Need to change diet but kind of stuck :/

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Hi,

So, long story short I've had stomach/digestive issues for years... Also, like lots of other people with autism, I have a very kind of narrow diet. On top of that, I deal with some chronic pain issues with my back (and other stuff), so I generally don't make food at home.

Tend to eat out, and I'm on disability, so I tend to eat cheap... Tacos, gyros, pasta, burgers, etc...

Maybe slightly more diverse than some people, but still quite limited.

I went to my doc because of digestive pain issues/blood and she basically responded how I kind of expected...

Cut the gluten, spicy stuff, and acidy stuff out of my diet and see of things get better (while waiting to get into a gastro specialist anyway)...

Well, that's basically everything I eat.

I'm kind of panicking... I have a really f'in hard time eating things outside of what I already eat, either due to texture issues, price, or lack of ability to cook food at home...

On top of that, I am a hermit... Between autism and the physical issues I have, I don't have friends, don't leave my house, I dont get to do any of the s**t I used to enjoy doing... I hate my life.. Pretty much borderline suicidal as a daily thing. What happens when you take away the only thing a semi-suicidal person actually is able to find some pleasure in? Last thing I want to do is something that is going to make my situation worse... :/

Food/shopping, is the only reason I leave my house (and doctor appointments)... It's the only thing I look forward to on a daily basis... It's the only thing I really derive any sort of pleasure from, getting to eat tasty stuff...

I have no idea what to do... My diet and extreme sedentary life is killing me... I'm at like 320lbs and very weak due to the atrophy caused from sitting in the same chair for years, on top of being limited by my back pain issues and other stuff...

Obviously my diet needs to change to try to gain some kind of control over my weight/digestive health but I'm at a loss as to how to do it.

Not only do I need to figure out a way to acquire/cook healthy food I need to figure out a way to swallow it without f*****g gagging because of the texture and stuff.

If I could afford a private chef to come and cook good tasting healthy food I'd probably be able to figure out something to eat.. but everything I can think of that I can "tolerate", is not really available at local restaurants and would require cooking at home, which is pretty much not in the cards.

Any suggestions?

If you'd like to change your diet I would recommend going very slowly and maybe starting with one food. I have a habit of going through periods of junk food then healthy food for years and what works best for me is to transition slowly.

Since you're on disability you may be eligible for healthy meals brought to your home. You can check the Human Services Department in your state. Where I am it's called a CADI waiver and basically provides additional funding for services. Another service is called ARMHS and with this a person will come to your house and teach mental health management and independent living skills once or more a week. For both of these there is eligibility requirements so you'd have to check it if you are interested. I did ARMHS for a few years.

I know it feels real bad to feel real bad so I hope the way into something new comes to you.

Spend most of your food budget in the produce section. Even with chronic pain (which I have too), learn some simple food preparation techniques. Every meal should have at least two fruit/vegetable servings.

Eat slowly and try to savor the different flavors of the foods. You can learn to like most vegetables if you give them a try, and without relying on heavy sauces. Select a few fresh herbs you like and put those into your cooking. For instance, I like basil and dill.

I am a believer in gradual improvement, but the danger of that is that you may lose focus and never return to the point of your effort. See a nutritionist that is covered by your health insurance, and plan at least one follow-up appointment which will no doubt be used to monitor your progress.

It's okay to occasionally treat yourself to a special food you like, but in limited amounts. For instance, I buy high-quality dark chocolate bars (I prefer Lindt) and have a square or two from the bar once a day, or so. In limited quantities you can have almost any treat.

I'm aware that you insist that you are not going to do the food prep yourself, and all I can say is that's not an acceptable plan. (Exception would be if you had a life partner that likes to cook, but that does not appear to be your case.) With limited funds, GI problems, a serious need for weight loss, and strong food preferences, the only way to get healthy with your diet is to cook it yourself.

Good luck. It's not as huge an issue as it seems. Gradual improvement.... but get a nutritionist to help you maintain focus and explore some new menu ideas.

I agree with the part about starting with one food at a time. That seems helpful. Also, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and eat either vegetarian, fish, or lean chicken or beef, as opposed to pork, fried chicken or fatty meats.

I'm not sure which food textures are problematic for you, so it's hard to offer specific advice.

What works for me:
- Snack on nuts and whole fruit (not juice)
- Main meals should include a protein (meat/fish/eggs) and at least 2 types of vegetable of different colours.
- If worried about gluten, try rice - very easy to cook in a rice cooker

Hope that helps.

I'm on food stamps and it doesn't cover the whole month (maybe 3 weeks out of it). I'm very lucky to have a friend who helps me fill the gaps each month to be able to feed myself. But on that limited budget, I'm still basically able to follow a vegetarian diet w/the exception of fish I have every day (out of a can). It's not perfect and it's not for everyone, but it's one healthy way to go and it is affordable, at least if you have access to a place like Trader Joe's, where I basically buy all my groceries. I would suggest try eating as much of a plant based diet as you can stand/like and afford. Good luck and hope your health turns around in the future!

I'm a very picky eater too who cant cook much & what I would do would be to try & start small & try to figure out exactly which type of food is causing the digestive issues. I'd cut just one of those types of foods out of my diet for a while(maybe a month or two) & see if the digestive issues get any better. If not, I'd go back to that food & get rid of another one for a while.
As for your weight issue, I would try to eat less of some stuff. For example if you eat some very unhealthy snacks, try to cut back on those &/or replace them with something healthier. After that, try to eat smaller portions for meals & if you still feel hungry, you could eat something semi healthy for a snack.
There's been good or seemingly good advice in this thread so far but one thing I would keep in mind about it is that if your trying to cut acidic stuff out of your diet, you have to be careful which produce you buy & eat. You have to cut out tomatoes & anything similar to oranges for example. I know cuz I have GERD(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) which aggravates my throat sometimes & acidic food like what I mentioned can make my throat burn sometimes.
I really need to take some of my own advice too cuz I gained alot of weight the last couple years due to binge-eating & lack of exercise. Rite now I'm trying to get in the habit of exercising more by walking alittle more & to reduce my snacking. I can worry about changing my diet gradually after I make the other stuff habits. I have to start small.