Planning Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) Lunch & Snacks

Creating meals from SCD-legal foods can occasionally feel like a chore rather than something you look forward to. A common complaint I hear in practice is that individuals feel as though they are eating the same things in the same rotation- over and over again.

Of course, this is for a good reason. Whether you are on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet as a nutritional therapy or you just need to modify your diet for your inflammatory bowel disease, you may try to stick within a narrow range of “safe” foods. This makes sense: You don’t want any unnecessary symptoms and you also don’t want to waste food if it’s not a “successful meal,” am I right? However, eating the same foods day in and day out can quickly lead to a monotonous pattern of meals. Lunches and snacks are typically the greatest struggle and are where my clients need the most inspiration to break out of the boring zone.

Luckily, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is designed to be liberating, not limiting. It can restore and heal your gut as a part of your therapy regimen. In the process, it can free you from unwanted symptoms that siphon your energy. That’s energy you can put to good use changing up your meal and snack routine!

There are many options you can eat each day, but a crucial part of maintaining your appreciation for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is allowing for evolution and inspiration in your planning process.  Here are some simple ideas:

• Schedule a date in the future (3-6 months from now) to re-evaluate your menu options and break out of any ruts. Remember, you change and so your meal planning process can change with you!
• Add new favorites into the rotation. Switch out some ingredients for something seasonal (this may lower your cost as well).
• Reach out to your support network for new inspiration! Are you missing a favorite pizza recipe or lunch ideas? You are not alone!

Still feeling a bit lost in the SCD blahs? It often helps to have an example to inspire your own meal plan design, so we’ve included some ideas and notes below.

Everyone is different, so feel free to substitute, switch out, or add your own ideas and ingredients (SCD-legal, of course) as you see fit. Be sure to read the notes and annotations to ensure you get all the inspiration you need to jump-start your own journey.

Thriving on the SCD

The goal of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is not survival within the limits, but rather thriving by feeding your body the fuel that it needs to heal and to feel your best. I always look to find substitutions for favorite foods my patients miss while pairing this with foods that will give a nutrient boost. Using these ideas to guide your inspired meal planning patterns, you can expand your culinary horizons in the kitchen and add more joy to the process of meal planning on the SCD. I would love to see how this article has inspired you! Tag me in your comments and posts: @kimbralynutrition, or #kimbralynutrition. I can’t wait to see your creations!