Then came the debilitating stomach pain and the effective, but terribly limiting FODMAP diet. Apparently, I do not have enough sugar receptors in my gut any longer to digest my food properly. FODMAP is supposed to be short term, but I have not been able to successfully reintroduce anything on a regular basis.
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/diy-low-fodmap-diet/
Coupled with multiple severe good allergies and reflux, this makes dining out much more of a challenge. Locally owned restaurants have been great to cater to me, but I get very tired of grilled chicken, hamburger patties, potatoes, eggs, and cheese which now make up the bulk of my diet.
So, I am learning how to cook things that I can have. Fortunately, gluten-free foods are becoming more popular and I have been able to find everything from gluten-free pancake mix to gluten-free pizza crust that actually taste good. Coconut milk is working well with most recipes. I am stuffing my own twice baked potatoes. I have found some wonderful gluten-free pasta and have experimented with sauces. I have found alternatives to the garlic and onions I miss so much.
I'll never be Julia Child. But, it is nice to get a bit more variety in my diet.
Sometimes I can even coax friends over to come eat with me.
Bon Appetite!
