Villasillo2008's Weblog

Easy IC Style Tuna Sandwich

2 slices sandwich bread (without preservatives)
1 can pure tuna (Star Kist Gourmet’s Choice Tuna Fillet, in water– this kind does not have soy or flavor enhancers, unlike others)
margarine, tub kind
salt
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried chervil for low oxalate)
red lettuce leaf

Spread margarine generously on one side of each piece of bread. Drain the tuna and break up with a fork. Mix with the parsley and a dash of salt. Arrange tuna on one bread slice, top with lettuce and other bread slice.

Ready to eat snacks

There are a few companies that produce snack-type food we can eat. But it used to be that brands would stay pretty much the same year after year. Now however, products come and go in the blink of an eye. Companies merge, formulas change, brands disappear. Today an item has no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Tomorrow they decide to change the recipe and add bladder burners like monosodium glutamate or aspartame. That’s why I’m a little hesitant to name products… this article may be around long after the manufacturer has changed the recipe for the packaged food. So please check labels for ingredients your bladder can’t tolerate, no matter what I say here! Also bear in mind that everyone is a bit different, so these are just suggestions for products to take a look at. The items have been suggested by various IC patients and not everyone will be able to eat every one of these.

With that caveat, here are some packaged snack type foods that (for now at least) are good to take on trips:

• Triscuits; Original and Deli-Rye only
  
• Pringles Original potato crisps (in a red can)
  
• Potato chips; Kettle Chips natural gourmet potato chips, lightly salted only
  
• Pretzels; Snyders of Hanover, Old Tyme, regular
  
• Salted cashews; Costco’s Signature brand has no artificial ingredients added
  
• Marshmallows, plain white
  
• Carob-coated malt balls; from Whole Foods Markets
  
• Orville Redenbacher popping corn, plain (Comes as kernels in a jar. Not the microwave bag-type); prepared at home. Corn may bother a few who need low oxalate.
  
• Tostitos white corn restaurant style tortilla chips, plain. (Corn may bother a few who need low oxalate.)
  
• Corn Nuts, original flavor. (Corn may bother a few who need low oxalate.)
  
• Bubbie’s dill pickles (No acid, no preservatives. In the refrigerated section of the market)
• String cheese or mozzarella strips
• See’s candies; white coated cashew brittle (for those who can tolerate a little white chocolate)

We can also assemble some other nutritious snacks quickly. The veggies are good just dipped in a bit of salt, or with a dip (see recipe from my cookbook below): Black olives, carrot sticks, celery sticks, whole radishes, red bell pepper strips, whole roasted almonds, bananas, blueberries

The Top Five Forbidden Foods

The top five forbidden foods are those foods that are NOTORIOUS for causing IC flares. We suggest you eliminate these immediately from your diet. Even one small serving a day can trigger a night of sleeplessness and pain. Please note that this is not for the rest of your life. It will be, however, needed for several months to give your bladder time to recover. 

Cheating with these foods is risky. In our experience, the patients who continue to consume these foods, especially that one cup of coffee a day (decaf or regular), are those who suffer the most with pain and discomfort. Furthermore, we believe that no therapy can counteract the damage and irritation created by a daily “acid” wash from these foods. If you want your bladder to calm down, your first step is to eliminate these risk foods.

• Coffees – Regular & Decaf should be avoided!
• Teas – Regular, Decaf and Green Tea!
• Sodas – Regular and Diet
• Fruit Juices, especially cranberry and orange!
• Multivitamins that contain Vitamin C and/or B6

What can you drink, particularly in meetings?? If you’re symptoms are active, stick with hot water and/or sugar (no lemon please)  or stop at starbucks and get a peppermint tea or steamed milk with your favorite flavoring (i.e. vanilla, gingerbread, pumpkin spice). We also recommend chamomile herbal tea because they are well known to soothe the smooth muscle of the bowel as well as reduce painful spasms.