Gastroparesis is a long and science-y word for delayed stomach emptying – or in other words a condition that causes your stomach to empty slower than normal. Many might be wondering why this is an issue, but if you’ve had gastroparesis you know it’s more than it seems. Individuals with gastroparesis can suffer from heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and feeling full quickly after eating. You may suffer from gastroparesis after a surgery/procedure, after being given certain medications, if you have uncontrolled diabetes, and if your autonomic system is out of whack.
There are several ways to improve the symptoms of gastroparesis by altering the diet. A low-fiber, low-fat diet is typically recommended for these individuals as fiber and fat typically require more digestion and pass slower into the small intestines after it reaches the stomach. Dietary recommendations and tips also include eating 5-6 small meals/day, avoiding carbonated beverages and chewing thoroughly.
Dietary Guidelines for Gastroparesis: the basics
Any food that is obviously high-fat or high fiber will need to be significantly limited or eliminated on this diet (this includes your French fries and Fiber One bars). Other foods may not seem like they are high fat or high fiber however, fresh fruits and vegetables with the skin on contain higher amounts of fiber, and items like full fat dairy, meat products, and processed foods can often contain higher amounts of fat then we realize.
Try swapping out your typical foods for some of the easy recommendations below:
Grains:
- Refined and enriched bread, plain crackers such as saltines or Melba toast (no seeds)
- White rice, noodles, and refined pasta
- Pancakes/waffles
- Cold and hot cereals made from white or refined flour such as Cream of Wheat.
Fruit and Vegetables
- Canned/well cooked vegetables without seeds or hulls, canned/well-cooked fruits without skins or seeds
- Mashed potatoes
- Vegetable or fruit juice
Protein:
- Lean cuts of tender, well-cooked beef, pork, poultry, or fish
- Eggs or egg substitutes
- Smooth nut butters
- Tofu
Dairy:
- Fat-free or low fat milk
- Fat-free or low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese
- Fat-free or low-fat cheese
- Low-fat ice cream or sherbets
Recipe Ideas
------Mexican Shredded Chicken over White Rice------
Ingredients:
2 (8oz) lean chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, fat trimmed)
½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 c low sodium, low fat vegetable or chicken broth
2 Tbsp lime juice
For garnish (optional):
1/4c diced fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. Heat large pot of boiling water
2. Boil chicken breasts for 15 minutes and check for doneness
3. Remove chicken from water, shred finely with fork
4. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine spices with broth of choice. Add shredded chicken, stir well, and simmer on low until sauce has thickened.
5. Serve chicken over rice, garnish with cilantro if desired.
------Fresh Spinach Basil Pesto------
Pesto recipe inspiration from Lorane Abari of Food.com
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh basil, packed
1 cup fresh spinach, packed
1/3 cup low fat chicken broth
1 tsp grated lemon zest
3 garlic cloves
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
Directions:
1. Combine stock and garlic and heat in the microwave for 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. Add basil and spinach to food processor, roughly chop. Add seasoning, lemon zest and garlic from broth. Blend in food processor, slowly adding broth until smooth.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta of your choice. Serve with sauce.
*for added protein, add 1 sliced low-fat turkey sausage, or sliced chicken breast to pasta dish
------Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries with Low-Fat Garlic Dip------
Ingredients:
For sweet potatoes:
2 Large sweet potatoes
1 tbsp low-fat margarine
1 tbsp rosemary
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder
For garlic dip:
½ cup low-fat Greek yogurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
Pinch of salt and pepper
For sweet potatoes:
1. Preheat the oven to 400
2. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into vertical wedge/fry shape.
3. Melt margarine in microwave for 15 seconds.
4. In large bowl, toss potato wedges with margarine and seasoning. Spread potatoes evenly on baking sheet, making sure potatoes are not touching or overlapping.
5. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping potatoes halfway through.
For garlic dip:
1. Combine all ingredients in food processor. Blend until smooth.
------Southwest Tofu Scramble------
Recipe from Minimalist Baker
Ingredients:
Scramble:
8 oz extra firm tofu
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup spinach
¼ red onion
Sauce:
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp turmeric
Water (to thin)
For serving (optional)
Cilantro
Hot sauce
Salsa
Instructions:
1. Pat tofu dry and roll in a clean, absorbent towel with something heavy on top, such as a cast iron skillet for 15 minutes.
2. While tofu is draining, prepare sauce by adding dry spices in a small bowl and adding enough water to make it a pourable sauce.
3. Heat skillet over medium heat. Chop onions. Add oil and onions to skillet and sauté for 1 minute.
4. Once tofu is finished draining, crumble with a fork into a small bowl. Add crumbled tofu to onion mixture. Sauté for 2 minutes.
5. Add sauce to scramble and sauté for additional 5-7 minutes until tofu is slightly browned. Add spinach to the mixture 1 minute before removing from heat.
6. Serve immediately with desired toppings.
Sources Cited
1. Gastroparesis Diet for Delayed Stomach Emptying. (2011, November 2). Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. https://www.gicare.com/gi-health-resources/gastroparesis-diet/
2. Gastroparesis Management and Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15522-gastroparesis/management-and-treatment
3. 1-Pan Mexican Shredded Chicken | Minimalist Baker Recipes. (2019, October 15). Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pan-mexican-shredded-chicken/
4. Low Fat Pesto Sauce Recipe—Food.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2020, from https://www.food.com/recipe/low-fat-pesto-sauce-234198
5. Simple Southwest Tofu Scramble | Minimalist Baker Recipes. (2014, September 4). Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/southwest-tofu-scramble/