Hi Recovery Runner! Did your Dr. tell you why you are not digesting the protein properly? The reason I ask is that it sounds like a developed issues and not a genetic one. If that is the case, you may not need to reside yourself to a complete vegetarian diet. While I think a vegetable based diet is key to optimal body function, I do also hold the role of protein in that optimal body function very highly. This article talks about the proper digestion of protein, what can go wrong & why, and what you can do to resensitize your digestive track for protein absorbtion (http://bodyecology.com/articles/getting_enough_protein.php). Now, whether that is from animal sources or not may be a moral issue for you, but it sounds like it is more of a change based on your Dr.'s recommendation.
You also mentioned that your husband has colitis. It sounds like you both may have out of balance digestive systems that are displaying themselves in different conditions, but may be caused by a similarly out of balance diet. This article refers to nutrition therapy for colitis and if he is on medication for it, he may be able to come off of it. (http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/ulcerative-colitis-natural-treatments/?promocode=SUMMER)
Dietary changes that heal the digestive tracks: Making sure you are intaking sufficient fluids (3-4qts of water/day), shoot for 10+ servings of non-starchy vegetables/day, intaking servings of healthy fats with each meal- nuts, oily fish, avacados (I also take cod liver oil- 2000mg/day- brand I buy is Barleans with lemon flavor- absolutely no fishy taste), taking a probiotic suppliment will do wonders for your intestines and the absorbtion of nutrients (I use the Garden of Life brand) , always take a daily multi-vitamin to boost your macro-nutrient absorbtion (B-12 and D vitamins tend to be deficient in people with poor digestion), and most importantly begin to cut out sugar, startches and grains.
This seems like a lot, but will actually simplify things greatly for you when it comes to meal times. I stock my fridge with veggies, minimal fruit (citrus or berries are best), good quality meats (antibiotic free, grass fed and wild caught are best), Bone Broth (home made is best), plain Greek yogurt and Almond or Coconut milk (unsweetened). My pantry has almond flour, whole almonds, flax seed, coconut oil (cook with this b/c of high smoke point), extra-virgin olive oil (never heat b/c of low smoke point- only consume at room temp or cold), balsalmic vinegar and apple cidar vinegar.
When it comes to meal time, super simple: Choose your protein- for us usually chicken or fish (portion size is roughly the size of our open hand); Choose your side- for us usually some kind of stir fry veggie combo, green beans, asparagus or salad (portion size- fill the rest of your plate). After this is finished and if we are still hungry- piece of fruit, handful of nuts and/or cup of yogurt. If you want to get more creative with meals there are some great recipes your can use for inspiration by searching Paleo/Primal/SANE Recipes. These types of recipes will give you a great starting point for getting nutrient dense food into your meal and then you can suppliment from there. If you're thinking you'd have to give up all your favorite foods- wrong- there are some wonderful substitute recipes for all your favorites!
Some favorites of ours are Paleo Pizza (almond flour crust recipes are yummy), BBQ kabobs to get a little protein and a whole lot of veggies, Chili! (grass fed ground beef or shredded chicken, some broth, tomato, zuccini, onion, bell peppers, sometimes black beans, cumin and season with sea salt/other spices to taste- delicioso!) and Paleo Spaghetti and Meatballs (I mix my beef with lots of diced veggies [spinach, onions, peppers, etc.] and some eggs, instead of breadcrumbs- keeps them moist and nutrient dense; grab one of those veggie noodle devices and crank out some zuccini noodles or bake up a spaghetti squash as your noodles; make a from scratch tomato sauce or find a low sugar one from the store! Boom- Spaghetti!). The beauty of all this too is the healthier you eat, the more you crave that food and your tastebuds adjust to them.
Essentially you have to remember that you are doing this for your health. If you are finding it to be a huge struggle with all the whining, talk to your family about being more supportive. I got tired of making two meals, one for myself and one for my husband. I told him I am making one healthy meal, he either eats it or he doesn't and makes his own. Surprise, surprise- that was too much work, so he ate mine. As a result, he is seeing the difference in his own health and is on board now.
Other Healthy Eating Resources:
-Jonathan Bailor- Has done years and years of nutritional and medical research into proper diet for optimal bodily function. He has a great kick start guide, tons of podcasts and some wonderful recipes- http://thesmarterscienceofslim.com/
-Dr. William Davis- Author of Wheat Belly and will explain the reason why the wheat we are being served today is not really wheat, why it is disrumpting normal digestive function and the health effects it is having on our population. You may find that eating grains may be causing a lot of your health issues (such as intestinal inflammation, malabsorption of nutrients, etc.) http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/
-Wellness Mama- This blog is from a Mom's point of view, trying to raise a family with a strong nutritional and healthy foundation. Her article here is how her family instated simple food rules to change their relationship with meal times to a more positive one. They have young children, but I found it to be interesting for adults to follow as well. http://wellnessmama.com/8024/food-rules/
That is a TON of information to chew on, but I hope that helps you!!! Be Well!
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