Enjoying Food on a Low-Acid Diet

• Many people are required to be on low-acid or no-acid diets. Reasons for starting such a diet can be as simple as having acid reflux or digestive issues or as complicated as someone dealing with a chronic medical condition such as interstitial cystitis, where food and drink acidity can add to the bladder inflammation.
  
  If you are suffering from a condition that requires a low acid diet, you may feel over whelmed by all of the foods you are being forced to give up. But with some diet tweaking and creativity, you can still find many ways to enjoy food both at home and in restaurants.
  
  

What to Avoid

• The hardest part can be learning to avoid some of your favorite foods. Coffee, or anything with caffeine in it, is a very bad idea for people with acid problems. Although fruit is healthy, many fruits contain a large amount of citric acid. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes and cranberries are some of the most citric acid-ridden foods.
  
  Delicious chocolate is another trigger that can cause many problems for patients avoiding a high-acid intake. Finally, spicy foods can cause serious issues for acid reflux patients and patients with bladder issues. This is not a complete list of forbidden foods, just some of the worst culprits. Consult your doctor when setting up your diet plan.
  
  

The Best Foods

• You're probably a little overwhelmed by the thought of all the common foods that are being snatched from your diet. You still have many dishes that you can enjoy. Although chocolate is banned, vanilla is allowed. You can even throw in some caramel for some added flavor. And if you're still craving chocolate, run down to a health food store and get yourself some carob. Carob is a tropical bean that can be made into bars and chips. It is healthier and less acidic than chocolate, but offers a similar taste. While at the health food store, inquire about low-acid coffee, a product invented for acid-sensitive patients just like you.
  
  Keep enjoying the meats that you love. Steaks, chicken breast, London Broil are considered friendly for acid patients. Most vegetables, with the exception of onions, are also safe. While enjoying your meat and veggies, check the acid content of any sauce or dressing before adding it to your meal.
  
  While many fruits are high in acid, pears are the exception. Pears make a great snack and pear juice is a delicious drink. You can also enjoy most pasta-based dishes as long as you avoid tomato sauce. Try using just butter or some type of Alfredo sauce instead.
  
  

Dining Out

• Even if dining out is one of your favorite pastimes, once you're on a low-acid diet, a restaurant can be a scary place. Always remember that you have as much of a right to dine out as anyone else. As a paying customer, don't be shy about asking for your food to be prepared exactly how you'd like it. You can still enjoy many meat dishes as long as the meat isn't marinated in some type of spice. Don't be afraid to ask the waitress questions about how the food is prepared.
  
  Take advantage of places, such as diners, that serve breakfast foods around the clock. It is often easy to find a low-acid breakfast option such as an egg white omelet with veggies. Sometimes the hardest places for low-acid diners to eat are Mexican or Asian restaurants where a lot of spices are typically used. When in doubt, call the restaurant in advance and find out if it offers plain versions of the dish. Most places will be happy to accommodate your needs if possible.
  
  Learning that you need to start a low-acid diet can be a scary time, but it is definitely not a hopeless cause. Now that you have an idea of the foods that you should be eating, get out to the grocery store and get creative. Use the foods you have available to yourself to create your own new dishes.