I have a tip for you that some SCDers may not have tried yet. The first time I made yogurt I stood by the stove for an hour waiting for the milk to heat up. It was a real drag. The next time I made 2 quarts of yogurt I put the milk in a glass bowl (in 2 separate batches) in the microwave and heated each bowlful on high for 8-10 minutes each. When they were done I transferred them to a pot and put the stove on low heat. The milk reached 180 F within about 3 minutes - it was great. Now I can get the milk ready really quickly and be on my way.
Another thing we did in preparation for the diet was to can tomatoes. As you know the diet calls for canned tomato juice only, which I think would be quite limiting. My husband and I bought about 50 lbs of roma tomatoes and made canned tomatoes, marinara sauce (yours), stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and tomato salsa. It makes it so much easier when you are cooking to just grab what you need off the shelf. This might be a helpful tip for those people planning to start the diet.
Hi Erin,
Been making coconut milk using Elana's Pantry method - with shredded coconut - and it is delish. I no longer trust any canned coconut to be completely pure even if they only list coconut and water as ingredients so this is what I use now. So it is good for people who really need to be super strict or are in the process of figuring out what is causing them trouble.
I modify Elana's recipe by using hot to boiling water to soak coconut directly in my blender. I let it cool a bit and then blend for a full minute. Then I run it through my juicer which I prefer to squeezing it through the strainer bag.
Another item I love recently: Napa Valley Naturals vinegars. They all say no added sugar. They have a balsamic vinegar that is called Grand Reserve that says it is aged up to 18 years. Wow, how incredibly exciting for us SCD'ers out here to have balsamic - so sweet and opens up so many culinary opportunities.
Hey Erin..I am so so thankful for your website..thank you so much, I love your magazines....Anyways, I have been on the diet 2 months now, I was on it for 2 years about 5 years ago and it helped greatly and pretty much treated me....but after two pregnancies and strong hormones...I guess it's back? Anyways....that's beside the point..I was wondering if you knew of any legal tomato paste? It seems some recipes call for "a can" of it and I'm not sure....just thought I'd ask :) thanks...
Hi,
I'm so glad you're back on the SCD. You already know it works since you were successful with it a few years ago, so it's great that you are going to get your health back! I've been on it for over 8 years now, without ever going off, and I just live a totally normal life with no intestinal health issues at all, no meds, no pain, no nothing!
I'm glad you like our magazines, too! We're hoping they'll really help people enjoy the diet and see how they can make it part of a regular lifestyle.
About the tomato paste, you can make an easy tomato paste by grinding up some tomatoes in a food processor and then draining the pulp in a strainer lined with a coffee filter. Leave it for a while until it's nice and thick and use as much as you need. During summer, when tomatoes are cheaper, you could make a bunch of it and freeze it in an ice cube tray, then when you need some concentrated tomato flavor in a dish, just throw in a cube or two.
Another idea is to buy Campbell's original tomato juice, pour the whole bottle (or desired amount) into a high sided pan and let it boil for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's thick. This is a great way to make tomato sauce. If you add a little honey, vinegar, cinnamon, etc. to taste, you can make catsup.
Yet another way to get wonderful tomato flavor is to roast whole plum tomatoes in the oven. In a cookie sheet with sides, place several whole tomataoes, salt and pepper them to taste and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes, turning tomatoes once. This makes a great and flavorful, thick sauce that can be used in lots of ways. Hope these ideas help!
Hi Erin,
Thank you for all you do. A few things:
1. We tried "Jim's Fluffy Pancakes" and it is the best SCD pancake recipe that we've tried. I noticed one of the ingredients is 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla, I'm thinking you might have meant 2 teaspoons. Also, since 4 TB = 1/4 cup, you could change the honey measurement to 1/4 cup which would be easier for the baker.
2. I went to Spectrum Natural's website and I read that their Organic Mayonnaise contains Soybean Oil. Per the Legal/Illegal list on www.pecanbread.com, soybean oil is "illegal" so I'm thinking the mayo may not be a good option for people.
3. We ordered (but haven't received yet) some SCD legal biscotti. Have you tried these yet? The web site is: http://www.jkgourmet.ca/. They also sell granolla.
4. And here's a nice find: have you found the web site for Digestive Wellness? It is: http://www.digestivewellness.com/
Here people can purchase Marinara Sauce that's sugar free and SCD compliant! There are other products here too. We ordere some of the baked goods, but quite honestly our homemade baked goods are better.
Happy eating!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the pancake recipe! It's so fun to have "normal" tasting pancakes, isn't it? The 2 Tablespoons of vanilla is correct. Thanks for the tip on the honey measurement.
I know that the soybean oil issue is a bit confusing. I go by what "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" says - all oils are legal according to the book, including oils made from illegal ingredients such as soy or corn. Some people don't prefer to use soy oil, but that is a personal choice. The legal/illegal list is a little confusing on a handful of ingredients, so when in doubt I go by what Elaine said in the book.
Yes, I love the digestive wellness site! I also have ordered some of the premade baked goods and have found this to be a nice treat every once in a while, or when I go on vacation. I have them as a link on "Links to SCD-related sites."
Take care,
Erin
I'm very happy that I have found your website. I have been doing my own research since no doctor has really given me much as far as dietary direction. After looking at your website I did go and buy the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle and am trying to get started doing the diet. So far it has been challenging trying to figure out how to organize my kitchen and life to get started. I live with my boyfriend and I still haven't figured out how can I make meals for both of us so I don't have to make something different for myself and then feel like i'm missing out. Any advice you might have would be helpful for me. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and am not sure what to do.
Thank you very much
Hi,
Thanks so much for your note! I'm sorry it took awhile to get back to you - I just got back in town after visiting family over the holidays.
Basically, what I do to make meals that work for both my husband, son and myself is that I will make a very "normal" SCD recipe for us all, and then add non-legal food on the side for them, such as bread, rice, potatoes, chips, etc. I have found that this works really well. Find out what kinds of recipes your boyfriend likes and then try to make SCD versions using SCD cookbooks and my website. My favorite main dishes from the website are: San Antonio Tacos, Minestrone Soup, Chicken with Lime Butter, Oven Fried Chicken, Havarti Chicken with Veggies, Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Mom's Meatloaf, Thai Chicken and Vegetables, and Morroccan Chicken. These are all very normal recipes that he should like also.
You could also get ideas on menus through the Menus to Get You Started page on our website: http://nomorecrohns.com/recipes.aspx
In addition, you might check out a couple of our magazines that have ideas and tips on cooking:
Shopping and planning tips, kitchen tips: http://nomorecrohns.com/JulyAugust.aspx
Saving time in the kitchen: http://nomorecrohns.com/MarchApril09WebMagazine.aspx
Also, all 6 of our magazines have a section titled, "5 Nights, 5 Dinners" which includes a grocery list for each week, so you can plan ahead for a whole week's dinners.
You might also look at two of my favorite SCD cookbooks: "Lucy's SCD cookbook" and Raman Prasad's "Recipes for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet." Raman's has a section that gives a run-down of the basics of the SCD that is really helpful. You can find these on www.digestivewellness.com or www.lucyskitchenshop.com.
I hope this helps! Please write any time you have questions...
Take care,
Erin
www.nomorecrohns.com
I wanted to come up with a cake that at least faintly resembled a birthday cake. My daughter and I love Jim's Fluffy pancakes. My husband gave me the idea of using the Fluffy pancake recipe as a cake recipe. I just wanted to let you know that I doubled the recipe and poured the batter into two 8 in round pans greased with shortening. I baked them at 325 for about 40 minutes. I put a raspberry/gelatin/honey spread (similar to your strawberry spread for the pancakes) between the 2 layers and served. Delish!! Thanks for your website. The info is invaluable. Three members of my family are on the SCD diet and all are doing well.
Dear Erin, Your site is such an encouragement , especially the prepared products. Thank you so much for your time. I love chicken but more than that I love marinated chicken, Most all of my recipes for marinade call for soy sauce. Have you found any substitute for soy sauce in your cooking? Thanks so much.
Hi,
I asked my mom about this question, as she is a very experienced cook and has put together a lot of the recipes for the site, and this is what she wrote:
“I know, soy sauce is a real staple for marinades. Part of what it provides is salt, so you can add that to pineapple juice or lime/lemon juice. I also like to add a little toasted sesame oil to add that Asian flavor. There's nothing I know of with the right color, but that's a secondary consideration. Adding honey to all this will give some of the same effect as teriyaki sauce. Yogurt based marinades are also good. The yogurt has a tenderizing effect like the lemon juice does. The Garlic Chicken Kabobs recipe on page 4 of the Menus to Get You Started documents has a garlic/yogurt marinade that's really good. Also, people often use a regular recipe for Italian vinaigrette dressing (see "great dressings" recipe) as an excellent marinade. Hope this helps!
Robin”
I just wanted to let you know how much I've been enjoying Jim's Fluffy Pancakes. They make me feel like I'm not missing out on anything. Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
I have been on SCD now just 2 months. I would love to try the ice cream recipes. I know when you use the yogurt in baked goods it kills the live bacteria that are supposed to be so good for you. Does the same thing happen with freezing or is the live bacteria still helpful? Thank you so much.
Hi! Thanks so much for writing. I'm glad you're on the diet! I also wondered about the same question and just researched it and found this answer on www.stonyfield.com:
"Does freezing yogurt destroy or alter the effectiveness of the live cultures?"
You can freeze a cup of yogurt. A cup of yogurt that has been frozen and thawed will have a different look and texture than fresh yogurt. The cultures become dormant when frozen, but once thawed either in the refrigerator or by your body heat when ingested; they will become live and active once again. There will be a few cultures that do die, but there are so many billions in our products, that it is truly insignificant."
I usually have a cup of yogurt a day in the morning either in a smoothie or with honey and fruit. In addition to that, I enjoy some SCD vanilla ice cream when I have it on hand. Probably eating some regular yogurt in addition to ice cream would be the best idea to make sure you get all of the bacteria you need. Elaine Gottschall recommended eating no more than 3 cups of the SCD yogurt a day, because of the higher levels of galactose in yogurt that is incubated for 24 hours.
Take care,
Erin
www.nomorecrohns.com
I just started the SCD last week and seem to be feeling better already. I was just diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and so far my case appears to be fairly mild. I've read Breaking the Vicious Cycle, but still have a few questions. One, I've noticed the use of coconut milk in some SCD recipes, but haven't been able to find any without guar gum - does it exist? Is guar gum much of a concern? Similarly, I would really like to be able to have an occasional glass of wine, but I'm nervous about picking out the right kind. I know "dry" wine is allowed, but I'm unsure how to apply this rule since my tendancy is towards more "fruity" wines. Has anyone tried to identify brands that don't add additional sugar during the wine making process? I haven't been able to find much on the topic and would love some insight.
Thanks for putting so much helpful information out there!
I'm so glad that you've found the SCD and are getting started on it!
There is coconut milk without guar gum, and that is the type you want to look for - guar gum isn't legal so it should be avoided. I found some coconut milk that had just a preservative in it at Kroger grocery store (I'm forgetting the brand name right now but it was an asian brand name and I found it in the asian/foreign food section of the store). Some people have said that Trader Joe's carries a legal coconut milk - I believe it's the light version, but I've never looked at it myself to verify that. You want to find one that has just coconut milk and preservative in it.
One note about coconut milk: You should wait until symptoms are gone before adding it to your diet.
I haven't had any problems with white wine - I usually have the Trader Joe's brand white wine. Here's a link I found on Wines on the official SCD website; you might search a little more on the site to see if there is any more info on choosing a legal wine: http://breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/wines.htm
Take care,
Erin
Greetings! I have been doing research on the SCD Diet and I noticed that almond flour is used in many recipes. My husband has a nut allergy so I do not use or buy any products that contain nuts. Do you know if coconut flour would be a suitable substitute?
On a side note, I have found your website to be very helpful. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Colitis over 6 years ago and I have been on a roller coaster ever since. After giving birth to my first child in May, I have found my symptoms difficult to control, even with Remicade and Prednisone. I am hoping that the SCD Diet will bring me some much needed relief so that I can at least get off of the steroids.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
I'm so glad that you found the SCD and are going on it! It truly does work, and is totally worth the effort it takes to learn the ropes at the beginning. I hope that my Starting the Diet page will make the process a little easier for you!
Coconut flour is legal on the SCD, but its consistency is different than almond or other nut flours, so unfortunately it can't be substituted in recipes that call for nut flours. Also, coconut should only be tried after all symptoms are gone as it's very fibrous and could bother you until you're well healed inside.
My mom is working on a cooking with coconut flour booklet (recipes and tips on cooking with coconut flour) which will be available on the website in the future. In the meantime, you can find some ideas on cooking with coconut flour in some cookbooks such as "Cooking with Coconut Flour" by Bruce Fife. http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Coconut-Flour-Gluten-Free-Alternative/dp/0941599639 Keep in mind that you'll need to substitute legal ingredients in most of the recipes, such as honey for sugar and baking soda for baking powder...
You can find two yummy coconut flour recipes in the November/December issue of our web magazine as well.... http://nomorecrohns.com/NovemberDecember.aspx
I hope this helps! Please feel free to write any time you have questions. I hope you will be feeling much better very soon!
Are gluten free products okay? if not, whats the difference..is it the sugar we have to watch out for in the gluten free products? like there is a gluten free soy sauce available...would that be okay?
Hi Erin,
Gluten free-products are usually not okay, because while the SCD is gluten-free, it's also much more than gluten-free since it eliminates all sugars except fruit sugar and honey, all grains (even rice and corn), and all lactose. I have listed all legal products that I am aware of and have worked okay for me on my Prepared Products page if you want to take a look at that.
Whenever you have a question about whether something is legal, a good resource is the legal/illegal list, the Knowledge Base and the Search function on the official SCD website. Also, be sure to read the book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall to grasp the whole science behind the diet, the list of what is legal and not legal, etc. This will help you whenever you have a question about whether something is legal or illegal.
Hi Erin,
Is coconut flour (as in your biscotti recipe) just ground dried shredded coconut which I can prepare in the food processor or is it actually a different product?
Hi,
Coconut flour is actually different than blenderized coconut. You can find it at Sprout's or sometimes the grocery store, under the Bob's Red Mill label (usually a whole bunch of different flours of this brand are all together in the baking ingredients section). Or you could also buy it through www.tropicaltraditions.com. (Also follow instructions on coconut in BTVC; I believe it can be tried after several months of no symptoms.)
Could you tell me which milk you use to make the homeade yogurt?
Thanks much!
You can choose any milk you want to use to make the yogurt. If you're trying to gain weight, I'd choose to make it with whole milk. Otherwise, I usually use 2% myself but you can use 1% if desired.
The key is to use a legal starter when making the yogurt. You can use Dannon All Natural plain yogurt for the starter (not the nonfat which contains pectin - illegal) or the Yogourmet starter packets (for example or to buy see this link: http://www.lucyskitchenshop.com/yogourmet.html#starter). For other brands that are legal as a starter, see this link: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/yoghurt/yog_starters.htm
Erin