying: don’t start this diet without consulting a professional. It won’t be providing the right amount of nutrients that you need, hence why you can only do it for 14-21 days, so its best to check with someone in the know first!

As for tonight’s dinner…it looks like we are having a bit of an impromptu dinner party with family friends, so I am firing up the Barbie and serving BBQ’d chicken breasts, courgette and aubergine with roasted sweet potatoes and some homemade coleslaw for the ‘Non-Exclusion Dieters’.

Oh and for pudding it’s going to be Cekodok Pisang (Malaysian banana fritters) with ice cream (minus the ice cream for mum). They are simply mashed banana, rice flour, bicarbonate of soda and a little sugar all mixed up- and deep-fried in sunflower oil! YUM.

xo

Allowed foods:

Meat- all pure, none processed, no ready made burgers, sausages etc

Turkey

Chicken

Lamb

Fruit-

Banana

Peach

Blueberry

Rhubarb

Pineapple

Cranberries

Blackberries

Vegetable-

Cooked Carrot

Cooked Celery

Courgette

Parsnip

Sweet Potato

Squash

Pumpkin

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauilflower

Cucumber

Iceberg Lettuce

Cereals-

Basmati, White, Brown Rice

Rice Flour

Plain Rice Cakes

Rice Noodles/Pasta

Tapioca

Fats-

Olive and Sunflower Oil

Margarine- free from dairy, soya and preservatives

Misc.-

Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Chives and Basil

Cloves, Allspice and Star Anise

Sugar, Golden Syrup, Pure Maple Syrup

Jam or Pure Fruit Spread

Bicarbonate of Soda

Drinks-

Still or Sparkling Water

Pure Fruit Juice

Plain Rice Milk