red meat bad?

I don't think so, other than a "too much of a good thing" notion. If all you ate was red meat, you may have problems, but a varied diet should be encouraged for overall good health. That said, individual tolerances will vary. Just remember, your pouch is just your own small intestine.

There is no evidence that food causes pouchitis. However, various foods can exacerbate the symptoms.

Personally, I've never exhibited any meat intolerances.

Jan

I eat more red meat now than in the past and see no real difference other than my energy level which improves.

But I never really suffered too much from pouchitis.

Sharon

I've been mainly vegetarian for the last several years, but interestingly, beef was one of the foods that caused me issues. I figured this out after a lot of trial and error - I had several consults with a dietitian after my initial surgery, as this was provided through the hospital. Based on what she told me, I always assumed beef was relatively benign in terms of causing digestive issues, so when I had problems including increased frequency, irritation, etc, I tended to focus on the other foods I was eating rather than beef itself. It wasn't until I eliminated everything and was still having issues that I finally figured out it was the beef. As far as red meat in general goes, I never seemed to have any issues with pork, however.  That said, there are studies that link excess red meat consumption to certain types of cancer, heart disease, and yes, to other inflammatory processes. As with anything, though, the key would be moderation, and also knowing and identifying your own triggers.  Beef was apparently a trigger for me, though it may not be for you.

I have no problem digesting it but limit my ingestion of it for general health reasons.

That being said, I sometimes have a strong taste for beef and will eat it on the order of once every other week, at most. Sometimes when I walk by a steak and burger restaurant, the intoxicating smell of the grilled beef overpowers me, and I break down and go inside and order a steak or a bunless burger. I like the taste of  properly grilled red meats a lot. 

For proteins I usually eat poultry, seafood, and  nut butters and nuts, some cheese, and yogurt, but no soy or tofu products which I don't like the taste of.

I am supposed to have brunch Saturday at a Vegetarian restaurant with 3 lady friends of mine from the CCFA support group. I looked at the menu of the place and they are serving something called "tempeh bacon". Anyone ever try it? How do you get something to taste like bacon with no animal fat in it? This restaurant also has brunch dishes like gluten free pancakes and whole grain French Toast. I am not sure what kind of flour they are using in the pancakes, but I will ask. Anyway I have been there before for dinner, and their food is amazing. All 4 of us have been there and love the place. They are using all organic produce and other products mostly from local farms. 

One of their featured desserts is called "no cheese cheesecake", which is apparently house made from a cheese made from cashew milk. I love cashew milk and would like to try this dessert.

Meat in general is great for my pouch.  Thickens and slows output.  I would think it would be a food of choice in terms of pouchitis since it's carb free.  With that said, I do have to be careful with tougher red meat like steak (vs. ground beef) since it has caused some mild blockage issues for me in the past.  

ok, so there isn't a definite on the red meat.... so next question, are carbs bad for the pouch or is it going to be same answer?  I love my burgers and fries and pizza...lol.

and I am out on the road a lot taking my kids all over town for sports and whatever so I have to ask..what are the bestplaces to eat out on the go to pick up quickly..??

Poucho,

I believe that we have been through enough and that we should not be obligied to give up everything that we love...But all things in moderation including moderation...

You do not need to be strict...just vigilant.

Keep a food journal. Mark down what you eat, when you eat it and with what (what drinks, wine or coke? Juice or water? and what meds at the same time?) .

Also write down times of the day you eat (yes, it can make a difference to some of us)...

Then as time goes by you will see the patterns showing up...and be able to decide for yourself what works for you.

Sharon

Same answer. You won't know until you get there. But generally, they say less carbs means less bacterial overgrowth. It just all depends on how well you digest. Nothing is going to kill you if you have it once in a while. Moderation and variety is the key.

Jan

Poucho,

Burgers and fries and pizza shouldn't be any kind of regular diet for the pouch.  I cut down my carbs a few years ago and felt substantially better when I did so, although diet is only a part of the equation.

When you are on the go with kids/sporting events it is hard.  I am on the road traveling from court to court in my state and what I did over time was accumulate knowledge about which restaurants serve somewhat healthier food in each of the locales my business requires me to travel to.  www.Yelp.com is a great resource, download the app onto your phone.  It's free.  It will tell you where all the healthier food places are.  It's a great user based review app.

Alternatively, I cook and freeze foods that I can then reheat in the office microwave.  Just as an example, I cooked a huge crockpot full of chicken soup (I only use a crockpot to cook chicken soup- no liquid is lost and the broth can be intensified to your taste by adjusting cooking times), with pearl barley rather than rice or noodles, and froze most of it.  I used fresh chicken parts, which I browned, onions, carrots, parsnips, turnips, parsley, celery, cauliflower (all fresh and chopped), 3/4 cup pearl barley per full crockpot of soup.  I cook it for around 18-20 hours, a 10 hour overnight and then a 10 hour day cycle in order to get an incredibly rich, healthy soup with nothing but natural ingredients in it.  You can't go wrong with it. I think all pouches like and are receptive to a well cooked chicken soup. And you can freeze it and reheat in a microwave if one is available.

The kids part makes things tougher, but my friend tells me horror stories about the diet his sister is feeding her 7 year old who is diagnosed with UC (coke, candy, junk food non-stop), and he cringes but knows he can't say anything because it is not his kid.  Perhaps, you can set an example for your children.  They are genetically predisposed to inheriting your IBD gene and it could happen to them too down the road, so maybe it's a good idea to set a good example for them now.  I had UC from age 9 and didn't eat well as a kid and that probably played some role in the ultimate loss of my colon to surgery at age 29.

Good luck, and glad to hear you are out there with your kids, which sounds like progress from where you were.

Burgers and fries are not always consumed but I do love them...fries more than burgers. I do love my pizza though. I don't cook though which makes it tough as well.I have tried to do some of the easier things though.

as far as my kids go, they eat pretty well. I only have them 1 day a week and every other weekend and their mom is a great cook and always cooks well for them. They are 10 and 8 and they have never had pop in their lives. They usually just drink lemonaide ,almond milk, or Gatorade. They are kids so they eat candy occasionally but we never let them eat it at will.

So if I am on the go and I need to stop quickly, what would be a better option than burger and fried? chicken I would guess?

Here's my thoughts, and you can take it or leave it. Life is too short to deprive yourself of simple pleasures. 

If you are craving a burger and fries, have it. But try to fit some fruits and vegetables in there too once a day. Chicken, fish, and vegetarian options should be in the mix too. Variety and moderation. Your gut will tell you if it is a good or bad choice. Same thing with pizza. Some things are worth some diarrhea and butt burn. It is all a matter of degree. Overall, I think a burger and fries meal will be better tolerated than fancy desserts, sweet drinks, and packaged snacks. 

Jan

I agree with Jan. I love Mexican and Indian fare. In moderation, these choices are worth the butt burn!

More on topic though, and this can't be repeated enough: what is a trigger for some is fine for others. For example, even though I eat mainly vegetarian, I don't tolerate mushrooms or peppers or corn, though these are staples in many vegetarian diets. Carbs for me, it depends. I'm okay with having pasta once in a while, but if I eat it too often, I have problems. You'll probably find a lot of the same for yourself, and there may not be any rhyme or reason to it; just that some foods are good options for you, while others will not be. And as has already been touched upon, even if you have a less than ideal reaction to a food, it may be tolerable enough that you can still eat it once in a while. Unless you have a bonafide food allergy or cannot live with the symptoms, perhaps you're looking at a trade off (as with me and my Mexican beans... YUM).

Back in the day, my dietitian suggested a food diary as a good way to keep track of things. It can seem like a lot of work, but if you get in the habit of generally writing down what you eat, then it's much easier to identify trigger foods. It's something to consider doing, especially when you're just starting out and finding your feet.

I eat burgers once a week and seems to not bother me. Just love spiral ham  or baked ham ans keep away from it and wondered if it digests well with pouch?

I eat some red meat, on occasion, mostly in chili with ground turkey also.  I very rarely have steak, unless it's a filet.  Mostly fish and chicken.  I just try to eat it in moderation, like Jan suggests.  Not because I worry about my pouch, just because I've always eaten this way.  Also, my husband has to watch what he eats.