Eating for Gastroparesis: Guidelines, Tips & Recipes

by Crystal Zaborowski Saltrelli

Certified Health Coach and Gastroparesis Expert Crystal Saltrelli has helped thousands of people around the world learn to live well with gastroparesis.

In this updated edition of Eating for Gastroparesis: Guidelines, Tips & Recipes , Crystal sets forth practical, easy-to-understand dietary modifications to help alleviate your symptoms...without compromising your nutrition and overall health.

You’ll learn Crystal’s ten guidelines of Eating for Gastroparesis, as well as how to choose gastroparesis-friendly food at home, in restaurants, and while socializing.

Through extensive food lists, answers to all of the most frequently asked questions, dozens of helpful tips, and over 75 nutrient-rich recipes, you’ll discover that a gastroparesis diagnosis does not have to mean the end of healthy, enjoyable eating.

“Crystal’s books are a gold mine to anyone living with gastroparesis. It is the first resource I direct my patients to, whether newly diagnosed or not. I personally use many of Crystal’s recommendations and resources to manage my own gastroparesis and to help others navigate this new way of eating and living. I trust Crystal’s information, as she digs deep to provide accurate and up-to-date information for her readers.”
- Angela Moeding, Registered Dietitian

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

178 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2011

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very helpful for understanding gastroparesis. My only issue is that it seems from this that in order to "Eat well for gastroparesis" you need to have unlimited time, energy and money, the first 2 are not always possible when struggling with gastroparesis symptoms. I was recently diagnosed and I'm still figuring out my meds and the best plan for me. I think in this situation her other book may be of more help. This book seems to be meant for those who already have their gastroparesis under control. As someone who is very symptomatic at this stage I don't really think it's feasible for me to spend all day cooking homemade bone broth when I can barely stand. I appreciate the tips and tricks throughout this book very much but it's not the most helpful for those just trying to make it day to day. I also thought that most of the recipes require a special trip to an organic store and lots of random ingredients which is just completely overwhelming for me.

I'm hoping to revisit this when I have a better handle on my symptoms as it may be less overwhelming.

[Leah Markum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eating for Gastroparesis covers the basics of diet for people with gastroparesis. The book has three parts. The first two are suitable for the newly diagnosed and the third is a useful reference for any gastroparesis patient that is willing to dedicate some time and energy on cooking. I personally suggest to make batches on the weekend for the weekdays when you don't have time or energy, or if you have someone supportive have them help out.

The first, "The Guidelines", highlights information that the newly diagnosed might just be getting acquainted with depending on how search engine prone they are. The author goes over things like lighter, more frequent meals; light exercise like walking after meals; and low fiber and low fat content.

The second part, "The Details", shares which specific foods in each major food category someone with gastroparesis can eat safely. This includes how to include vegetables, avoid "sneaky" fiber artificially added in processed foods, and how to enjoy eating with others at restaurants.

Part three, "The Recipes", is the second that any gastroparesis patient can benefit from. Anyone other than the newly diagnosed may have researched or experienced the solutions in the first two parts, but I suspect most of us need help on occasion to try new foods. Gastroparesis makes it easy to stick to a handful of meal variations. There are 50 recipes, and I counted 22 that I have either done (a few) or would like to try (most). The rest are mostly "family" meals and baked goods, which I happen to not have a preference for.

I'll add the same caution that the author uses: be wary of foods generally safe for gastroparesis but don't work for you personally. A lot of the author's recipes include dairy and conventional white flower, and these things are not tolerated by many people.

Overall I think the book is ideal for newcomers to gastroparesis, but the recipe section is handy for any patient who wants or needs to minimize reliance on processed foods to meet their personal nutrition needs. I know I'm sensitive to a lot of prepared foods and there's not a lot of nutritional options for soft, wet food, so I have to prepare snacks and meals myself as much as possible.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was diagnosed with GP two months ago and told to eat "low fat, low fiber", given a two-page brochure, and told to "come back in three months". So, I decided to fend and learn for myself. I started with an online support group where someone recommended keeping a journal. That lead to surfing through Amazon and to another of Saltrelli's books, "Living (Well)..."

I purchased this book as a follow-up to that one. Between the two books, I feel a little more confident, in control, and like "I can do this". I appreciate that the author is a fellow sufferer, she gets where I'm coming from and oftentimes answers questions that I did not even know I had. I will be adding some new/different foods to my shopping list and eliminating others from my kitchen going forward.

[Debbie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

Haven't tried the recipes yet but they sound yummy. I found her supplied information very good. I appreciate her recommendations.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very helpful starting point for someone recently diagnosed with GP.

[Jen Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this didn't contain anything new for me, having read through the info on her website. It would be a good book for those just starting out though, very useful as a starting point. It doesn't address some of the very important aspects of managing GP though, like the major lifestyle changes you need to make to make it all work. Just isolating the diet component is not a good idea, this book needs to be much more comprehensive. also a shame that she uses so many premix and grain-heavy flours. A major part of managing GP, which she does not mention at all in the book, is controlling blood sugar. There is a common and prevalent connection between hormonal imbalance - insulin resistance being the big one- and GP, so all this flour and grain will only exacerbate it. It's just not well researched enough, a shame.

[Aprilleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Limited useful information and much of it is not supported by citations. It seems to be a shorter version of her other book. The recipes, although fewer in number than the other book, are useful and cover a decent range of options. The author is into homeopathy and natural medicine, and that clearly influenced the book, but the information she provides still seems medically sound as far as I can tell. My primary reason for only rating it two stars is that it could have been so much more if supporting citations had been better and some more traditional medical information had been included.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky to have access to nutritionists. Still this is a good resource for family and friends of someone with gastroparesis and for someone who is unable to access live care. A reference of course, and one I don't think will be out of date any time soon.

[Megon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well put together and it had some helpful advice, but I was hoping for a lot of helpful advice. It went into more detail than the one page flyer that my doc gave me, and the recipes were nice.

[Gary Mendelblatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't help at all

[Kim Crosbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start, but I was hoping more detail on the ailment