Sensitive foodies struggle with sugars in fruits like apples and pears, root veg like onion and garlic, and legumes like beans - so-called "FODMAP" foods.
Other substances in seemingly innocent foods like cucumber or citrus fruits can cause reactions too.
Fibre in fruits and veg helps/hurts sensitive foodies differently.
Problematic sugars are also often in sugar-free gum and low-carb health snacks.
We knew we were sensitive AF. From ayurvedic dosha obsessions to FODMAP frenzies to 21-day challenges found in my mom's gossip mag to going bulletproof →, we tried all sorts of diets to no avail.
The gas seemed unstoppable and erratic.
Being really hungry one night at a great little bar in Italy brought everything to a head. While the rest of us discovered the delights of aperitivo, bestie and her now-ex bickered because looking for something FODMAP-free on the menu was holding up their order. Irritated, she only ordered wine and mooched off our snacks. Despite avoiding all the known offenders, very soon aperitivo-I don't-know-what-baby arrived.
My belching talents that night weren't to be scoffed at but bestie's giant bloat-baby took centre stage as ex asked why she hadn't ordered anything if she was just going to eat carelessly anyway.
Many things changed after that trip, one of which was our invigorated determination to figure it all out. Ourselves.
These never hurt
Cooked or smaller portions work for us
Most raw vegetables and some fruits
We were nothing short of devastated to find that cucumbers and tomatoes didn't agree with us. It helped that we were in the same boat. One that re-tested that old favourite salad harbour several times before it finally sank.
Her raw beet heartbreak happened more suddenly, a little while after the initial betrayal and separation, when she was confronted with the beet-filled menu at her (ex) favourite raw juice bar. My heartbreak was realising that I can't have apples even when they're baked into a pie. Saying goodbye to that dainty dish took time too.
*We found that several typically problematic (FODMAP) foods didn't give us trouble in the way we normally eat them. For example, we have a handful of berries and a few pieces of citrus fruit, mushrooms or avo in a salad.
In our dark times of being bloated and belchy every day, bestie and I shared an abiding love for cucumbers. Their simple, fresh and crisp taste comforted us when little else did. That's why, when we embarked on our journey to find mutual love with our food, we confidently assumed we'd feel great on our first weekend alone with them. We didn't. ...
Citrus has never been a big deal to me personally. Not actively anyway. It was only after a particulary painful mimosa-fuelled brunch that it dawned on me how integral that little dash of orange juice, or little squeeze of lime was to my best life. Because, for a while after discovering that citrus gave me acid indigestion, I avoided...