A low FODMAP diet plan is very different from a regular diet. For one thing, whereas most diets are focused on eliminating a type of foodstuff or severely restricting calories, a low FODMAP diet is designed for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other digestive issues.
Think of a low FODMAP diet plan like a trapeze act – except you’re risking a far more embarrassing fate than simply falling to your doom.
FODMAPs actually produce a number of beneficial bacteria that the digestive system requires, it’s just that they make an explosive (diarrhea) combination with gastrointestinal conditions like IBS.
Because of this, it’s important not to go cold turkey, but to find out what types of FODMAPs your body can handle with the help of a registered dietician.
Whereas traditional diets tend to be a one-size fits all affair (usually an unrealistically small size) a low FODMAP diet plan is about finding out how your body processes food (or rather, fails to). That’s why the first step should be recording that information.
Once you find a registered dietician to help you on your low FODMAP diet journey, you don’t have to make any major lifestyle changes immediately, but analyze your existing diet and find out what meals send you running to the bathroom immediately after.
It can be very helpful to keep a food diary of what meals you eat every day and what kind of IBS symptoms you experience…and don’t be embarrassed to go into all the details! Once you’ve gathered data, you can start eliminating high FODMAP foods and replacing them with low FODMAP alternatives. And if you get stuck, we have you covered with this list of low FODMAP foods!
Ultimately, this slower, holistic approach can have much longer lasting success than a traditional diet based on caloric restrictions because it’s sustainable. In most diets with strict restrictions, people balloon back to their original weight faster than the Blueberry Girl from Willy Wonka!
No two low FODMAP diet plans are the same and there are a wealth of low FODMAP diet recipes out there to suit even a snooty French restaurant critic’s palette. One of the biggest concerns we hear from people getting ready to embark on a low FODMAP diet is that they have to give up their favourite foods, but this isn’t necessarily true!
At FODY, we specialize in creating low FODMAP alternatives for your favourite meals. For instance, our Low FODMAP Tomato & Basil Sauce is made in Italy specifically for low FODMAP recipes for meals like Mama’s own Spaghetti and Meatballs or Stuffed Zucchini Boats.
Likewise, we also offer alternatives to your favourite salad dressings, including Caesar dressing for low FODMAP diet recipes like delicious low FODMAP Caesar salad wraps that’ll make you go “we came, we saw, and we conquered IBS!”
