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My daughter was diagnosed with UC 1 year ago and as a Mom who raised her daughter (now 17) on all the good fruits veggies etc., I hurts my heart she can't eat and enjoy all the (especially) the greens she used to consume daily.  I stand in the middle of the produce department almost in tears because there is too much fiber for her.  She literally loves all the fresh veggies and fruits and I can't give it to her.  I too don't eat all the good stuff because I won't eat salads etc in front of her.  Her  friends over the years kidded her about all the good fruits and veggies she ate.  Now she looks and feels deprived.  Any other parent/care giver dealing with this frustration, cuz I really feel alone!  And I can't help my daughter really accept this is the way it is right now.  Any response would be appreciated!!!  :)

 Reply posted for debba.

I too miss salads. I have found that cooked vegetables are ok for me. Fresh fruit doesn't bother me, but if it did, there are canned fruits that come in juice instead of heavy syrup.

 Reply posted for debba.

My 11 year old daughter was diagnosed in March.   I cried every time I went to the grocery store for about 6 months.  All I could see was what my daughter couldnt eat and it broke my heart.  Everywhere she went with friends, she ran into what she couldnt have.  I ended up finding a lot of substitutions  at specialty stores and I was lucky that her two sisters were supportive enough to eat them too.  Now we are putting a few things back in her diet to see what happens.  There is a lot she cant eat, but we try to focus on what she can eat.  She is also talking through things with a social worker who works with kids with chronic illness, and that seems to be helping.   Dont get me wrong.  Things arent perfect, but they are changing.  Some good things and some set backs.   I would give anything to have this happen to me instead of her.   Now the doctor is talking immunosuppressants and I am trying to wrap my brain around that.  As long as we focus on the non crohns parts of life, were okay.  

 Reply posted for debba.

Here is my daughter's story:  http://askcolleenbean.blogspot.com/2009/09/cure-for-ulcerative-colitis.html

After the carbs are reduced over time, hopefully she can go back to eating more greens.  I wish you both good health.

Colleen

 Reply posted for debba.

HI!

I HAVE CROHN'S AND I LOVE MY FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES AS WELL. BUT,  AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIPS TO THE ER I LEARNED FAST. I NO LONGER CAN EAT THE WAY I LOVE THEM SO. INSTEAD I STARTED EATING FROZEN GREEN BEANS/CARROTS CHOPPED VERY FINE.  THE ONLY FRESH I CAN EAT IS GRAPES... ALSO, I  WHEN I REALLY WANT OTHER FRUIT I TURN TO CAN LITE OR IN JELLO. AT, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MEAT..

I HOPE THIS HELP ... MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU..

 Reply posted for debba.

HI!

I HAVE CROHN'S AND I LOVE MY FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES AS WELL. BUT,  AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIPS TO THE ER I LEARNED FAST. I NO LONGER CAN EAT THE WAY I LOVE THEM SO. INSTEAD I STARTED EATING FROZEN GREEN BEANS/CARROTS CHOPPED VERY FINE.  THE ONLY FRESH I CAN EAT IS GRAPES... ALSO, I  WHEN I REALLY WANT OTHER FRUIT I TURN TO CAN LITE OR IN JELLO. AT, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MEAT..

I HOPE THIS HELP ... MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU..

 Reply posted for debba.

I know exaclty how you feel.   I too thought I was raising my family with only the best organic diet I could provide.  We have always enjoyed baking and cooking here at home and would much rather pack a picnic lunch and venture to a park than eat at a fast food chain.

My youngest daughter was 5 when she was diangosed with CD and it sent my world into a tailspin.   She is going to be 10 in Jan. and I think it took us a good year to actually get the low fiber/low residue diet down .

One of the biggest things she missed was her favorite....grilled chicken Caesar salad.   The dr. couldn't believe she loved it and missed it and raw veggies dipped in ranch.   That used to be a typical after school snack.

After lots of trial and error, the lifestyle change has become second nature.   My daughter can tolerate a small amount of salad, just not every night, how she would like it.  She also can tolerate small portions of fruits, so long as I peel them for her (peaches, nectarines) even some mellons.   I think the key is portion control and I always serve it with a meal.   A simple lunch is turkey sandwich on white bread, nectarine slices and Pirate Booty for a little crunch.  

Please know it takes a lot of label reading and added time, but once you get educated, it becomes a lifestyle and second nature.  

Be well.....my best to your family

Lizzies Mom

 Reply posted for debba.

Debba,
You should both read the books Breaking the Vicious Cycle and Life without Bread and look at the SCD website.

The SCD diet has made an enormous difference to my health (UC) and I  eat  green vegetables and salads (lettuce took a long time) and fruit. I mostly eat eggs, cheese, meat, chicken and fish with lots of vegetables and I just leave out, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. And I never eat  any of the more unusual carbs often used as substitutes in gluten-free diets as they seem to have even worse effects.
 
Reducing carbohydrates (rather than trying to find individual things which are good or bad) changes gut flora and makes a difference to hormone levels. It takes patience at the start and there are ups and downs as the body adjusts but it has worked for me over the last three years. My UC had got very bad by the time I started and other minor autoimmune problems had started to affect me. These have all disappeared completely.

Don't give up hope that your daughter can continue to eat a healthy diet. I thought I ate well with lots of salads, and vegetables, and very little processed food but hadn't realised how much sugar and carbohydrate I ate or the effect it was having on me. It's a really positive start that she is interested in healthy food. Lots of luck to her