8 Food Products that Make the Crohn's Diet Enjoyable

My husband has Crohn's disease, an Inflamitory Bowel Disease that causes ulcers in the mouth, stomach, and intestinal tract (more here). With medicine and a certain diet, Kyle can control the disease. Though the diet varies for the many sufferers of Crohn's disease, most can agree on dairy, red meat, and alcohol as a common irritant. Even Lactaid milk products bother him. Kyle also has to avoid too much High Fructose Corn Syrup and roughage, but these are all allowed in moderation.

In our year of marriage (April 24, 2010) I have-- for the most part-- adopted his specialized diet. Of course, when we eat out I won't feel guilty about the Olive Garden's delicious Braised Beef and Tortellini and I drink real wine at dinner with his mother, but most of my meal preparation has been considerate of his needs.

Because of this, I've quickly found some amazing food substitutes that have made eating with him quite healthy and enjoyable.




Morning Star Farms Meal Starters: Grillers' Recipe Crumbles
This vegetable based beef substitute may not be the stuff great burgers are made of, but it's fantastic to fluff up a marinara sauce. I've served it over pasta or scrambled with barbecue sauce, mushrooms, and skillet fried potatoes. The beef substitute comes frozen and thaws quickly.

It tastes good and it's full of protein, too, which is a struggle for the Crohn's sufferer.

The only warning I can give is that the Crumbles will make you gassy if you overdo it. Use Morning Star Crumbles as a garnish, not a meal.

Oscar Mayer Turkey Hot Dogs
I have decided that I like Turkey Dogs better than beef. You can eat them raw (which, I must admit, I do for a snack) or grill them up to serve on buns. Turkey Dogs taste better microwaved than most traditional pork and beef dogs and are leaner. Turkey Dogs and Baked Beans are frequently on my weekend menu.

Oscar Mayer even makes a Hardwood Smoked variety now (delicious!) and bun-length dogs.



Galaxy Nutritional Foods' Veggie Cheese
I have never found it anywhere but Publix, but then again I rarely shop anywhere else for groceries besides Publix and Target. The Veggie Cheese comes in multiple flavours and in slices as well as shreds. We have their Mozarella on our Chicken Parmesan and their Pepper Jack slices on my husband's  deli sandwiches.

The veggie cheese melts a lot slower than real cheese, though, so you have to mind that when trying to do something like Macaroni and cheese or bruschetta. Galaxy's cheddar substitute taste great in a home made macaroni and cheese dinner.

Silk (Or Publix Greenwise) Soy Milk
Soy Milk tastes a bit funny to those who are used to cow's milk, but once you get used to it, it tasted better. If you're easing into Soy Milk, start with Silk Chocolate Milk, which tastes like a milk shake. The best glass of soy milk I've ever had was at a place called Noodles in the Bellagio in Vegas, but if I had to pick which jug to buy at the supermarket, I would pick Silk or Greenwise any time.

Silk is delicious, but Greenwise is cheaper. The great thing about Silk, though, is that the plain flavour-- which actually works in Mac n' Cheese but should not go into Hamburger Helper-- comes in two packs for a better value.

Soy Milk is full of protein and is really filling. It's healthier for you and is enriched with all the vitamins you might miss from cow's milk. It doesn't make great ice cream (I'll address what does, later) but it works just fine in coffee and over cereal. I find Silk chocolate milk more enjoyable than anything coming from a cow.

Ground Turkey
Ground Turkey is how I make my own burgers. Here's the trick, mix the turkey with egg white and mix in a few seasonings. If you use egg white as a binder, the turkey burgers don't fall apart on the grill. Properly bound and seasoned, Turkey Burgers are just as good as beef. Put proper toppings and some guests may never know the difference.

Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Coconut Milk Ice Cream has the right texture and tastes great. Of course, if you don't like Coconut, then maybe you should stick to Italian Ice.

Miller's Sharps Non-Alcoholic Beer
O'douls has cornered the market on virgin beer for  some time, but Miller's similar product has been recently pushed to the front of the shelves and my husband likes it better. It's cheaper than real beer and smoother than O'douls or St. Paulie Girl's competing products.

If you drink beer to be drunk and you have Crohn's, tough. If you drink beer because you like it and because you like drinking while hanging out with the guys, Sharps is a good option for you. Now you can sit around with the guys and talk without them bugging you about why you aren't having a brewski.

Smart Balance
Butter is dairy and margarine is scary stuff. Smart Balance is made out of vegetable oils and tastes so good! Best part? A new Smart Balance product has added Calcium (Crohn's sufferers frequently suffer bone density loss from Vitamin D and Calcium deficiencies.)

Smart Balance is great to cook with, to spread on bread, and it is non-dairy.



If you can think of any delicious substitutes for liquor, beef, and dairy, comment here. I would love your ideas! Lactaid doesn't work for us, but maybe you can tell us what will!