Snacks

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Snacks

When you want to change your diet to avoid the triggers for irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS)--listed at the Home Page--a major problem is how to replace
your favorite snacks. Here are some ideas. Also, frequent smaller meals are
recommended for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

A Glass of Milk
I'll start with a shocker. Yes, you probably have been avoiding milk by the
glass for years, as I have. I don't mean "real" milk. Most soy milks carried
in the stores are either high in carbs or have artificial sweeteners added.
If you can find it, unsweetened soy milk is one possibility. You may or
may not want a few drops of Stevia to make it more palatable--yet not
sweet. To me, what tastes most like "real" milk as I remember the taste is
Blue Diamond Natural Almond Breeze. The sweetener is evaporated
cane juice, but the total calories in an 8 oz. serving are 80. Total carbs are
8, and protein is a low 1g. Unsweetened soy milk does better in the
protein department, not so good in the area of calories. See the Soymilk
page here to order soymilk, almond milk, rice milk, and a couple of other
milk alternatives, if the kind you want is not in your local store.

Baked Lays
Remember this one for when you just have to get some fast food fast.
They are available in a surprising number of places, and have a low fat
content. Or have some to snack at home, or serve at parties, or take to
parties.

Bananas
Combine a banana with a few well-chewed mixed nuts or pecans or
walnuts, and plain cocoa mixed with water, or a very small amount of
safe chocolate (see below).

Blueberry tea
This is a low-calorie snack, when made with Stevita Stevia Spoonable Powder 16 Oz">Stevia sweetener. Do not
drink it without sweetener, because it becomes a bit acidic, and could act
as a trigger. It is not a tummy soother, but with Stevia it takes the place of
cookies or candies. The brand I have and love is Bigelow Blueberry Harvest Herbal Tea, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)">Bigelow. Others are
probably good; I just haven't tried them yet.

Cheeses
Yes, these have to be soy cheeses. Look for Galaxy Foods Mozzarella Cheese Alternative Veggie Slices, 12 Slices, 8 oz">Veggie Slices and Ve g gie
Shreds from Galaxy Foods. The same company has, and you can
sometimes find, a bar of good-tasting cheddar cheese.

Chocolate
Chocolate bars, in fact any bars, are pretty much out. They have milk
solids (think "milk" chocolate) and too much sugar, or artificial
sweeteners. I found Ross Chocolates, who put out a lot of bars that have
IBS triggers, and one that doesn't. The one that does not have any IBS
triggers is their "No Sugar Added DARK CHOCOLATE CANDY." This
candy works because most of the triggers for IBS are missing; the one
that is left is FAT. Break up the bar into sections, and have one or at most
two, as in the snack suggested above. If you are troubled by IBS-C, you
may find you can have more of the bar at intervals during the day; if not,
be very cautious.

Wraps
You may be able to find these in many stores now. Use them in the taco
or fajita size; the larger Burrito size has too much fiber to use with your
regular large amount of fiber dosage.

Veggie Booty (Puffs)
Robert's American Gourmet Veggie Booty, 1-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24)">These are made of a variety of vegetable powders on a puffed corn base.
They are more likely to work for you than many kinds of snacks, but they
won't work for all. In other words, your mileage may vary (YMMV). That
said, they do come in handy sizes.

Also, check out the quick food inventions of Tummyblogger at the blog
called For My Tummy.