Resturants...

[Rosemarie]

Someone once mentioned that they only eat at Swiss resturants because you can always order chicken and rice (which is easy on the bowels)... rather then go off topic on another thread I figured this was worth starting a new one. As someone with a weakness for Taco Bell, I need some pointers on where the safest places for crohnnies to eat out are...

Which resturants do you always go back to?
What do you order if you have very "sensitive" bowels that day?
Also.... has anyone found any tried and true fast food dishes that are safe if your on a budget?

I'm tired of going out to eat with friends/family and being the only one there that cant eat anything on the menu!

 

[Colt]

Maybe you could pick the better options from taco bell. They have rice and potatoes which should be better than a big bean burrito. Maybe you could get some of the fresco chicken stuff that would have less fat. I'm not entirely sure what exactly your trigger is that you're finding at taco bell.

Long John Silver's is another example. People lament their greasiness but they do have baked (microwaved) cod with rice. The rice is good up until about 6PM and then it's dry and crusty. Anyway, it's one of the best things on the menu.

As for the greasiness that shouldn't be the case. I used to cook for LJS and I was damn good at it. My food was almost never greasy at all because I understand the properties of oil and the methods used to cook with it properly. It's just that most of the cooks there and at any other fast food place suck because they'll hire anyone and they're so severely understaffed that they never have the time to learn how to do it right.

 

[AgB621]

I eat out at sushi restaurants a lot. Sushi can be very light, and if you're feeling sensitive something simple like some white or brown rice or California roll or Miso soup. When I was flaring, my boyfriend's dad and stepmother were in town and I didn't want to not be able to go out to eat with them so we called restaurants ahead to see if they could make baked potatoes or rice with chicken grilled with no oil. Many places had an open flame so that the chicken could be cooked completely plain.

I stopped eating in fast food restaurants a long time ago so I don't know what to suggest there.

 

[Clover]

I am kind of odd as I can handle some fast food as long as I don't go over board. Maybe you can to if you keep it in moderation. I can have a plain quarter pounder at McDonalds as long as that is all. If I go with fries as well I am usualy sorry. Toco bell has not been my friend at all however.
As for sushi I was told to stay away from it. One month after I was diagnosed I decided to be stuburn and keep my life plan to move to Japan for a year. I was told by my doc and diatition to avoid sushi and raw meat in general. They told me that there can be parisites and bacteria that are not a problem in a healthy GI tract but in one like mine they may cause problems. My situation may be differnt then others as I have so odd stuff combine with my crohns but that is what I was told.

 

[danman]

I must be one of the few lucky ones.

I don't get affected by any food or drink.
My diet at times can be very poor when I'm on the road with work.
But it doesn't seem to make any difference to my crohns.

Only my waist at times.......

 

[Clover]

On my birthday my boss insisted on taking me and on of my coworkers out for lunch. My coworkers birthday was over the weekend and he wanted to go to On The Boarder. I tried to eat something safe but ended up having to go home early sick and spending the rest of my birthday in the fetal position. Boy I love chrohns.

 

[Colt]

Sushi sold in the US is cooked. Nori (the seaweed wrap) is very hard to digest though. Not that it will definitely upset your stomach, it's just kind of like corn. On the other hand the nori is usually so thin and minuscule that it shouldn't be a problem for many of us.

I do okay with most foods. High fiber foods are usually a problem and that's more or less it. On the other hand I do have a problem with eating large quantities I've figured out recently. Any time I stuff myself sometime within the next hour I'll be terribly ill. It doesn't really matter if I stuff myself on pasta and bread sticks or vegetables and rice.

I'm getting pretty comfortable with the idea that I've probably got a stricture somewhere that's getting backed up. Not so comfortable with the idea that if true it will probably lead to me having surgery some day.

 

[jed]

guilty of been able to eat McDonalds.

most restaurants scare me tho, never know what will happen....

 

[Colt]

I eat out all the time. I'm not a diarrhea crohnie and I do tend to not get the worst things on the menu so the effects are minor.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I think it would be different for everyone.
Some of us are eating white flour, some of us are eating no white flour. Some of us handle veggies fine, and some don't. I eat dairy, but I know people on here eat no dairy. What bothers your belly? if we knew what you can/can't eat, that would help us answer your question better.
I went out Saturday and found several things on the menu that I thought I could eat. I settled for a chicken parmesan sandwich. I can eat most sandwiches, and cheesy type things. Most restaurants have pasta, which seems to be okay for many people. My first bite of potato salad had a load of onions in it, so I had to pass that off to my dad, but the sandwich was huge so it didn't matter.
As for Taco Bell, I am a HUGE fan, and have one close to my house, but I've had to lay off as I can't find much without spicey from there. Either that or I don't have the willpower once I get there. There is a new cheesy burrito, but it's kind of flavorless. I have foound the potatoes to be very spicy, or maybe it's the cheese sauce that they put on the top. Maybe you could expirement to see what works.
As for other fast food suggestions -
Wendy's - grilled chicken sandwich, baked potato with cheese, their cheeseburgers don't bother me either.
Burger King - mozzarella sticks.
Last time I had pizza with pepperoni my belly got mad at me, but just had it with cheese the other day and was fine.
Jeez, I'm on prednisone and hungry. I'd better go before this turns into a thesis.

 

[teeny5]

I am good with pasta, potatoes (not fries), beans or bean & cheese burritos, sandwiches, veggie or cheese pizza, enchiladas, soft tacos. If I am going to eat a burger I take off lettuce and tomato...they are not my friends! I would pick those out of tacos or burritos too. Sushi never bothers me even when flaring. Soup is good too. When all else fails I stick to chicken or fish with rice...that always seems fine. Beef I have issues with...not sure why and salads hate me. So pretty much I can eat chicken, fish and any bad carb out there! MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm I love those bad carbs.

 

[Colt]

No kidding MBH, I just had my dosage pushed back up yesterday.

Has anyone ever noticed that we often have threads that turn into food porn? Now I'm all hot and bothered and I can't help but to go violate my fridge.

 

[Rosemarie]

Latley Ive been able to eat almost whatever I want... pregnancy can do wonders for Crohns! So Ive indulged in things I never would allow myself to eat before- fried stuff, sausage, raw veggies (which I cant get enough of), and waaaay to much ice cream/milkshakes. The milkshakes still send me to the bathroom so I reserve them for days I NEED to go since my BM's have slowed down dramatically under the baby's weight. I am looking forward to getting my body back in December, but I am really gonna miss being able to eat (almost) whatever I want!

Anyway- back to the point.....
I mostly asked everyone this question because I am a "foody" and I was curious to see if anyone had specific favorite places to eat out that have healthy belly safe food for us.... As far as fast food- I stick to Wendy's if Im not feeling too daring that day. I'd like to kiss the person who suggested they sell baked potatoes for $1. I can eat Taco Bell as long as I tell them not to put beef on anything... and not to much cheese sauce. I used to work at Taco Bell (in high school) and my love affair with bean burritoes goes back to my childhood lol. For anyone who is interested: the "beef" they use is more like a slow cooked processed mystery meat then actual beef. The other meats- chicken and steak are the same. I try to avoid those but I can usually eat the other ingredients there just fine. Unless I'm having a serious flare of course. Then its jello and oatmeal for me.
My favorite "sit down" resturants are Cheesecake Factory (which Ive had more then one bad reaction from because I couldnt say no to the Parmesean crusted chicken with tomatoes), and Red Lobster (which is suprisingly ok on my stomach since it's fish and potatoes usually).

I agree Colt... this thread does make you want to violate the fridge. LOL =)

 

[kromom1]

Try having CD as well as prednisone-induced diabetes!! The diet I can eat for one does not accommodate the other and vice versa! Darn this prednisone...

Lisa

 

[pb4]

The only eat-out food I'll indulge in is Edo of Japan (in Canada), no msg, no processed garbage, all fresh cooked and very healthy.

If you crave mexican you're likely better off making it at home instead of eating it at a fast-food joint.

 

[BWS1982]

Casa de BWS1982 works best for me, I miss being able to eat whatever right after a workout for extra calories. You should have seen me, I'd roll up an entire frozen pizza (soft from cooking in the microwave), and eat it like a massive burrito with a quart of water after working out. MMMM, trans fat free pizzas.