FAQ/About

So what makes this food blog different than all the others?

This blog is written by a twentysomething girl who was diagnosed with IBS in 2006–and it is written for those with IBS or similar conditions, ie, those with touchy tummies.

I don’t have IBS or a digestive condition.  Why should I read this?

Good food is good food.  IBS does mean having to cut out certain foods from the diet or reduce them, but in nearly every instance there is an adequate substitute–like, two egg whites instead of one whole egg–that’s actually healthier for you.

So what sort of diet are we talking about?

The IBS diet has a few basic principes:  high in soluble fiber, low fat, dairy free and red meat free.  Foods are usually baked, boiled, broiled, roasted, sautéd in very little oil and grilled, but more importantly, they are NOT fried.

IBS varies from person to person and some will find they can tolerate foods that others can’t.  The recipes here will usually have pasta, chicken, shellfish or fish as their main ingredient if they are a main meal, and sugar for desserts.  The IBS diet is not a sugar-free diet.  In fact, artificial sweetners can make IBS even worse!  To read more, and from a much more expert source than I, click <a href=http://www.helpforibs.com>here</a>.

What about drinks?

What about them?  I drink lots of water throughout the day.  I’ve nixed soda and most carbonated beverages except for a cup of Pellegrino on a very rare occasion.  I absolutley do NOT drink coffee.

Some teas are better than others–I tolerate chamomille, ginger and peppermint better than Earl Grey or English Breakfast.

As for alcohol, I stick to wine because I know I can drink it and I know how much I can tolerate as well.  Whites and Rosés sit better than reds; my favorites are pink and bubbly.

So, just curious, what do you do besides diet to manage your IBS?

I use hot packs a lot, probably more than I should.  I use an electric one when I’m lounging around at home and ThermaCare if I have to go out–the ThermaCare for menstrual cramps target the same areas of the body affected by IBS.  They work much better than any prescription medication I’ve tried.

I will take an Aleve if I really need to but I try to stay away from painkillers.

I try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night–I’m a night owl, so this tends to involve staying up till about two and waking up 10.30-ish.  I imagine this will change when I enter the workforce.

I also find listenign to soothing music can help.  Sometimes I’m soothed by rock, sometimes it’s Celtic music, sometimes it’s Native American chanting.  Depends on my mood.

So this new age stuff works?

I don’t really consider it New Age.  Just trying different, more natural remedies than prescription medications that can have awful side effects.

What makes you an IBS authority?

I’m not.  I’m someone with IBS who is trying (in vain or not in vain is yet to be determined) to learn not just how to ‘live with IBS’ but to overcome it by not being afraid of food any more.

Huh?  We speak English in America!

It’s my belief that cooking should be fun.  Although there are foods I can’t eat because they’ll make me sick, there are plenty of foods that I can eat.  The trick is learning the multitude of ways it’s possible to–safely–prepare them that matters.

What if I’m not sure if I have IBS?  Should I try some of these recipes?

That depends.  If you find that certain foods give you a mild upset stomach, you can probably try most of these recipes at limited risk (Touchy Tummy and its author, R.G., assume no responsibility if you eat a food that has made you ill in the past or may make you ill in the future).

However, if you find that you are having severe digestion distress–ie, diharrea, constipation, bloating, gas or heartburn on a regular basis, you may want to rule out more serious conditions.  Because my diet for IBS is heavily based on complex and refined carbohydrates (ie, white breads) it may be unsuitable for those with Crohn’s or Colitis and it is definitely unsuitable for those with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease.  If you have constant digestive upset or notice blood when you do the do, please contact your doctor immediatley.  You may have a serious health condition.

Wow, way to get all serious there, what gives?

IBS is annoying and can be a @#$#@ to live with, but at the same time, it is not fatal nor does it increase the risk for other gastrointestinal diseases.  If left untreated, you risk pain and discomfort anywhere from 1-10 on the 1-10 pain scale, but that’s about it.  (Well, and embarrassment if you’re caught at the wrong time–ie, a flare in the middle of a presentation).  Basically, with IBS, your nerves are extra sensitive, but that’s about it.  It’s kind of like that guy you work with who’s got no social graces, whatsoever, but he still manages to get the job done.

However, more serious digestive conditions do exist, and they can be debilitating or even fatal if left untreated because they physically do harm you, like the guy that sabotages his entire Fortune 500 company into bankruptcy because they laid him off.  It’s absolutley crucial to make sure you don’t have one of the more serious ailments before settling on an IBS diagnosis.  Your doctor can tell you more.

What if I don’t have any syptoms?

Then as long as you get a routine physical, you’re all fine and dandy.

Okay, I’ll bite.  If I’m going to make any of these dishes, where should I buy my ingredients?

Your local grocery store should stock most ingredients.  For some of the less common ones, there are options including trying your local specialty or health store, or ordering from the internet.

Should I order ingredients from the internet?  Sounds risky.

Unless you’re using a grocery store’s shop from home service, I would recommend NOT buying perishables over the internet.  However, canned goods, sauces, candy, and things that you have in your pantry for when the world explodes should be okay.

What sort of cooking instruments do I need?

Well, you can probably never have too many, but right now I own:

+ One 9″ baking sheet

+ One small/medium saucepan

+ One frying pan

+ One large stockpot

+ One set of measuring spoons

+ One measuring cup

+ One garlic press

+ A couple really unfancy knives

+ A couple stirring spoons

+ Two mismatched oven mitts.

+ A cutting board

+ An oven

+ A four-burner stove

I do plan to eventually purchase a zester and a peeling knife, but I likely won’t until I cook a recipe in which I need them.

Improvisation is really the key to life here.  You don’t need Emeril’s kitchen, really.  A couple good knives, a spoon and a saucepan will start you out, and then from there you can figure out what you need as you go along.

You don’t have an electric mixer/whisk?

Nah.  There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you mix by hand.  If/when I really need one I’ll make the purchase, but not at the moment.

So I see you’re a big baseball fan.  What do you do when you go to games?

Normally I’ll bring a couple of my own lollipops or hard candies.  I can subsist on those and Twizzlers or Swedish Fish from the concession stand.  Is it healthy?  No, definitley not, but if it means an afternoon outside the bathroom, all’s the better.  On the perfect summer day, you go to an afternoon baseball game and get dinner afterwards.  Evening games are trickier if you’re commuting.  Sometimes I do, in fact, go hungry, but it’s better than the alternative.  Anyway, I don’t really go to Yankee games for overpriced food…

Well, what about when you travel?

I’ve found that travel overseas tends to put my entire body into a jet-lag shock for a few days.  I use this to adjust to a proper sleep schedule, and I eat carefully.  I’ve had remarkably good luck eating food in Italy, and have not had a significant problem in the other countries I’ve visited.  The biggest problem is the language barrier (I do English and Spanish; the Spanish helps with Italian and sort of Portuguese (reading only); in the Netherlands I was screwed).

In the United States, it’s another story.  A lot of restaurants, especially in the south, are chain restaurants that sell previously prepared meals which are not made to order.  Red Lobster is okay–they’ll always have boiled crab legs or lobster on the menu–but others, I’m not so sure.

The trick is to ALWAYS request to see a menu before sitting down.  Much less embarrassing than sitting down only to find there’s nothing you can order.

I would feel so weird looking at a menu before eating, though.

Don’t feel weird–in many European restaurants, there is a cover charge where you’re charged for sitting down, so restaurants have to display menus outside.  More American restaurants, especially in cities, are catching on.

Wait, so are you an American or a European?  Or some sort of weird hybird?

I’m American, born and raised in NJ, spent four years for undergrad in upstate NY and now reside in the Bronx in NYC.  I have been to Europe a few times on trips ranging from one week vacations with my parents and brothers to a four month study-abroad, and I’ve got every intention of heading back when I have the money and time (ie, not for a really long time, most likely).

So, uh, what do you do?  I mean, besides writing two blogs?

Currently I’m a Master’s student in medieval history at Fordham University, so technically I shouldn’t be doing this–ie, if my adviser catches me at this instead of scrupulously examining the Records of the Borough of Nottingham, I am probably dead.

After completing the program (hopefully succesfully), I hope to get a temporary job teaching at a community college or freelancing via my writing/blogging/whatever-ing until I face the music and realize that to get that dream job where I teach at a small liberal arts college in a bustling area in the ACELA corridor, or in England, I will have to get that smarmy PhD.

Doesn’t it make more sense to get that PhD now?

I like to pretend I value my psychological health, so right now, the answer is no.  I may regret this in the near future, but, I hear it’s really hard to do PhD level work if you’re constantly on edge.

Wait.  So you’re in grad school, you write two blogs and you deal with IBS?

Blogging helps me feel productive while I procrastinate.  I find it helps relieve the stress of grad school, which can trigger IBS attacks.  So, while I may be slightly psycho, it’s all for a good cause.

Hey, you know, I think you sound pretty cool.  Can I trade links with you?

Sure.  If you have a food, IBS or baseball related blog, shoot me an email at Rebecca@puristbleedspinstripes.com or fir3r0s3@yahoo.com and specify that you’d like to exchange links.  Any proof that you’re not a bot or a troll is appreciated, of course.  I’ll notify you when I have returned the favor.

Awesome!

I know, right?!