Meal ideas for Acid Reflux

bigmaz

Hi guys

I have been diagnosed with Hiatus Hernia, the DR who done the Endoscopy said my Oesophagus is badly enflamed by stomach acid.

For 8 weeks, I have to stay on a strict diet that will calm the acid and give time for the Oesophagus to heal. But I am really struggling with meal ideas.

A list of foods that I have to avoid:

Citrus foods, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, and orange juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and lemonade
Chocolate
Fatty and fried foods, such as fried chicken and fatty cuts of meat
Garlic and onions
Spicy food
Peppermint and spearmint
Tomato-based foods such as spaghetti sauce, pizza, chili, salsa, and tomato juice
Coffee, tea (including decaffeinated versions), and alcohol
Carbonated beverages
Dairy products, such as whole milk, ice cream, and creamed food. Try soy milk; it may be a good milk substitute. Also, mild cheeses, like feta or goat, may be enjoyed in moderation.
Oil and butter

A list of food that I can eat:

Bananas and apples
Green beans, peas, carrots, and broccoli
Grains, like cereals (bran and oatmeal), bread, rice, pasta, and crackers
Low-fat or skim milk and low-fat yogurt
Egg whites and egg substitutes
Fat-free cheeses, cream cheese, and fat-free sour cream
Lean meat, chicken, and fish
Water
Pretzels, graham crackers, rice cakes, and baked potato chips
Low-fat sweets (no chocolate or mint)

Anyone got ideas of different meals/lunches I could do with these restrictions? I am so unimaginative. Some inspiration would be great

Thank you

evie451

Sorry to hear of the health issues Big Maz......and this list would present a bit of a problem for me as 75% of my meals start off with onions and a can of chopped toms! however!

I would try Risotto, I usually make one with mushrooms and bacon with a chicken/white wine stock but you could sub out the bacon and wine as I have done on occasions and add in chicken with a splash of white wine vinegar in the stock instead....I like mine with a lot of peas so that would give you some veg off the good list. A spoonful of cream cheese is great stirred into risotto at the end and I see that on the list too

I think Paella might work as long as you find something acceptably low fat to fry with, again a version with fish or chicken would be fine...you could put a bit of smoked paprika in the one I get isnt spicy.....

I would try a white pasta sauce which I do in a bake with chicken and broccoli.......its a basic white sauce which you could do with something more low fat + chicken stock, I do add some wine but a splash of white wine vinegar would probably be similar in flavour......I have also just done this in the past with cream cheese instead of stock depending on what kind of things you like....

egg white omlettes are nice although a seriously non stick pan is required if using no/little oil and Bulgur Wheat is really nice for a change from rice, its low fat and tasty made up with a stock cube in the water...

sorry its just a couple of ideas I was looking at the list and thinking what I would do if you were coming to mine for tea

bigmaz

evie451 wrote: »

Sorry to hear of the health issues Big Maz......and this list would present a bit of a problem for me as 75% of my meals start off with onions and a can of chopped toms! however!

I would try Risotto, I usually make one with mushrooms and bacon with a chicken/white wine stock but you could sub out the bacon and wine as I have done on occasions and add in chicken with a splash of white wine vinegar in the stock instead....I like mine with a lot of peas so that would give you some veg off the good list. A spoonful of cream cheese is great stirred into risotto at the end and I see that on the list too

I think Paella might work as long as you find something acceptably low fat to fry with, again a version with fish or chicken would be fine...you could put a bit of smoked paprika in the one I get isnt spicy.....

I would try a white pasta sauce which I do in a bake with chicken and broccoli.......its a basic white sauce which you could do with something more low fat + chicken stock, I do add some wine but a splash of white wine vinegar would probably be similar in flavour......I have also just done this in the past with cream cheese instead of stock depending on what kind of things you like....

egg white omlettes are nice although a seriously non stick pan is required if using no/little oil and Bulgur Wheat is really nice for a change from rice, its low fat and tasty made up with a stock cube in the water...

sorry its just a couple of ideas I was looking at the list and thinking what I would do if you were coming to mine for tea

Thanks so much for this advice, really good of you to take the time to write it. I was told no vinager as well, not sure if white wine vinager is different from normal vinager?

It really is limited what I can make eh? Like you, most of my meals begin with onions, tomatos and garlic

Its a total lifestyle change.

TBH I am dying for a curry and a pint, haha!! Gonna be a long 8 weeks. I have already spent 1 and half weeks of no eating, only the past couple of days I have actually been able to eat.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi, I`ve been in the same `what on earth to cook` dilemma a few months ago when OH was diagnosed with a HH.
OK, we don`t have much fried or fatty food anyway, but OH LOVES his curries and was quite upset to be told `no spicy food`.
It puzzled us, because before his diagnosis he used to get heartburn with a simple salad, yet not with a home made curry and a salad side dish. So, I looked up all the spices I use, and I experimented with my new information.
Ginger (fresh), coriander (fresh, whole seeds & ground seeds), and fennel(seeds and fresh bulb) are all used as medicinal foods and tummy pacifiers in herbal and traditional use in cooking. I found onions and leeks upset OH`s tum but a bit of garlic he could get away with if there was fresh ginger or fresh coriander in the mix.
I started using chopped sweet potato and sometimes fresh fennel as the base for a HM curry instead of onions and tomatoes. We`ve had some lovely curries with no ill effects, it`s just a case of trying a little at a time and see what suits you.
One big change we`ve had to stick to though, is not trying to sleep lying flat, all the spare pillows are now in use.
Hope it settles down soon for you.

Butterfly_Brain

I have a HH as well.
I can eat a korma curry or Chinese meal and I am ok but any smoked meat or fish cripples me.

Have they put you on any tablets?

I am on lansoprazole 15mg and I have been on them for nearly two years, I have tried to come off them but the GORD always comes back with a vengance

bigmaz

Emm-in-a-pickle wrote: »

Hi, I`ve been in the same `what on earth to cook` dilemma a few months ago when OH was diagnosed with a HH.
OK, we don`t have much fried or fatty food anyway, but OH LOVES his curries and was quite upset to be told `no spicy food`.
It puzzled us, because before his diagnosis he used to get heartburn with a simple salad, yet not with a home made curry and a salad side dish. So, I looked up all the spices I use, and I experimented with my new information.
Ginger (fresh), coriander (fresh, whole seeds & ground seeds), and fennel(seeds and fresh bulb) are all used as medicinal foods and tummy pacifiers in herbal and traditional use in cooking. I found onions and leeks upset OH`s tum but a bit of garlic he could get away with if there was fresh ginger or fresh coriander in the mix.
I started using chopped sweet potato and sometimes fresh fennel as the base for a HM curry instead of onions and tomatoes. We`ve had some lovely curries with no ill effects, it`s just a case of trying a little at a time and see what suits you.
One big change we`ve had to stick to though, is not trying to sleep lying flat, all the spare pillows are now in use.
Hope it settles down soon for you.

Thanks for this, good to see someone else has managed to get through this. Haha, I am the same, I have all the pillows on my side, to lie as vertical as possible.

So how would you make a HM curry with the stuff that you mentioned? Or is it too much to type it out?

evie451

Hi Big Maz, your list of ok foods would definitely be a test for my culinary skills! I would be with you on the curry and pint craving...

White wine vinegar is milder than the ordinary and if its only a tsp/capful? dunno but I have left it out altogether sometimes so it might be a case of just give it a go?

when they said nothing spicy did they mean actual chilli type heat could you get away with cumin etc? I ask cos I made carrot soup a lot better by roasting the carrots a bit first with some cumin and you might get away with the lack of onion!.......Jack Monroe also does a yellow split pea soup with yoghurt and cumin which can be used as a pasta sauce....she uses onion and garlic but leave them out and see how it goes

bigmaz

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I have a HH as well.
I can eat a korma curry or Chinese meal and I am ok but any smoked meat or fish cripples me.

Have they put you on any tablets?

I am on lansoprazole 15mg and I have been on them for nearly two years, I have tried to come off them but the GORD always comes back with a vengance

Hopefully after the 8 weeks I will be able to have Korma and chinese, but for these 8 weeks, she said I have to be strict as my Oesophagus is so badly enflamed it needs the time to heal.

I was put onto Lansoprazole 30mg before I was diagnosed with HH. I have been put onto another drug, as soon as she seen it she said "we are going to have to change your medication". Cannot remember what its called.

Sounds like its something I am going to have to live with, like yourself.

atolaas

Try using Fry Light instead of oil when frying. It will minimise the amount of fat you use for cooking. Not cheap but a bottle last me 3/4 months and I use it at least once a day.

bigmaz

evie451 wrote: »

Hi Big Maz, your list of ok foods would definitely be a test for my culinary skills! I would be with you on the curry and pint craving...

White wine vinegar is milder than the ordinary and if its only a tsp/capful? dunno but I have left it out altogether sometimes so it might be a case of just give it a go?

when they said nothing spicy did they mean actual chilli type heat could you get away with cumin etc? I ask cos I made carrot soup a lot better by roasting the carrots a bit first with some cumin and you might get away with the lack of onion!.......Jack Monroe also does a yellow split pea soup with yoghurt and cumin which can be used as a pasta sauce....she uses onion and garlic but leave them out and see how it goes

Not sure about cumin. Will have to check that out. Great idea for using the soup as a pasta sauce

Also might try out the white wine vinager.

Man, my OH had an indian take away at the weekend. I could stay in the same room, lol.

evie451

I think this is the same thing my MIL has now I see Butterfly Brains post and she can definitely manage my homemade Korma which I do with semi skimmed milk and some yoghurt for her (not the usual double cream!) but hers is now in the controlled with pills category........so heres hoping that once you have healed its Nan bread here we come although maybe not the spicy onions and chutney!

Butterfly my MIL didnt realise how reliant she is on those pills until she ran out at one point within 24hrs it was back as bad as ever...