How (Not) to Feed Jeff, Nancy & Margaret

At the request of several friends (and with Nancy's permission), I've modified this page to reflect all of our dietary restrictions. (If you're randomly surfing the net and have just run across this page, Nancy is my wife, and Margaret is our daughter.)

Things Jeff Can't Eat

wheat or any product made with wheat flour

This includes most bread and bread products, pasta, most cereals, gravy (if thickened with flour), clam chowder (also thickened with flour), batter-fried foods, foods made with bread crumbs, meat loaf (with bread crumbs) and meat balls, croutons, tabouleh and cous-cous.

alcohol

Jeff has recently developed a systemic histamine response (strong allergic reaction) to alcohol. Unlike his wheat intolerance (which is just an inability to properly digest the stuff), this one is a real honest-to-God allergy, complete with sinus congestion, racing pulse, and shortness of breath. The reaction appears to be triggered by all forms of alcohol, including beer, wine, hard cider, and distilled spirits. However, foods cooked with alcohol in which the alcohol is able to boil off appear not to be a problem.

Things Nancy Can't Eat

dairy products & eggs

These are foods that cause our daughter Margaret digestive problems when Nancy eats them, even in miniscule quantities. (Yes, even one pat of butter in a full meal is a problem.)

Things Nancy Tries to Avoid

These are things Nancy can have in small amounts, but that she tries to avoid when it's practical.

wheat or any product made with wheat flour

This includes most bread and bread products, pasta, cereal (other than a few wheat-free cereals, such as Corn Flakes and Rice Crispies), gravy (if thickened with flour), clam chowder, batter-fried foods, foods made with bread crumbs, meat loaf (with bread crumbs) and meat balls, croutons, tabouleh and cous-cous.

simple sugars in most forms.

This includes the obvious sources, such as sucrose (table sugar), molasses, honey, and corn syrup. It also includes concentrated fruit sugars, such as grape juice and many dried fruits, as well as whole fruits that are particularly high in sugars, such as dates.

Things Margaret Can't Eat

dairy products & eggs

Margaret appears to be allergic to both of these. Eggs especially give her a rash, even in miniscule quantities.

OK, so How Do I Feed Jeff, Nancy & Margaret?

Basically, we like meals that include some protein, some starch/fiber and some fruits or vegetables. Meats, nuts, and tofu (and dairy products for Jeff) are all reasonable sources of protein. Potatoes and non-wheat grains such as rice, corn, barley, rye, millet, etc. are all good sources of starch. Wheat-free cereals, such as Corn Flakes and Rice Crispies are good breakfast foods. (Nancy and Margaret usually have their cereal with rice milk on it.) Fruits and vegetables are pretty much all OK, though Nancy isn't particularly fond of okra, lima beans, or celery, and Jeff isn't particularly fond of cauliflower. (Hey, as long as we're making a list...)

Suggestions

If you're inviting us over for a party and are worried about having munchies that we can eat, some suggestions include chips & salsa (but avoid Tostios brand salsa, which contains sugar), rye crackers (such as Ryvita, Wasa, or Rye Crisp--you can usually find these in the Jewish section of most supermarkets), or veggies & dip.

For entrees almost anything will work, as long as it's not (wheat) pasta, and as long as it's free from dairy and eggs and is not breaded or battered.

Disclaimer

Yes, having this info on a WWW page is gratuitous, but it's handy to be able to just give a URL to the handful of friends who ask for it. I can only hope that the rest of the people on the net who have accessed this page are going to invite one or both of us over for food some time soon.

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Last modified: Sun Jun 15 22:38:13 2003 by Jeff Bigler