I don't know if this'll help make the idea of changing your whole diet a bit less frightening, but just wanted to pop in here and let you know I just hosted a dinner party for like 20 people - and 99% of the stuff I put out was gluten and dairy free, not to mention low-carb (ie. - no or low-sugar)
The menu:
Cold baked wild alaska salmon platter - garnished with lemon wedges, capers, thin red onion rings, and some homemade low-carb tartar sauce.
Turkey meatballs - ground turkey, olive oil, basil, oregano, garlic, onion bits, served with mustard dip.
Shiitake Mushroom and Pork Meatballs with Thai Chili Sauce
Roasted Chicken Salad - a bunch of roasted chicken, some lemon juice, mayo, green onion ends, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Hot Wings
Melon Slices wrapped in Prosicuitto
Spinach Salad with Avocado, thick-cut peppered bacon, campari tomatoes, thin bits of red onions - vinaigrette dressing made with olive oil, walnut oil, freshly minced garlic and balsamic vinegar.
A platter of deviled eggs - made with mayo, lemon, dill pickle juice, chopped dill pickle, dry mustard powder, garnished with sliced black olives.
For dessert we had cake for the 'normal' people, but I also had gluten and Dairy Free Double Dark Chocolate Chunk cookies, as well as some fancy chocolate pieces - (all dairy and gluten free) - Endangered Species brand Deep Forest Mint Dark Chocolate, Green and Blacks brand Maya Gold (orange and spice), Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Wild Blueberries.
Also put out a berry bowl - sliced strawberries, wild blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.
My husband and I were the only 'low-carbers' and the only people trying to avoid dairy and gluten. Furthermore, this was a party for a bunch of people I've never even met.
Nobody noticed - and everyone thought the food was fantastic. Nobody even clued in that it was almost entirely low-carb (yeah I put some bread out, but that was all) and almost all gluten and dairy free.
....
All good food, and no junk. No wasted calories either. Meaning, the calories eaten were the nutrient-dense kind.
You know what? If and when you start transitioning towards a more Paleo style (no, I realize that not everything I eat is totally Paleo, but I do my best)..you'll be eating seriously good food. Highly nutrient-dense, and I think your body will really appreciate it.
I realize of course, that you'll have to choose wisely - pick the things that don't irritate your tummy - but the really neat thing about this whole idea is that you'll be eating fanastic food, and getting really high-quality nutrition.
And even considering the budget - like I said, you really want to get the most nutrient dense foods for your buck, so to speak. Meanwhile, if you do all this - you'll find that you've eliminated the most commonly reactive foods - the things that really mess up our GI system and so on.
You're at a turning point, and things are going to start getting much, much better from here on out. I really believe that.
You don't even need to do a ton of research or get all overwhelmed with details - just keep thinking, "Not sure about wheat/gluten/sugar and maybe even dairy...." and then from there, it'll be "Ok, how much nutrition can I get for this 40 dollars (or whatever) I'm spending?"
Ok - off to bed.
Here's hoping you have a lovely Sunday.
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