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New 'Diet' = New Meals
Hi everyone! I'm mainly a lurker on the Nest (and mainly post in the Pets board when I do indeed take the time to post) but i'm looking for a little advice and/or some helpful suggestions.
SO was diagnosed with GERD some time ago. For those of you who know little on the disorder, it's a Gastroesophageal reflux disease that can be controlled by both the use of medication and lifestyle changes (including exercise and diet). A year ago I was diagnosed with the same disease (lucky us - we're two peas in a pod!). Heartburn is a frequent side effect (and the most common) though some experience sore throats (from the acid reflex), headaches, nausea, vomiting, bloating and other 'tender' stomach issues.
SO has still been feeling 'off'. Really tired, a lot of sinus issues and more than his fair share of heartburn. He recently went and completed allergy testing (as his mom suffers from numerous food allergies and we suspected that he may as well). Low and behold, he has a lengthy list of allergies - chicken, beef, barley, wheat, soy, dairy, chocolate and coconut. (I think that's all of them).
First and foremost - I NEVER realized how many things include soy. We've got a handful of recipes that have 'worked' for us thus far - turkey burgers (on gluten free bread or on lettuce), turkey meatloaf, various muffins (oat and quinoa flour based), green bean casseroles, etc. However, we both work an '8 to 5' job, and are in need of some 'quicker' and more convenient lunch meals as well as some 'healthy' snacks. It's nearly impossible to eat out (which is fine by us, we've never been big 'fast food' lunch people) which leaves us looking to plan filling lunches that don't end up being too heavy.
SO eats a lot of fruits/nuts as snacks, and he frequently includes salad in his day (he's a big spinach lover). Mainly, i'm looking for any outside input/suggestions 
Thanks for your time!
Re: New 'Diet' = New Meals
It seems like you mostly need to follow the Paleo diet, but cut out the chicken and beef recipes. That is a lot of restrictions for a diet. I found a lot of paleo recipes for a friend at Paleo Plan. I don't have any recipes that meet your diet plan, but hopefully you find some recipes over there. A lot of those things you listed are in almost everything.
Do you like seafood at all? The first thing that came to my mind was a shrimp taco or lettuce roll up.
I'd probably do marinated, grilled shrimp (or plain if thats more your style), a smear of guacamole, fresh salsa, some sort of rice type filler (Quinoa, or whatever fits in your dietary restrictions) cilantro, rolled up in lettuce.
You can make the shrimp, guac and the rice ahead of time. Or buy the single serve guacamole packs.
good post....I have been cutting out carbs and going high fat and need some ideas too.
Coconut oil might be out for you because of allergies.....but maybe read up about using garlic and/or aloe (raw or supplements) to help with the GERD symptoms. See what you think.
Moviegirl, that?s the conclusion I?ve come to as well! Soy is hidden in SO many unexpected places (far more than I ever would have anticipated at least). We were both huge chicken eaters (I know I could personally eat chicken for every single meal and never blink twice), but I?m doing my best to follow the same ?guidelines? as he is forced to follow (at least until I undergo my own allergy testing). I have heard of the Paleo diet, and some of the recipes we have are alterations I have found through research of the diet.
Daynarankin ? thank you! I have to admit, it is extremely challenging in both a physical and emotional aspect, but we?re coping. We keep reminding ourselves that one day when we don?t battle headaches, heartburn and nausea it will all be very worth it.
MaineWifey ? a fellow Mainer! We?ve never disliked seafood, just never gravitated to it prior to his diagnosis but the last few weeks have resulted in a lot of various fish. I never thought of a shrimp taco, but it?s a wonderful idea! (once I find taco shells he can eat, because the corn tortillas? Are disgusting at best). The lettuce idea would be perfect. I?ll have to mention this to him (as I think we have some shrimp sitting around currently). Thanks!
T1andT2 ? we have flaxseed oil at the house, as well as apple cider vinegar, which are both supposed to ?aid? in digestion issues. I?ll have to look into the garlic and aloe ? I hadn?t read up on either! SO is the one who mainly researches ?raw? supplements, as that?s more his forte than mine. I?m sure he?ll appreciate the suggestions.
Here is an article I read recently about how awesome aloe is. I remember the writer mentioning garlic too, so he might have some links in his sources. (I didn't re-read to find them, just pulled it up quick from my browsing history for you.) I like this site.....lots of 'neat' info.
All this started for me just by researching coconut oil to use as a lotion on my 3yo's crazy skin! And now I am trying to cut out sugar and carbs! (DH is starting to think I'm crazy!.....which shows how hard it is going to be to get him to eat healthier!)
http://www.naturalnews.com/021858.html
Roasting your own veggies and then puree for soups should work. We have had a lot of luck with squash and tomato soups. They dont need cream to be tasty :)and if you need liquid you could use veggie stock.
Maybe you can make some pattys with beans, veggies, and I've seen quinoa pattys too. You can top a salad with that! Or maybe do a lettuce wrap
Maybe a turkey taco like salad?
T1andT2 ? thanks so much! E-mailing the link to his work e-mail right now too (mainly so I don?t forget). People generally think we?re a little insane and also think that life is essentially ?over? due to all his allergies. We ?cheat? now and then (actually Friday night is typically our ?cheat? night, ironically enough). Luckily none of his allergies send him into a horrible fit, just give him a little extra heartburn and the sniffles. I?m shocked by how much ?better? I feel after cutting out almost all pasta/bread and sweet. I could eat bread and chocolate all day long and essentially cutting both out entirely has been challenging! In the long run, however, I know it?s a good decision for my health. I find it more tempting to cheat because I haven?t completed allergy testing yet, so since I have no idea what I?m actually allergic to I find myself occasionally ?rationalizing? that I could eat the stuff if I want to ? horrible! Hopefully SO and I share similar allergies or we really may not have many options, or we?ll be forced to eat different diets altogether.
living_insanity ? I haven?t braved attempting soups yet (though I do have a veggie broth SO can have at the house that would probably work well as an add on to one). I did turkey burgers last night, but added spinach and onion to them, as well as some chili powder ? so yummy! I also never thought of doing a bean/veggie patty of some sort, but I also have far too many beans at the house currently, so this may work perfectly to help use them up! Thanks!