Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles

Odd title for sure. Not certain that it’s really fun but we’ll go with it. By the way, I’m a little bored now with sitting around getting the cold under wraps. So, I’ve had some time to tinker around.

It struck me I really haven’t said a ton on my diet. Just highlights here and there. So I’m fixing that now.

With the Eosiniophillic issues my diet has had to change dramatically. When you sit down and figure out how many products have milk, eggs, chicken, barley, etc (the list is too long), the initial reaction you might have is simple. I’m screwed. That was my first reaction the other month. But I’ve learned, and I’m still learning.

Now I’m the odd shopper who is blocking the aisle as I read all the ingredients in a food product. I’ve found stuff that was almost me, but then it had milk. Or it had eggs. Or better yet, a product that did work for me, and the manufacturer made it new and improved and put eggs in it. Got really sick the other week because of exactly that. A product I trusted became new and improved, I ate it, and felt horrible quickly after. Read the label, and it now had eggs. Great.

Anyhow, what do I eat now? Stuff you couldn’t have forced me to eat willingly before. Some of the favorites, and new favorites (Soy Dream fake Ice cream, go figure) are pictured below.

So, what’s all of this stuff, and is it any good? It’s good enough that I’ve been keeping a supply on hand for all those towns that have none of it!

• Soy Dream Soy Milk: I tried a ton of soy milk products. They were horrible, every one. A friend suggested Rice Dream, and it was pretty darned good. But Rice Dream seemed a little watery to me. Then when I was picking up Rice Dream one day I saw the Soy Dream package, and the “New Great Taste”. I gave it a whirl, and was super surprised to find that it didn’t make me feel like I wasted my money. More important, I didn’t want to spit it out instantly. If that isn’t a product endorsement I don’t know what is.

• Sans Gluten Batonnets: Just found these again today. I’ve been looking for them since New England. $5 per box, but worth it. I can’t have my old sesame sticks that I liked. They make me sick. But these gluten free ones rock! What are they made with? Potato flour, corn starch and rice starch. Go figure, eh? Oh, and they’re actually yummy. So I restocked today.

• Rice Veggie Twists and Gluten Free Pasta: Ran out of this stuff too. But found more today. These are both rice noodles. Been missing Mac & Cheese. Can’t have the mac or the cheese. But I can have these with soy cheese (found a few good soy cheeses too).

• Mori-Nu Silken Tofu: Found this one thanks to Eleanor (thanks). Doesn’t need to be cooled until opened. That saves me space. The firm version can be fried, then added in with noodles. Decent. Still, it’s like a white block of paste. But with the right seasonings, you can pretend it’s more.

• Soy Dream fake ice cream: Well, it’s not my moose tracks ice cream, but I tried it tonight. Once again, no urge to spit it out. Pretty decent. I’m beginning to like the Rice Dream / Soy Dream company.

• Cream of Rice: My mem used to give me this as a kid. Rice is on my ok list, so I’m trying to get more in. A little sugar added and the stuff is good. Unlike other hot breakfast cerals, couldn’t find any flavored packs.

All of those are just a few of the items on my shopping list now. Other things are:

• Rice Bread: Not so great, but I miss sandwiches.
• Potato Chips: Lays just made their sour cream and onion chips with real sour cream, so that’s out now. Plain ones and BBQ are still fair game.
• Jelly Bellies: Glad I’ve got a candy that still works. No chocolate for me. Been a super long time.
• TVP: Texturized Vegetable Protein. This is what I use to make my odd burritos with. Good stuff.
• Boca Burger: Same deal as the TVP. Got a little wheat in it too, but I can tolerate some wheat I’ve found now that most of the other stuff has been cleared out. Boca’s fake chicken patties have been “improved” and now have eggs in them, so I can’t touch them (last time I did I got really sick).
• Corn Tortillas: Very versatile.
• Corn Chips: Tasty.
• Bean Dip: Never been a fan, but I’m learning.
• Soy Cheese: Gotta be careful buying this stuff. Many brands still have milk product in them. I’ve found a few companies that are good like Vegan Gourmet. No milk stuff in it. Many soy cheeses say vegan on them, but then I find milk stuff in them. Made that mistake several times now not reading close enough.

In general for me, Corn, Rice, Soy, Beef, and Potatoes are still way in. As I’ve experimented I’ve found many things are way out. Got my list from the allergist, but I’d like to see improvement at some point down the road. Today there isn’t any. The few experiments have all ended very badly. Just ask my friend Tom about my Arby’s experience with him. Man, I miss Arby’s.

It seems the Eosinophillic disorders affect each of us in similar ways, and in very different ways. Some people have more foods in fair play, some have less. I’ve read about people who don’t eat food any longer. Instead they get nutrition via tube, IV, etc. Others have very few food issues, and a small number of things to avoid. Broad range of issues.

For people without the issues, looking to try some of this alternate food, the items I listed above are pretty good. I guess I’d say I endorse those products. The fact that a picky eater like me is actually buying the stuff again says a lot. Of course, I don’t have much choice, right?

A final neat item. The expiration dates on many of these things are amazing. My Soy Dream does not need to be cooled until opened, and most of the containers are good through 07′. Great for a guy with little space in the fridge. Same deal with many of the tofu items. Expirations way out there!

Well, there’s a different angle today on the blog. Shows what being stuck in all day going through Puffs Plus tissues will do for you.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 16th, 2006 at 9:41 pm and is filed under Eosinophillic Esophogitis, On the road.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.