The diet
Artificial additives
Avoid artificial additives as much as possible (artificial flavours, colours and preservatives), avoid bought biscuits, no processed foods, avoid packaged foods except some canned foods i.e. tomatoes, creamed corn etc. Read labels.
Create from hand – home baking etc.
Yoghurt – home made yoghurt, or organic.
Ice cream – make home made ice cream using half cream and half low fat milk.
Lunch box snacks – low cost healthy alternatives are fruit and home made biscuits, or other snack i.e. raw vegetables, cheese etc.
If finances allow avoid root vegetables that are not organic where possible, to avoid artificial fertilisers, if possible grow your own, or visit your local farmers market.
Butter / Oil / Fat
Avoid most oils and fat where possible, most oils and fats are far harder to digest than butter, including fried eggs. Deep fry foods in olive oil. To cook chips, parboil potatoes for 8 minutes, cool, then cook in olive oil. Roast vegetables in butter with a little olive oil.
Avoid takeaways – they are high in fat, and salt.
Sausages – Chicken sausage are fine, and others contain high fats and spices.
Meats – use low fat meat.
Use butter – not margarine – Mainland’s Buttersoft has water added to make a spreadable consistency, use instead of oil based spreads.
Milk – Non fat, either slim or trim.
Edam cheese – this is the lowest fat cheese.
Peanut butter – avoid till reflux is no longer a problem.
Low spices
Avoid curries.
Avoid tinned tomato sauce based products, ie baked beans and spaghetti.
Tomato sauce – seek one that has low spices, such as Watties homestyle or Delmaine Traditional Tomato Sauce.
Fruits
Avoid oranges, but these may be trialled at a later date.
Pears are low in acid, as are bananas so are best.
Apples can be tolerated by some.
Bread & Grains
White bread may be easier to digest than wheat bread.
Avoid any grains until under control, grains are harder to digest, causing more reflux.