Lunch foods.

[Mrs.HMBucks]

Hi Everyone.
Im new here and just diagnosed with mild IC yesterday via hydro+cystos. My uro-gyn says it's very mild but I still feel a constant need to pee all the time and pressure, which is not fun.

I have suspected that it was IC for some time and my uro-gyn had already started me on Amitriptaline and I have already been making a small start on diet changes: I cut out tea and coffee and just drink redbush tea now (and water). Also I have porridge for breakfast made just with oats and water with some blueberries on top. But what I am struggling with most is lunch.

I'm a student and so I take a packed lunch in to the library with me each day. Can anyone suggest something I could make up in the morning and have for my lunch? Usually I have a bagel filled with cheese and ham...but i'm thinking that maybe this isn't very IC friendly?

Can you all tell me the sorts of things you have for your lunch? It would be really helpful.

Much love,

Hannah.

[ICNDonna]

You might want to stop the ham for a while to see if that helps. I don't really care much for bagels so I usually just have a plain white bread sandwich. I also like string cheese and crackers. Packing a lunch can be a challenge.

Good luck!
Donna

[Mothergoose]

Cook some chicken breats a head of time and take them for lunch, for that matter cook up any meat and slice it up for sanwhiches, then you know there are no preservatives in it.

Hardboiled eggs

[irfran]

Hormel deli in the refrigerated section has no preservatives in it. They come in a rectangular plactic container. I've tried the ham and I think there is also turkey.

Have you checked out the IC diet? There is a link at the bottom of ICDonna's reply.

Don't despair, you will get the hang of this diet.

[Faithc]

MotherG is right... I make fish, beef or chicken ahead of time and warm up IC friendly flour tortillas, which i stuff with IC veggies, rice and meat and homemade bean paste and taaaa-daaaaa! You have a sandwich!!! That and some homemade tater wedges and Iced peppermint tea and your good to go!!!! Hope that helps!!! Faith.

[Mrs.HMBucks]

Thanks everyone. Some really good suggestions. I was thinking of making pitta bread with cream cheese inside and some avocado and spinach. I looked them all up on the food list here and they are all in the 'safe' list...
Keep the suggestions coming!!
Hannah xx

[irfran]

You might want to purchase cream cheese in the block form. The cream cheese in the tubs had added ingredients. I think it is ascorbic acid or some other acid.

[Mrs.HMBucks]

Do you know if you can buy that in the UK?

[Mothergoose]

In the US and Canada the cream cheese is sold in a soft block form, in a tube that is soft and spreadable, and in a whipped form in a tub, just look for the cream cheese with the least amount of additives to it.

[Mrs.HMBucks]

Hi Everyone.
Just to update I made myself a salad to bring in today with Quinoa, cucumber, spinach and avocado. Hopefully all IC friendly? I also brought a banana and some rice cakes for snacks.
Hopefully I see the different with the diet soon if I continue in this way..
Hannah.

[Julie B]

Do you also have the little one serving cottage cheese or can you pack that in a little container?

[Mrs.HMBucks]

Im not really a massive fan of cottage cheese...I did think about cream cheese as above but was put off a bit by possible additives which might be added to it..

[carole]

boy there are so many things you can take for lunch. Here are some of my favorites. Not sure if you have access to a fridge or microwave.

Wraps: make with chicken veggies cheese and you can add one my of salad dressing recipes posted here as a sauce.

cold Plate: I do harb boiled eggs,cheese,cut up veggies,crackers

Pasta: you can do a quick pasta with garlic butter sauce,veggies and chicken or shrimp. I have also brought lasagna made with nomato sauce.

Sandwiches:made of peppers,cheese and cucumber. I love this. You could also do tuna,egg salad or chicken salad(these are also nice with crackers instead of bread). I've posted recipe here for chicken salad. You can just add any one of my salad dressing recipes to the above instead of mayo.

Quiche: Let me know if you need an IC friendly recipe

Salads: there are many variation of course. They would be nice with tuna,egg or chicken salad on top.

Dips and pita bread: There are recipes for dips posted here.

Soup and crackers

Sheppherd's pie.

I could go on and on but I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more ideas.

[Mrs.HMBucks]

I've been having a Quinoa salad most days with IC veggies; avocado, spinach, cucumber, carrots, cashew nuts.

Where are your recipes for salad dressings? I would love to try some of those...

Hannah x

[carole]

Hannah they are posted under IC diet then IC diet recipes then sauces,marinades and dressings. Let me know if you are having a difficult time finding them

[Briza]

MrsBucks
If you like vegetarian/vegan options here are some ideas:

Microwave some white or sweet potatoes in the morning and keep warm in a thermos til lunchtime, plus a salad or veggie sticks.

Homemade hummus (without lemon juice) on pita or bread with veggies and homemade tabouleh and or baba ganouj (no lemon, no tomato, be careful w/ the garlic).

Any kind of IC safe homemade soup, beans, or split peas (a thermos is a good investment!)

Here's an awesome recipe for collard green wraps that are easy to make and keep well, just leave out the lemon juice. I've also made these with hummus in lieu of the sunflower pate:
http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/01/collard-wraps-with-raw-sunflower-pate.html

sliced sweet apple (red delicious?) and brown rice cake with almond butter & ground flax

Corn or flower tortillas with beans and avocado (if using canned beans check the ingredients for offensive ingredients, always drain and rinse before eating)

steamed veggies and brown rice (keep warm in thermos)

For salad dressings try using pear or diluted blueberry juice in lieu of vinegar. For an oil free dressing try one of those juices with chia seeds (when chia seeds soak, they create a gel that helps the dressing stick to the lettuce ;) It's amazing!)



Hope these ideas help :)

[tinachen]

I think the lunch food is so vital that we must pay attentions to it. We can prepare some fish and meat as well as vegetables and eggs. But i don't like to eat meat. I feel the soup is very healthy in summer. After lunch, we can eat some fruit. Maybe different people have different ideas.

[MelissaJ]

Fantastic ideas so far! Do you have access to a microwave? If so then taking leftovers from dinner might be an option. That's what I usually take for lunch.

[stanley's mama]

I have been buying lots of different veggies to snack on and eat in a salad: baby carrots, snap peas, sweet peppers, cucumbers, and lettuces.
Sweet apples and bananas.
For protein, string cheese, Boar's Head meats, poached chicken breast, and hardboiled eggs.
You could also make IC friendly soup (chicken, veggie, etc.) and carry it in a Thermos.

[Karbear2012]

Hi Everyone, I Was Recently Diagnosed With Severe IC, And I'm Having The Hardest Time Finding Quick Lunch Ideas I Can Make In The Morning Before My Husband And I Head To Work. I Cant Eat Mayo, Or Pickles Or Any Condiments Like That, So I Dont Know What Is Avaliable To Eat. Any Ideas???

[carole]

Read the previous posts to this thread lots of ideas there. Check the IC diet section of this forum lots of ideas there also. Good luck and if you need further help just private message me and I can help.