Takeaway Food/Eating Out

[Holly]

Hi Guys!
This is just a query, as I am a teenager I did have a fairly good social life before I became poorly, then it ground to a halt. So now I am out of hospital, and slightly on the mend, my friends are all wanting to see me and go out and spend time together again because I have been in almost Isolation for months.

I was invited to a TGI's with my friends but I had to decline as you have to wait in a big long queue to get in as there is no booking in our local one, and at the moment my legs won't hold out. But I feel bad for keep letting them down. (and the menu is all a bit risky) So..

I offered them a compromise, I said they could come to my house and we could get a takeaway and just sit in, so that I am in the comfort of my own home incase I need medication or any other facilities if you catch my drift.

However... As I am newly diagnosed with Crohns I want to avoid greasy/fried food as much as possible until I know what my trigger foods are.

The two nearest takeaways we have near my home, are a generic Kebab Shop, that does Kebabs, Pizza's, Fried Chicken and Burger type things...
Or there is a Chinese Takeaway.

Can anyone recommend anything that could be okay for me to eat (a safe food if you like) just general advice? For example would a Chicken Kebab be better than a Donner if I had no Salad cause I know salad isn't advised? Would a Burger be good cause its not fried it's oven cooked, or a Pizza for the same reason?

I know the advice would probably be to steer clear of a takeaway but I think it would kill me seeing all my friends eating one in my house while I eat something exciting like soup or toast.

 

[KWalker]

Do you have a Taco Bell around? If so I would stay away from there lol. Seriously though, it is all depending on what YOU can tolerate. I could tell you what I can tolerate but the person to comment after me would tell you something different, and then the person after that would say something else different. With crohns unfortunately there isn't a set list of foods that work for all of us. Some of us can tolerate anything we want, others are on very strict diets. Some people say they have a lot of problems with red meat but again like I said everyone is different so the only real way to figure out what works is to try it for yourself.

You will get everything from people like me that food doesn't affect me at all, and then people that are on liquid only diets. There's a thread on here called SAFE/UNSAFE FOODS that might be worth checking out as well.

Good luck!

 

[Bld]

We don't have Taco Bell in the UK (or at least not that I have seen!) Holly I tend to eat what I fancy and suffer the consequences! If I were to be honest with myself I'd say spicy food is the worst.

 

[staff1986]

hi holly im a bit like that myself but im the worlds fussiest eater aswel like one of the guys said everybody is diff but i dont seem to suffer whilst im eating chinese and indian take aways same with a macs or kfc but again everyone is diff.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Well you know spicy foods are a no-no for you so that is a start hun. There are things not recommended for IBD, and it's always wise to read up on those, but it really is a case of trial and error, see what is safe for you and what isn't.
And probably sometimes you will be running for the loo despite eating only safe foods, which is annoying but the majority of the time you should be fine sticking with things you know are ok.
I'd pick the option that sounds the least boring out of all the things I think might be ok.
No need to stay away from Takeaway

Alternatively have a look on www.just-eat.co.uk , who will list all the takeaway's that will deliver to your house. You might be able to find a better option.

 

[Chloec]

Hi, i havent really tried many take aways but i have found that i can get grilled fish and chips fine. My local fish shop cooks in cottonseed oil and i find its no where near as greasy. Hope this helps

 

[Holly]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll steer clear of the Chinese for now just to be on the safe side! I'll just have to try something and maybe avoid the salad as a lot of people are saying on the Safe Food Forum that Salads and things trigger and I have been told by my own dietician to avoid Salad.
It's just new to me, and I am just starting to feel better so I would hate to make a bad decision that will knock me back.
Thanks for all the advice though guys much appriciated!

 

[SarahD]

Hi Holly, I've heard quite a few things about people with IBD reacting to something (monosodium glutamate?) used quite heavily in Chinese food. But there are some options that would probably be safe (maybe boring though?!). The safest bet would probably be plain boiled rice, but you might be able to get away with a fairly plain dish of rice with chicken. Trigger foods vary from person to person so it's really difficult to gauge what would be ok and what wouldn't.

 

[shazz]

Hi holly,
I have had boiled rice, noodles and chicken chow mein from the chinese take away. I don't eat the veg but the chicken is always ok for me.
It is like the others say, trial and error.
Whatever you do I hope you enjoy the evening and the company of your friends.
Xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Holly]

Thankyou, that sounds lovely.
It's the mystery of not knowing what I can have that I can't get over, it's all very new to me still and so far I have only found 1 food product that I have had a bad reaction too so I know to avoid. All the food in the world and you have to try them all to see if you can have them or not? It's all very strange at the moment.
But thanks for all the advice!

 

[mickey]

Perhaps try to eat a meal before you go (about an hour) and then have something light (vegetables or soup) when you are with them? They should understand and your stomach may feel less anxious and calmer. See how it works for your first few times out, then you can add foods, as you feel comfortable. Otherwise, the kabob shop of chicken kabob with vegetables may be simplest. good luck!

 

[DustyKat]

When Matt was having issues with food and we would be ordering Chinese take away he would have boiled rice and I would ask them to do a serving of plain steamed chicken. Then we would add a gravy type sauce at home.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Terriernut]

Yup, even me when flaring could have Chinese take away (NOMMY!!!) and as long as I was very, very careful about what I ate...it was cool. As others said, plain boiled rice, eat the non spicy foods, pick out the veg (especially mushrooms) and you look like a normal person. Woolaa! Eat the most plain of what they have on offer. If you need something special, quite a few will make it for you. At least they do here in Dunstable (and thank goodness!)

Dont be afraid to ask for what you need. And you need to have your friends round and feel normal. With a few adjustments, you can do it. As you have been flaring, look into the low residue diet to help you. I'm sure that there are some chinese dishes that can suit you.
:thumleft:

 

[Misty-Eyed]

When I was first diagnosed, I used to eat everything I did before. I carried on doing so until I was put on an egg and milk free diet by the hospital. That didn't work so I was put on a liquid diet. That didn't do anything either lol. So after that I just carried on eating what I liked. Life was too short not to.

Obviously it's not a good idea to eat something that you know will make you ill, but you'll never know unless you try things. I only ever adjusted my diet when I got narrowings in my colon and had to eat low fibre food. Enjoy your takeaway and eat what ever you like. You deserve some good times with your friends

 

[littlefreebird]

hi there, everyone is different. some argue diet plays apart- others don't.

i had a consultant that once told me during a flare up to just go and eat what i want- 'cause if you're sick you're sick- no point in restricting your diet of things you like'.
i've always stood by this and stuffed my face with what ever i like. i've done the whole avoiding wheat and gluten religiosuly for 6 weeks and it didnt make a bit of difference.

during a flare up i would just reduce fruit and veg and eat pretty much everything else.

don't be scared to try as misty said, lifes too short lol.

enjoy! hannah.x