Easy-to-digest, tasty smoothies
October 9, 2013 11:44 AM Subscribe
My wife seems to be on the leading edge of a particularly intense Crohn's disease flare-up, and is trying to manage it in part by drinking more of her meals. In order to keep this palatable and painless for her, I'm trying to put together a menu of smoothies and suchlike that will be filling, reasonably nutritious and digestion-friendly. Difficulty level: no dairy or fresh vegetables.
In general, milk, uncooked vegetables and high-fiber fruits - for instance fresh strawberries - are triggers for the Crohn's and thus right out. Almond milk is fine as a base, pure vegetable juice, as well as veggies that have been cooked into mushiness, are OK (carrots are a particular favorite). Sadly, I have no firsthand experience on combining these things into a drink, so I'm turning to the hivemind for recipes.
In particular, I'm a bit stumped on how to thicken the mixture when using thin ingredients. Bananas do the trick, vegetable puree would probably work too, but I don't want to shoehorn one or the other into every recipe, and the go-to flavor-neutral thickener seems to be unflavored yogurt.
I'm trying to keep enough options on hand that breakfast won't get monotonous; I've worked out through trial and error a good banana-chocolate-cinnamon mixture, and there are requests for (a) something with peanut butter; and (b) a vegetable-juice-based drink that's slightly spicy. For that last one I'm picturing V8 blended with boiled-to-death carrots to thicken it, but that may not work as well as I'm picturing.
Thanks for any help people can offer.
In general, milk, uncooked vegetables and high-fiber fruits - for instance fresh strawberries - are triggers for the Crohn's and thus right out. Almond milk is fine as a base, pure vegetable juice, as well as veggies that have been cooked into mushiness, are OK (carrots are a particular favorite). Sadly, I have no firsthand experience on combining these things into a drink, so I'm turning to the hivemind for recipes.
In particular, I'm a bit stumped on how to thicken the mixture when using thin ingredients. Bananas do the trick, vegetable puree would probably work too, but I don't want to shoehorn one or the other into every recipe, and the go-to flavor-neutral thickener seems to be unflavored yogurt.
I'm trying to keep enough options on hand that breakfast won't get monotonous; I've worked out through trial and error a good banana-chocolate-cinnamon mixture, and there are requests for (a) something with peanut butter; and (b) a vegetable-juice-based drink that's slightly spicy. For that last one I'm picturing V8 blended with boiled-to-death carrots to thicken it, but that may not work as well as I'm picturing.
Thanks for any help people can offer.
I've never used them before, but lots of people love chia seeds for thickening smoothies, etc.
posted by hungrybruno at 11:50 AM on October 9, 2013
posted by hungrybruno at 11:50 AM on October 9, 2013
Are avocadoes okay? They are more fat than fiber. When you whirl one in the blender it emulsifies and thickens things like crazy. Half an avocado and juice to make 20 oz fills 2 glasses with something satisfyingly thick and clingy. I've had sweet/fruity avocado smoothies, but I bet it would be great in your spicy-veg option (like a thin guacamole? or avocado slices on top of gaspacho)
Another option is freezing one of the ingredients (mango cubes, banana chunks, cubes of pureed squash/carrot/etc.) so that the final smoothie is slushy/icy, thus thicker.
You can substitute silken tofu for yogurt but I don't know what that does to texture.
posted by aimedwander at 11:54 AM on October 9, 2013
Another option is freezing one of the ingredients (mango cubes, banana chunks, cubes of pureed squash/carrot/etc.) so that the final smoothie is slushy/icy, thus thicker.
You can substitute silken tofu for yogurt but I don't know what that does to texture.
posted by aimedwander at 11:54 AM on October 9, 2013
What about coconut milk as a base? It's a lot thicker than almond milk and has significantly more calories, too.
posted by oinopaponton at 12:04 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by oinopaponton at 12:04 PM on October 9, 2013
I was going to say Coconut CREAM! When I go no dairy, it's what's in my coffee.
There are coconut cream based frozen treats, which would make excellent smoothie bases! (Did you see the peanut butter flavored one?)
Pureed cooked veggies in chicken broth might make a nice, filling soup.
Jamaican Carrot Juice, replacing the sweetened condensed milk with coconut cream and some sweetener (whatever works) would be delicious too!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:17 PM on October 9, 2013
There are coconut cream based frozen treats, which would make excellent smoothie bases! (Did you see the peanut butter flavored one?)
Pureed cooked veggies in chicken broth might make a nice, filling soup.
Jamaican Carrot Juice, replacing the sweetened condensed milk with coconut cream and some sweetener (whatever works) would be delicious too!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:17 PM on October 9, 2013
What about using a thickener like xanthan gum or a product like Thick-It to reach the desired consistency?
posted by PorcineWithMe at 12:21 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by PorcineWithMe at 12:21 PM on October 9, 2013
I don't particularly believe in the SCD but their chicken soup recipe is incredibly easy on the GI tract and very very nutritious. When I was at my sickest (with UC) I used an immersion blender to turn the soup into a smooth consistency and make the veggies as easy to digest as possible, so it's basically a hot smoothie.
I would also remind you that unsweetened Greek yogurt is very low in lactose, the dairy thing that is most likely the actual trigger. If you make yogurt at home you can ferment it for longer than commercial yogurts and ensure the lactose has been completely digested.
Finally, I don't want to start anything here, but it's hard to tell from your language if your wife is trying to manage her Crohn's flare just by doing a liquid diet or if a liquid diet is part of her treatment plan. If it's the former, I might argue... that's not an awesome idea. I'm happy to talk about this in more detail over MeMail.
posted by telegraph at 12:26 PM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would also remind you that unsweetened Greek yogurt is very low in lactose, the dairy thing that is most likely the actual trigger. If you make yogurt at home you can ferment it for longer than commercial yogurts and ensure the lactose has been completely digested.
Finally, I don't want to start anything here, but it's hard to tell from your language if your wife is trying to manage her Crohn's flare just by doing a liquid diet or if a liquid diet is part of her treatment plan. If it's the former, I might argue... that's not an awesome idea. I'm happy to talk about this in more detail over MeMail.
posted by telegraph at 12:26 PM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
So something to be mindful of is carrageenan, which is inflammatory for many people and is in many non-dairy milks. This might be useful if you haven't been carrageenan-conscious so far.
Coconut cream with carrots and cumin is a good thick soup. Or lemongrass, if she can't do cumin. Or kaffir lime.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:31 PM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Coconut cream with carrots and cumin is a good thick soup. Or lemongrass, if she can't do cumin. Or kaffir lime.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:31 PM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Almond milk has been her go-to milk substitute for years and never caused a problem. I'll pick up some coconut milk too, though. Lactose-free milk has been an issue, although we're not entirely sure why, so I'm reluctant to throw any kind of yogurt into the mix.
As far as treatment goes, modifying her diet is by far the most minor facet of her treatment. She's in a gastroenterologist's care, on medications, the whole nine yards. This is just the only part I can actually help with.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:35 PM on October 9, 2013
As far as treatment goes, modifying her diet is by far the most minor facet of her treatment. She's in a gastroenterologist's care, on medications, the whole nine yards. This is just the only part I can actually help with.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:35 PM on October 9, 2013
Spicy? You want ginger....I juice ginger with apples/carrots/beets/pears/etc and there's not really any fiber left by the time it's gone through the juicer and it tastes so delicious.
posted by hepta at 12:40 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by hepta at 12:40 PM on October 9, 2013
What about almond yogurt? You can make your own too, not that mine ever tasted much like yogurt. It would probably be fine in a smoothie.
Silken tofu definitely works in smoothies. My theory is that you need two of the following: bananas, milk, silken tofu.
I thought that what made bananas and avocados so good in smoothies is that their higher in fat than other fruit. Maybe try adding coconut oil.
I've heard of people whizzing oatmeal in the bottom of the blender before adding the other ingredients. I've never tried though, and it might have too much fiber.
Foodgawker might give you some inspiration: peanut butter smoothie, carrot smoothie.
posted by carolr at 12:43 PM on October 9, 2013
Silken tofu definitely works in smoothies. My theory is that you need two of the following: bananas, milk, silken tofu.
I thought that what made bananas and avocados so good in smoothies is that their higher in fat than other fruit. Maybe try adding coconut oil.
I've heard of people whizzing oatmeal in the bottom of the blender before adding the other ingredients. I've never tried though, and it might have too much fiber.
Foodgawker might give you some inspiration: peanut butter smoothie, carrot smoothie.
posted by carolr at 12:43 PM on October 9, 2013
Last time I bought a can of coconut milk I got it at an Asian market and I got what appeared to be a Vietnamese brand, and what was inside was almost as thick as peanut butter rather than having a consistency similar to cows' milk like the stuff I get at my normal supermarket chains. After refrigerating it, which made it even thicker, I was actually able to use it sort of like icing on a cake, though it wasn't sweet at all by itself. (And yes, the part of the label in English definitely said coconut milk rather than coconut cream.)
posted by XMLicious at 12:54 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by XMLicious at 12:54 PM on October 9, 2013
For neutral-flavored thickeners, you could try ground oats, hemp, or flax seeds -- just whizz 'em in a blender. You could actually just slow-cook oatmeal and refrigerate it in batches to use as a thickener as well.
There's also non-dairy kefir, usually made with coconut (store-bought) or almonds (homemade), which is very easily digestible and often very good for people with Crohn's. And for non-peanut nut butter thickeners, you could try sunflower seed butter ("sun butter"), almond butter, or cashew butter.
If she likes carrots in her smoothies, she might also enjoy sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or beets.
posted by divined by radio at 1:48 PM on October 9, 2013
There's also non-dairy kefir, usually made with coconut (store-bought) or almonds (homemade), which is very easily digestible and often very good for people with Crohn's. And for non-peanut nut butter thickeners, you could try sunflower seed butter ("sun butter"), almond butter, or cashew butter.
If she likes carrots in her smoothies, she might also enjoy sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or beets.
posted by divined by radio at 1:48 PM on October 9, 2013
If your wife hasn't consumed a lot of coconut, you might start out slowly with it. A couple of close relatives have ulcerative colitis, and they can't tolerate coconut anything. (Coconut milk has much too much fiber for them. Even those coconut water drinks cause flares for one.)
A lot of this is highly personal (and the internet does seem full of "coconut cured my Crohns" stories), so good luck! I hope she feels better soon.
posted by purpleclover at 1:50 PM on October 9, 2013
A lot of this is highly personal (and the internet does seem full of "coconut cured my Crohns" stories), so good luck! I hope she feels better soon.
posted by purpleclover at 1:50 PM on October 9, 2013
Almond milk and one of the Postum substitutes like Kaffree Roma for a thin smoothie?
posted by Raybun at 2:42 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by Raybun at 2:42 PM on October 9, 2013
Great Lakes gelatin is supposed to be very healing/soothing for the gut, is flavorless, and works for both hot and cold liquids. Disclaimer: I have no personal experience with IBS or Crohns.
posted by lizifer at 3:39 PM on October 9, 2013
posted by lizifer at 3:39 PM on October 9, 2013
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