Considering SCD, wondering about monetary costs. time required

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's disease.

I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider biologics

in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific Carbohydrate

Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it extremely

expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found at my

local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required to

prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer job,

and have to be away during the day.

Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all

these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's

appointments and running around.

[Guest guest]

Hey there, without answering all of your questions specifically, I will say that

the SCD takes 100% commitment. It takes time to prepare all of your food so you

have to get good at timing your food prep and packing up for the day. You have

to stick to it 100% or it doesn't work!

But is is NOT SCARY once you get into the groove.

I think it's as simple as this:

Which would you choose...

Medications and their side effects, doctors appointments, possible surgeries...

or changing the way you eat?

I wish I had found SCD in college! You are one lucky guy. Go for it!

-Joanna

SCD 9/2009, Crohn's 1992, 30mg Prednisone

>

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's

disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider

biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific

Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it

extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found

at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required

to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer

job, and have to be away during the day.

>

> Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all

these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's

appointments and running around.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Considering the expense of being sick, SCD is a bargain. I think the

hardest, most expensive part is in the beginning. You can get most things at the

grocery store. It takes time and effort to learn what to buy and read all the

labels, but once you get the items you need, the shopping gets routine.

Do you live off campus?It would be hard to do this in a school cafeteria. You

will also need to pack your lunch for school because most college food places

are not suitable for SCD.

Depending on your appetite, you don't need to be a gourmet cook, but it does

take time in the kitchen. You can also rely on eggs, canned tuna, nut butters,

and broiled meats/steamed veggies in a pinch which are quick to cook.

I would cook in large quantities on weekends and freeze them for use in the

week. It would be helpful to have freezer space, some kitchen gadgets, and so on

to save time.

It did cost some money to set up the kitchen with some gadgets and new spices-

but then I use these all the time and don't have to buy them again- at least not

frequently.

Time spent in the kitchen is better than time spent being sick. I hope this

helps.

PJ

>

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's

disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider

biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific

Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it

extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found

at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required

to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer

job, and have to be away during the day.

>

> Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all

these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's

appointments and running around.

>

[Guest guest]

PJ sums it up nicely. I would just add that sometimes when I get busy I find myself slipping into simpler quicker less tasty foods, but I'm pretty new so I'm still working out the kinks. I think if you are okay with eating foods that are somewhat bland while you relearn to cook around your busy schedule there really is no time difference between cooking boxed food and plain SCD food (boiled egg, chicken, veggies). This doesn't mean that SCD has to be plain and bland! I've had some meals on SCD that tasted way better than some of the best meals pre-SCD. But in my experience the best tasting meals take more time for a cooking newbie like me.

I would also throw in my opinion that SCD is soooo worth it. No matter what you have to do. I'm in school too, and if I had to take out loans and quit my job to stay and school and stay on SCD I would totally do it. I've seen drastic improvement on strict SCD and wouldn't give it up. Ever. 

" Time spent in the kitchen is better than time spent being sick. " Love that PJ, it's so true. And the kitchen is pretty much the place I like least in my house.Good luck with your decision, Liam.

~SCD 02/2010Crohn's Disease No Meds

 

Hi, Considering the expense of being sick, SCD is a bargain. I think the hardest, most expensive part is in the beginning. You can get most things at the grocery store. It takes time and effort to learn what to buy and read all the labels, but once you get the items you need, the shopping gets routine.

Do you live off campus?It would be hard to do this in a school cafeteria. You will also need to pack your lunch for school because most college food places are not suitable for SCD.

Depending on your appetite, you don't need to be a gourmet cook, but it does take time in the kitchen. You can also rely on eggs, canned tuna, nut butters, and broiled meats/steamed veggies in a pinch which are quick to cook.

I would cook in large quantities on weekends and freeze them for use in the week. It would be helpful to have freezer space, some kitchen gadgets, and so on to save time.

It did cost some money to set up the kitchen with some gadgets and new spices- but then I use these all the time and don't have to buy them again- at least not frequently.

Time spent in the kitchen is better than time spent being sick. I hope this helps.

PJ

>

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer job, and have to be away during the day.

>

> Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's appointments and running around.

>

[Guest guest]

I'd say you can do it on a pretty tight budget to start.  The biggest investment was a yogurt maker when I started.  I did have a one-cup chopper for nuts but couldn't tolerate them so it didn't matter.  It took six months or more to even think about baked goods.  You can buy almond butter and other nut butters either from bulk bins at places like Whole Foods or get the Marantha brand.

 

I made chicken wings last night.  Had broccoli florets and lima beans.  I buy small bags which is enough for 2-3 meals and the bags are around 50-96 cents.  I'm cooking for one basically.  Carrots lb. about 79 cents.  I may buy one or two fish fillets and broil them or throw it on the grill if someone is cooking out.  Veggies--frozen or in season are not that expensive, same with fruit.  Make sure it's cooked, peeled and deseeded.  I plan to buy a bunch of fresh mango to freeze in batches for smoothies because the frozen is so expensive.

 

It does take a little getting used to and you can find most things locally or some things you may have to mail order.  Yogurt starter, a lot of people use Dannon's All Natural as the starter, use the stove as the yogurt maker and dripped yogurt instead of hunting down the dry curd cottage cheese.  Wal-Mart has sugar-free bacon if you want that.

 

You can do 101 dishes with peppers ;-).  As for spices, get the ones you like and down the line you can invest in them or not.  I do.  That's kind of become a thing with me to find a new spice to switch the flavors up.  When I first started, I basically used salt and cinnamon.  Couldn't stand pepper or tolerate anything else.  Smells made me sicker.

 

Lots of younger folks and college students and parents on-list.  Hopefully they can give you more ideas.  I'd say the worst (maybe not the worst) but the most expensive is after a few months on the diet some people go through a hunger phase.  Huge, huge hunger phase.  It's when you start maintaining and you are hungry about 30 minutes after you eat.  Lasts about two weeks.  You don't really gain though.  I've seen posts on pecanbread.com (the children's site) where parents are panicking.  I was baking/cooking a lot but it didn't last so that's the good thing. 

 

Good luck, it's up to you on how gourmet and your budget on gadgets (even though some things I really find convenient like a ninja prep--works like a fp/blender).   I follow Marilyn's recipes so I don't waste ingredients for some things.  Same with Mara.  There's lots of recipe sites.  Pecanbread.com has easy recipes also.  Just keep it simple. 

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I get all the doctor's appointments, tests, scopes, etc.  Hope you get everything under control so you can carry on with your plans ;-).

 

Debbie 41 cd houston

[Guest guest]

Hey,

Its so nice to hear of someone in college considering this diet, I'm in college

too. I have two jobs this summer and during the year I work and go to school.

Last year I started the gluten-free diet when I was still in my dorm and that

was really tough, but I think that the SCD is doable as long as you live off

campus. Obviously, since I have two jobs my funds are pretty limited but I have

found ways around it. Instead of buying a yogurt maker, I bought an electric

skillet from wal-mart that costs maybe $20 and a thermometer. I also found out

that a food processor was really a necessity, and I found a full size one at a

garage sale for $5. Its so nice to have. Since I have already been gluten-free

for a year I have adjusted to not having many baked goods, so I don't buy almond

flour often because it is very expensive. Honey will probably be your second

most expensive item, I get a pretty good deal on mine though, its $2.99 a pound

at my local whole foods. Everything else is just fruit, vegetables, and meat,

the kind of stuff you are probably already eating.

The diet is pretty hard with schedules like ours though. I usually reserve

Sundays for grocery shopping and cooking so I get my yogurt and a few different

meals ready to last me through the week. It doesn't always work out this way

though, and some nights I don't end up eating till around 10, but thats not so

bad for me, I'm sure you could schedule better if you wanted to. I also try to

make a breakfast casserole and put it into muffin tins so I can just grab

breakfast in the mornings, and I usually keep a lara bar or some other snack in

my car in case I'm out and can't find anything, though you can almost always

find a place to get some fruit.

I know it sounds like a lot of effort, but I am finally feeling better and

that's worth it to me. I know being sick all the time last year was really

affecting my school work, but now I actually have some energy for a change which

is great! Anyways, you should definitely try it out, it really helps.

Amber

[Guest guest]

I may be in the minority here, but I don't find SCD all that expensive or time

consuming. IMO, the only thing that is expensive is nut flour, and it's not

essential to the diet (I've been on the diet for 1.5 years and am still on my

first bag). Organic produce and pastured meats are great, but again, not

essential. You can totally get by with just conventionally grown

fruits/vegetables and conventional meat/dairy/eggs, all of which will be found

at your local grocery store. Beans and nuts are advanced, so you won't need to

worry about those for quite awhile.

As for time, I am not a big eater, thus I don't spend that much time in the

kitchen (maybe 1 hour per day actively cooking, tops). Some people (maybe even

most) need to eat a lot more calories then I do, so that could very well be on

the low side. For breakfast and lunch, I eat things that I've already prepared

and refrigerated/frozen. I do all my cooking in the evening. I always make

enough for supper to last 2 nights, and on the off nights, make things like

brownies, yogurt, etc. that will be either refrigerated/frozen and eaten on for

the week or 2 following.

Good luck, you can do this! It's intimidating at first, but you'll soon get a

handle on it and it will become second nature :-).

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

>

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's

disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider

biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific

Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it

extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found

at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required

to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer

job, and have to be away during the day.

>

> Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all

these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's

appointments and running around.

>

[Guest guest]

I was in the exact place you are when I was diagnosed and then found SCD right

after diagnosis. My food bill didn't go up much past what I ate out each month

since that was cut out. All in all it's not an expensive diet. I cooked a lot of

food at once and it helped a lot. I was away during the day too due to my job

but I managed it. After intro diet, I kept boiled eggs on me at all times. They

can stay at room temp and be ok for days. I also cooked plenty of chicken

breasts and froze them in individual plastic bags. These items were essential

for me.

Large stock pot (for making chicken soup)

Oval shaped crock pot (for making roasts; look on craig's list or something for

a cheap used one)

Immersion blender (for blending the veggies back into the chicken soup. I got

mine at Wal Mart for $15)

Regular blender (already had it)

Large and small plastic containers for carrying food

A small insulated bag and some of those frozen gel things for carrying around my

food

At first, it seemed like I was consumed with cooking but when I learned to cook

in bulk, it made things much easier. I didn't have the stock pot at first and

was making small batches of chicken soup which was really hard. I always use

chicken thighs for my soup which is much less expensive and tastier than

breasts. Sometimes, if it's on sale, I buy a whole chicken and use it. A couple

times the breasts were actually cheaper so I got them. I buy the cheapest cut of

roast I can and start it when I get home from work and let it cook all night

until I get up. It is always fall apart tender. Sometimes if I don't get to it

at night, I'll start it in the morning and let it cook all day until I get home

(about 5AM to 6PM). Once you find what veggies you tolerate, you can throw them

in your crock pot and let them cook 4 hours up to overnight.

The diet is definitely doable. 2 and a half years ago my doctor told me if I

didn't get on a biological that I would be facing surgery within a year. Like

you I was coming off a Prednisone taper and my symptoms were coming back at full

force. I started the diet in Jan 08 but didn't do the intro part and was better

not 100%. On February 5, 2008, I started the intro diet and haven't taken one

med for my Crohn's since. I'm not saying you should get off your meds but it

worked for me.

Good luck.

Feel free to email me off list if you have any specific questions.

Misty Kimble

CD - no meds

SCD - January 2008

>

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's

disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider

biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific

Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it

extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found

at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required

to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer

job, and have to be away during the day.

>

> Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all

these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's

appointments and running around.

>

[Guest guest]

Hey :)Everyone's given you such great advice, I just wanted to add that when your busy a slow cooker (crock pot) is a life saver, especially in the beginning stages. You can cook all sorts of meats and veggies in there I invested in a programmable one, got it off amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33956-Forget-5-Quart/dp/B000R4FTV4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8 & s=home-garden & qid=1277981812 & sr=8-7

looks like it's $39.99 right now there (plus shipping)you can get them cheaper used etc. programmable was indispensable for me, I can set it to cook for however many hours needed, then leave for the day, and it will cook, then switch to 'keep warm' function till I get home :) I also set it to cook overnight while I sleep. I'm so busy and tired sometimes, I don't even bother to clean it in between things I cook everytime. I'll just take out the food, leave some fluid in, and leave it on 'keep warm' until I'm ready to put more food in to cook later! it's a great tool for a college student!! I wish I'd gotten one sooner

So best wishes, and I give you all the encouragement I can. It can take getting used to in the beginning, especially if like me, your not too used to cooking much, but it gets so much, much easier as you go along. You'll definitely get the hang of it. and your health is _so_ worth it!!

By all means, continue to let us know how you are doing, and ask us any questions you might have. We can definitely help you through the learning process! :)p.s. I was intimidated by the thought of yogurt making, sounded hard. It's not at all - it's a _breeze_!! I can do it practically in my sleep now..

p.p.s. for soup, I boil my chicken in my slow cooker, and I boil my carrots in it separately at another time so I can cook them longer. works great!!! hardly ever use my stock pot anymore.. just for steaming large amounts of spinach sometimes ..and my friend's boyfriend found that if you squish spinach down really hard, you can fit amazing amounts into smaller pots for steaming, so if you don't have a stock pot, I don't think it's really necessary to buy one

 

Hello Everyone,

I've just recently been diagnosed with a rather severe case of crohn's disease. I'm on remission on steroids for the moment, but am having to consider biologics in the near future, and wanted to at least look into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. What I'm wondering is: how hard is it to implement? Is it extremely expense obtaining the ingredients required? Can most of them be found at my local food store or do they have to be ordered? How much time is required to prepare and cook every day? I'm a full time college student with a summer job, and have to be away during the day.

Thanks for any information/antidotes, I would look more thoroughly into all these things myself, but I've been a little consumed lately with doctor's appointments and running around.

[Guest guest]

Hey :)Everyone's given you such great advice, I just wanted to add that when your busy a slow cooker (crock pot) is a life saver, especially in the beginning stages. You can cook all sorts of meats and veggies in there I invested in a programmable one, got it off amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33956-Forget-5-Quart/dp/B000R4FTV4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8 & s=home-garden & qid=1277981812 & sr=8-7looks like it's $39.99 right now there (plus shipping)shipping is free at that price. This is the one that Consumer Reports likes the best:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AO2PXK/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8 & m=ATVPDKIKX0DER$5 bucks more. Mara