Inbox: College Life

(For more ideas on staying on the SCD while living in a college dorm, see my article in the September/October edition of our web magazine I want to Thrive!)

Hi Erin,

I stumbled across your site today as I was looking into SCD. I've been having crazy stomach issues for the past couple years and my nutritionist recently recommended that I try the diet to see if it offers any relief. Although the diet seems quite restrictive and difficult to follow, your story is inspiring! Your determination to try the diet for 1 month has motivated me to do the same. I think getting started will be the toughest part of the diet, so really I'd love any advice or encouragement you have for the first week or two. I am a senior in college, so I don't have tons of time, but I love to cook and am willing to prepare my own foods. Do you have any tips for things I can make in bulk and freeze in the beginning stage of the diet? Really, any tips you have are welcome! Thanks. AM

Hi AM,

Thanks for writing! I'm glad you found the website to be useful. I'm sorry to hear that you are having stomach issues...it's no fun, that's for sure! That's great that your nutritionist recommended the SCD. Trying it for one month is a great way to see how it will go and to see what relief it can give you.

For things to make in bulk, I would definitely make the Easy Sandwich Bread that is in the Snacks section. You can make a triple batch (or more!) at a time and once it has cooled, freeze in gallon size ziplok bags. When you want to make a sandwich, pull two out and defrost in the microwave or toast in a toaster oven. You can make quick peanut butter and honey sandwiches using Laura Scudder's peanut butter (or another with peanuts and salt only). You can also make jam quickly by cooking some frozen strawberries in the microwave or on the stove, then mashing and adding honey. You could also make a tuna mixture with tuna that has just tuna, water, and salt. Add regular mustard, a little SCD yogurt, and chopped celery.

Also, SCD yogurt is a very big part of the diet. Every morning you can make an easy breakfast by making a smoothie with SCD yogurt, a speckled banana, fruit, and honey.

Quick snack ideas:
- Cheddar Cheese slices with peanut butter and raisins on top.
- Lara Bars (expensive but a quick filling snack in a pinch. The following flavors are legal: Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie, Ginger Snap, Cashew Cookie, Apple Pie).
- Dole Pineapple or Pineapple-Orange juice in small cans.
- Dates with pecans inside (can be carried easily in a backpack all day; make sure dates don't have sugar coating).
- SCD yogurt with honey. Add fresh fruit and pecans on top, if desired.
- Stretch Island Fruit Leather (legal flavors: grape, raspberry, apricot, blackberry).
- Apple Chips with just apple and preservative like ascorbic acid (I found some with the Nature Valley brand at Walmart and Target, but I've been having trouble finding it lately. A health food store might have another brand. Just make sure there isn't anything but apple and preservative in it).
- Target's Market Pantry unsweetened applesauce cups
- North Coast brand apple sauce in large container (I found it at Sprout's but it may be at other health food stores as well. If not this brand, try any kind that has just apples and water. Ascorbic Acid is ok as well.)
- Cheese Lace recipe from my website under Snacks section. This travels well, and is pretty fast to make. It's also a good "chip" with homemade guacamole or salsa.
- Speckled bananas are also easy and fast energy.
-Trader Joe's freeze dried pineapple or mango.

Soup is also an easy thing to make a lot of. The minestrone soup from the "menus to get you started" or the Soup section takes about 1/2 hour to prepare in the morning. Just put it in the Crock Pot all day. Freeze the leftovers for several more dinners.

Also, make some easy chicken broth AND San Antonio Tacos by putting a whole chicken (Foster Farms or Sanderson Farms has nothing added to it; watch out for broth added to whole chickens) in the Crock Pot on low all day. Take the meat off the bones and make into San Antonio Taco meat. Freeze leftovers for another few meals. Strain the broth and refrigerate for a soup base later. Freeze if desired.

These are just some quick ideas I have. Does that help? Let me know if you have other questions!

Thanks for writing and take care!
Erin
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Hi Erin,

I have another question for you. My daughter would love to have mints or gum to chew for breath freshner. Other than sucking on cardamom pods, which aren't that appealing to her, I don't know what else she could use for her breath.
 
What do you think would be a good SCD item? Wondering
 
Hi Wondering,
 
The only product I've been able to find that seemed to be legal and I had no symptoms from was Burt's Bee's Peppermint Drops. I have had trouble finding them, though, lately and am wondering if they still make them.
 
Ah...I just looked it up on google and it looks like they still do make it, and you can buy it at a variety of online stores...here's one example: http://www.ericsnaturalpharmacy.com/BURTS_natural_remedies.htm
 
I hope this helps! 
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Items to help you follow the diet while you're away at college.