Actual recipes & menus for gastroparesis??

July 25, 2020 11:27 AM

Can anyone share recipes or menus for gastroparesis? A meeting with the dietician only produced generalities, and we're struggling to find specific ideas to plan the first few weeks/months.

There seem to be a few cookbooks, by Saltrelli and Jerris and one other author. Are they any good?

Most web sites of clinics have at most a single day's meals, and they're all the same things.

The patient I know is a little discouraged, and could use some evidence that people eat more than farina, baked chicken, and low-fat milk.

Thanks in advance!

posted by wenestvedt to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

depends on which stage the person is in, but here's what i observed someone else with this condition eating. it is a pretty bland diet and he would routinely eat the same meals over and over.

saltine crackers, low fiber cereal either hot or cold ones
meal replacement shakes (find ones without a ton of sugar)
fruit juice blended with low fat plain yogurt
fruit juice blended with fruit flavored protein powder
chocolate milk and almond butter blended with chocolate protein powder
soup...egg drop soup, blended vegetable soup, greek chicken & lemon soup, chicken or beef broth based soup with rice or pasta in it and some diced vegetables
peeled roasted vegetables like carrots/potato/onion
white bread toast with peanut butter & jam or almond butter & banana on it
egg white omelets with diced vegetables and cheese or turkey bacon. poached eggs.
white rice, mashed potato (no potato skin), rice noodles and egg noodles, sometimes tomato sauce
baked or steamed fish, baked/roasted chicken, lean sauteed ground beef, shrimp (steamed not fried/sauteed)
desserts: pudding cups, frozen yogurt, gelatin, popsicles, basically any canned fruit, angel food cake, meringue cookies
posted by zdravo at 12:57 PM on July 25, 2020

I was diagnosed with mild gastroparesis this year and am still getting it under control. Here are some foods and cooking techniques I've found useful. I have mild symptoms and like to cook too much to put up with an entirely bland diet, so YMMV.

-Powdered peanut butter (lower in fat)
-Buckwheat or millet noodles/cereal/flour (relatively low fiber and a nice change from wheat and white rice)
-Low-fat dairy products (I just found a low-fat Greek yogurt-style cream cheese!)
-Low-fat Ben & Jerry's ice cream
-Herbal teas - rooibus, Celestial Seasonings Roastarama
-Meat/meat substitutes - Eggs, chicken, turkey, tuna, tofu, seitan
-Veggies - Beets, spinach, lettuce, squash, sweet potatoes all seem pretty safe. Others, I peel and eat in small quantities.
-Fruit: I've seen canned peaches/plums recommended, I eat them fresh but remove the skin
-Flavorings: herbs and spices, small quantities of olive or toasted sesame oil (~1 tsp per meal, I use as a flavoring, not a cooking medium), small quantities of cheese (1 oz per meal), low-fat coconut milk, a splash of vinegar, salt, sugar

I try to limit fiber to 3 grams per meal and fat to ~10 grams per meal. I've also been trying to eat 5 meals a day, as large meals are what cause me the most problems.
posted by toastedcheese at 3:46 PM on July 25, 2020

This is somewhat oblique from your question, and perhaps you have already done this, but I wonder if you have consulted with a GI doc who specializes in gastroparesis? Such specialists do exist and are generally university-based research oriented, with up to date knowledge about potential treatments and advice. They also recommend dieticians who are very familiar with the condition, who might be more helpful.
posted by citygirl at 4:56 PM on July 25, 2020