Eating in Paris (IB issue)

What are the issues? What can't she eat? If anything I would have thought the typical American cuisine would be the worst to eat with IBS. From my experience wheat is a problem for many IBS sufferers but it would appear that sandwiches, spaghetti and pizza are fine.

You haven't actually asked a question!

You will have no difficulty finding food that looks similar and IS similar to American fare. Parisians have "normal" food, including sandwiches, salads, chicken dishes, casseroles. You will be amazed at the variety and quality of French food as well. The French love freshness. Cafes and snack bars abound. Remember, the national dish (not really, but it seems like it) is steak frites, washed down with a beautiful salad. I recall a spectacular dinner some years ago in a Brasserie consisting of a beet and romaine salad followed by a beautiful plate of beef with carrots (think about the best pot roast you have ever had) and some fries, ending with a piece of apple tart. Hamburgers are ubiquitous, and some are better than you have ever had before--I guarantee it.

And yes, there are lots of places that serve American food, sometimes better than we do.

Daggone JC I get your point. What is "safe" for Mary would be like your basic grilled chicken sandwich, big salad, hamburger, pizza.... my point being she doesn't do well "experimenting" so to speak.

Question: Is it hard to find an "eating establishment" that serves food familiar to Americans? That's the best I can do, JC. If you know someone with IB you would know better what I mean about eating the safe and familiar.

wbfey that sounds great. Now I'm hungry. I know we miss the grosse salat in Germany. They were the best. We will just use a translator for menus only in French. Thank goodness I'm skilled at pointing.

Find out specifically what she can't eat and realize that most if not all that is part and parcel to French cuisine could be available to her. Grilled or sautéed meats, fish, or vegetables? Poached fish or chicken? Many varieties of salad? Steamed vegetables? Various cheeses? Fresh fruit? Yogurt? Various types of breads?

What can't she eat if she can manage complex carbohydrates like bagels, pasta, and pizza as well as saturated fat in fried fish? I don't know what IB is except for International Baccalaureate.

Mike,

I don't think your wife is going to have any problem in Paris. Certainly all the foods you've described in your first post can be found in Paris. Salads, a large number of vegetable based dishes and grilled meats can be found aplenty. French food does traditionally focus on rich sauces but there is such a variety of cuisines and styles in Paris that you can pretty much find anything.

Yeah JC I think the rich sauces could be a potential problem. Thanks for pointing that out. I remember when we were young and invulnerable, and would just point at something on a menu and be fine with it... sometimes. Those days are over.

Continental: Irritable Bowel syndrome. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Anyway, those carbs you mentioned would be fine.

The thing is Mary is really quite fit for her late 50s and even does 5K walk/run races, but she does have a somewhat sensitive stomach and the wrong "rich sauces" will ruin her day. It can get a little tricky sometimes which is why we tend to stay with the tried and true particularly when travelling. It's not much fun doing anything when your tummy is out of whack.

Thank you.

If your wife can tolerate, and even enjoy hamburgers, pizza, spaghetti, and wine, then she isn't the typical IBS sufferer. It's easy to find healthy, safe food choices just about anywhere in France. No reason at all to confine yourself to an unhealthy American diet.

A food decoder will be an excellent resource to keep with you in case you are faced with French only menus. This won't happen often in the more touristy areas of Paris.

PS whole wheat = blé complet

Continental: Irritable Bowel syndrome. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
Anyway, those carbs you mentioned would be fine.

The thing is Mary is really quite fit for her late 50s and even does
5K walk/run races, but she does have a somewhat sensitive stomach and
the wrong "rich sauces" will ruin her day. It can get a little tricky
sometimes which is why we tend to stay with the tried and true
particularly when travelling. It's not much fun doing anything when
your tummy is out of whack.

Yikes....

I'm surprised she can eat bagels, pizza and spaghetti. From the friends I know who have it, they talk about having small meals with foods that are light as opposed to heavy foods at breakfast, dinner or lunch. It sounds like there is no universal diet for those who have IB.

She could ask for sauce on the side. A friend of mine just returned from Paris and she is gluten-intolerant. She tells me that with so many sauces, flour is used as a thickener and of course she can't have it. So she always asks for sauce on the side or just asks for no sauce at all.

Good luck.

If anything, IBS sufferers should do better eating in France than in the US where people consume a large amount of processed goods and spicy foods (from Tex Mex to Asian). French diets avoid these things. Distribution chains in France tend to be much shorter meaning produce is fresher albeit more seasonal.

There is no requirement to drink wine or alcohol at any meal.

The idea that French foods are all served with heavy cream sauces is a worn out stereotype that is simply not true. Diets tend to be composed of small portions of a large number of food types. Beef and potatoes never make an entire meal. Meats are typically served in much smaller portions than what one typically see in the US.

My guess is that you will like the many chain restaurants such as Hippopotamus, Flunch, maybe Léon de Bruxelles. Cafés typically serve very basic dishes and are open throughout the day.

Yes, IB is a bit of a mystery and varies from person to person. It takes some trial and error to find out what works for each individual.

And as you age what worked for you before may not work later.

After a bout with IB Mary would do well with tomato soup and crackers or bread. Sort of a prison diet for a day or so.

Good times!

You may encounter fewer problems than you think. I have a very sensitive stomach, so went to France armed with lots of Imodium. Only needed 1 the entire trip. Italy the next year, same experience. The food in Europe is so seasonal and fresh that I don't have the digestive problems that I do in the States and in Mexico. Happy travels!

If she can eat American sandwiches, I'm guessing she might be good with a savory (buckwheat) crepe -- she can choose her fillings, and they're usually served with a lovely green salad.

The Hard Rock Cafe in Paris?

Hippopotamus is all right - she can have a steak and salad or fish and chips at Leon's.