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Elimination Diet: Week 1 in Review

SS Elimination diet week 1

It’s been a week. I’m still doing the Elimination diet. This week has had its ups and downs. I still haven’t felt awesome, but I am guessing my body is detoxing a bit or my body just hates me…or both. Hopefully this week my symptoms will lessen or go away. I have found plenty of food that I can eat, however let’s just say I have a lot of things over rice or quinoa. There is nothing wrong with rice or quinoa, but I have a feeling it will get old. I haven’t done much meal planning, just go with the flow–which I feel I would have a bit more variety if I meal planned better. Maybe timing will work out better this week…

I have ate some delicious food and made some food that has been surprisingly tasty. One huge struggle I have had is seasoning. Most spice blends have some kind of pepper in it, whether it be red bell pepper to a spicy pepper. I am also avoiding black pepper–so that takes out every spice blend. I just season to taste, which I do a lot in my cooking when I have a bit more time–I just like to use spice blends when I am short on time. 

Other challenges I have faced is breakfast. I can’t do eggs. I can’t do cereal or oatmeal…and frankly, that is usually what I have for breakfast. I am having a lot of chia pudding with fruit for breakfast, since it really is just chia seeds and nut milk. My other go-to breakfast item is smoothies…and a lot of them. I am making them with rice protein. I don’t love the rice protein powder I got, but I am just going to go with it and hope I can go back to the whey protein I like when I can reintroduce foods. I do know of some good plant-based protein powders, but they are pricer than the rice protein I have. Since I am spending more on food with this elimination diet, I am trying to cut costs where I can. Oh…other hard part about breakfast, NO COFFEE. Yeah, it is sad. I miss that delicious hot cup in the morning. Although I haven’t fallen asleep at work or anything, so I suppose I am doing just fine.

I have decided I now love almond butter, which was not the case a month ago. I have gone through a whole jar of almond butter in less than a week, between having it with apples or rice/nut crackers. It is definitely my go to snack. I think I have ate more almond butter this week than I have in the past year.

I have even had dessert this week: Avocado Chocolate Mousse. It may sound weird, but it is delicious and way healthier than regular chocolate mousse. I will be sure to post the recipe later this week.

Some food highlights of my week: Basil Kale Pesto with Rice Pasta and Roasted Chicken, Salmon over Quinoa with Brussel Sprouts, and Mexican chicken with Black Beans and Avocado over White Rice. (Side note: the “Mexican” chicken was a challenge with out peppers, but I just spiced it with garlic, onion, cumin and oregano.)

elim diet week 1 food

Everything is made from scratch, as I have to to avoid the foods I can’t eat. I do typically cook most of the food I eat from scratch as I like to know exactly what is in my foods, so it really isn’t a big deal. However, I do like my occasionally protein/granola bar or cereal, but I am probably much better off only eating foods from scratch.

Saddest part of the week: The Packers unfortunate loss. That’s all I’m going to say. I did however make Asian Turkey Lettuce wraps for the game. While I missed the cheese and beer (GF, of course), the wraps were tasty.

packers food

This photo was taken during the first quarter…not the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. See I am happy…not sad.

All in all though, this week went fairly well. Two more weeks until I can start reintroducing foods!

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Elimination Diet: Day 1

It’s been awhile for Amy and I, between her travels, both of us being crazy busy at work, and the holidays…let’s just say it has been busy. Look out for lots of stuff to come, especially on this new elimination diet I am on.

In the past few months, my food reactions have gotten worse. I am already on a gluten-free diet, but that is not seeming to be enough at this point–plus I overall eat pretty healthy. I eat whole foods, my veggies, and all that jazz–but I am obviously reacting to something. I have been getting terrible stomach aches, nausea, bloating, my skin hating me and more–fun stuff, huh?! 

I have been contemplating doing an elimination diet or something similar, but I wanted to check in with my doctor. After seeing my doctor, who focuses on holistic medicine, she also agreed this would be a good first step. She gave me a ton of great info to set me on the right path.

While an elimination diet may not be the most fun, if it will help me feel better and heal my gut, I’m in. Plus, I would much rather find out what foods may be an issue for me and not eat them, than have to take medicine to feel alright when I eat. I also work in the natural food industry and over time have learned a lot about whole foods and nutrition, so it seems less scary–which is good.

I will write another post about what an elimination diet all entails, but here it is in a nut shell. No soy, dairy, gluten, eggs, peanuts, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, corn, nightshade vegetables, red meat, citrus and any other foods you know or think you may be reacting too. The only food I am really adding on to this is oats, as some people what have a gluten intolerance sometimes have issues with oats. So that is a good amount of foods I can’t eat…and I am most freaking out about the caffeine and dairy…I mean I am from Wisconsin, so cheese 🙁 However, I can eat A LOT of food — from rice and quinoa to chicken, lots of fruits and veggies, most nuts and more. So, I do have options. I think the biggest part to the success of this is planning and having a positive outlook–which really is two key pieces to be successful in anything.

SS Elimination diet-day

Day 1 went well. Here is what I ate today:

  • Breakfast: Plant-based Protein smoothie
  • Snack: Banana and Cold-pressed juice (with no citrus)
  • Lunch: Rice and Vegetable Coconut curry
  • Dinner: Rice, Collards and Salmon 
  • Snack: Almond Butter and an apple
  • Beverages: Water, Herbal Tea, La Croix