Re: dealing with convenience foods for long-time SCDers -- was hot dogs

[Guest guest]

I'm not Jodi, so please forgive me for commenting on this.

I'm a newbie to SCD, so I'm trying to be strict, since it's my son who needs the

diet and I wouldn't do ANYTHING to sabatoge his health. I'm sure that most, if

not all, members here also want to follow the diet correctly. There's a HUGE

difference between wanting to use a few " convenience " items (like organic canned

tomatoes, organic canned pumpkin, organic uncured hotdogs, and organic

mayonnaise) and wanting to eat convenience foods that contain additives,

preservatives, sugars and starches.

No one would even argue against the idea that the SAD is responsible for a host

of the current medical problems afflicting our nation. I haven't seen anyone on

here that is wanting to go back to eating that way. We haven't eaten the SAD in

our house for 13 years and my son still got sick with UC - who knows how sick

he'd be if he had been eating like most American children.

The reason I am interested in a few (really, very few) convenience items is that

I cook for 6 of us, I work 4 days a week and we are a busy family. There are

others on here who have very busy lives too. If I could open up a can of organic

tomatoes instead of having to chop and cook fresh tomatoes it would huge

timesaver for me and I could have that much more energy to devote to my family

and other cooking. I've always cooked most things from scratch, but there are

some basic ingredients that would be helpful to not have to make. If there are

safe items available, I really want to know. We haven't gotten far enough into

the diet to feel safe eating anything that I'm not positive about, so I'm

sticking with " make my own " , but I'm already getting burned out with the sheer

volume of work.

I'm really not here to argue - I want to learn how to do this and get ideas for

surviving SCD long term. There needs to be a level of understanding between

members here that those of us who are wanting a few minor shortcuts are not

being lazy or trying to cheat - we are simply trying to find practical ways to

make it possible to stick to this diet within the framework of our very real and

full lives.

Thanks,

Liz

>

> Jodi

>

> I consider myself one of the long-time SCDers, having been on SCD for more

than five years. I know there are plenty of others who have been on SCD far

longer [grin]. I've been able to relax my fanaticism in the past two years --

somewhat, that is. I don't reach for illegals, nor do I reach for convenience

foods. But I do occasionally eat out, choosing the permitted foods my digestion

tolerates the best (and maybe an occasional bite of something illegal if someone

will share with me!) and although I usually feel increased digestive symptoms

for a day or two, I am no longer laid low for weeks as a result.

>

> In other words, I can be a lot more relaxed about swallowing the occasional

illegal or getting some additives and preservatives. But I can't do it too

often or my body suffers.

>

> I made the choice during my first two months on SCD that I didn't want to

spend time dealing with getting something in writing from food processors and

manufacturers. I didn't have any energy to spare at that time as I was really

sick, and now I have a bit more energy but I just can't be bothered. I don't

want any convenience foods that might or might not contain something illegal and

probably has additives and preservatives. Detoxing took months for me, and I am

not about to start adding those toxins back. Besides, once I had detoxed, I

realized how much my body was affected by synthetic chemicals. Since my nervous

system is continuing to deteriorate from as as yet unknown cause, I don't want

to add another level of problems by using foods containing additives and

preservatives. I want to know exactly how the food is prepared and what

ingredients were used and I need to see how it is done.

>

> So, I make my own, make my own, make my own.... That's my choice, at least.

>

> Sometimes I wonder if a lot of the health issues found today are a direct

result of introducing convenience foods in the 1950s. Most of us have eaten

convenience foods, with their additives and preservatives and high levels of

sugar and starch, for most of our lives. Often takes time for the bad

side-effects to appear.

>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5+ years

>

>

> >>>>>>>>

> How are SCD'ers supposed to get on with their lives? I don't want to eat SAD

but it sure would be nice to be able to navigate with a little more wiggle room.

>

[Guest guest]

good call - I'll call Esther when theu re-open -I live about 30 minutes away

from them - was about to go before they closed ironically - i'll look into it -

remind me after the 12th in case i forget -lol

eileen 20 months scd

>

> Speaking of convenience foods: is anyone friendly with the people who own

Digestive Wellness? If so, maybe they would be willing to share the letter they

use to find out if a product is legal. Then we would have a better idea on how

to go about it ourselves.

>

> Holly

> Crohn's

> SCD 12/01/08

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Kim M,

I have made the same choice as you.

I do not use commercial products.

I still make all of my own stuff etc.

I rather go out to eat here and there then " taint " myself with commercial

products.

But as we have seen there are sometimes issues with Elaine's list of approved

commercial items. People will use some products and just not talk about it.

So why not help those SCD'ers make better decisions?

This community is awesome but it seems to provide a safety net for those when

very ill. What happens when people want to get on with their life and spend a

little less time in the kitchen? I do not view these people as straying.. I

view them as their hard work has paid off.

As we see, many old timers add in a couple of illegal items here and there.

That is not to say they endorse it in any way.. but that just shows that people

do in fact heal on this amazing diet.

I would not of gotten better had I not of been a fanatic.

I am still quite fanatical but I have been able to relax a bit.

I cannot explain how much peace of mind this has given me.. Knowing today I

have the parameters to keep myself well and if for any reason I feel unwell what

I *can* do for myself.

All of these years doctors basically instilled ideas of what I *cannot* do for

myself.

I am empowered. This diet and Elaine's hard work has given me my health back..

My life.

I got to a point where I did not see the reason living with such agony and

suffering.

Then along came the book, the diet, this amazing online group.

I think our SCD safety net needs to be larger and more encompassing.

Jodi