2016 was an awesome year for the low-FODMAP diet, particularly in the U.S.! Before, low-FODMAP dieters in the U.S. had to make many meals, snacks and condiments from scratch, but now, we have options. Low-FODMAP products were once only available in Australia and the U.K., but some established low-FODMAP products are coming to the U.S., and new low-FODMAP brands keep popping up everywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
I have tried a few new low-FODMAP products and I am so excited to share them with you for this glorious holiday season. To celebrate, I have prepared my 2016 Holiday FODMAP Life Gift Guide just for you, plus I am GIVING AWAY a Low-FODMAP Holiday Basket next week! My giveaway will go live on Tuesday, December 13th and in the meantime you can…
Whether you want to buy gifts for yourself or for a loved one that suffers from IBS, my gift ideas are sure to delight and make life on the low-FODMAP diet just a little easier.
So you may be wondering, what’s in this basket?!
UPDATE – Wednesday December 14, 12:30pm –
The 2016 FODMAP Life Holiday Giveaway Basket is now LIVE!
As a reminder this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. One entry per person. If you have won the giveaway, you must respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. I will tag your name in the giveaway post. You can also send an email to firstname.lastname@example.org with a link to your Pinterest account.
Here is what you can find in my Holiday Giveaway Basket:
Certified Low-FODMAP Products
- FODMAPPED Green Curry Simmer Sauce – FODMAPPED is the world’s first FODMAP friendly food brand, located in Australia!
- FODMAPPED Slow Roasted Vegetables Tomato Pasta Sauce
- Rachel Pauls™ Happy Bars Chocolate Chip Delight
- TrueSelf™ Foods Low FODMAP Snack Bars Pumpkin Spice
- Casa de Sante – two sets of 5 sample spice mixes and 2 bottles of LemonAID Ayurvedic Digestive Drink
- FODY Dark Chocolate, Nuts & Sea Salt Bars
- FODY Almond Coconut Bars
FODMAP Friendly Food Products
- 88 Acres Craft Seed Bar, Dark Chocolate/Sea Salt (box of 9 bars) – see below for more info.
What else will be in my Holiday Giveaway Basket?
2016 Holiday FODMAP Life Gift Guide
Take a look at my gift guide to learn more about some of the products featured in my Holiday Giveaway as well as additional food, home, health and just for fun products you may also enjoy.
Certified Low-FODMAP Food Products
FODMAPPED Green Curry Simmer Sauce – I love this sauce! Right on the back of the pouch you’ll find a delicious recipe, complete with low-FODMAP vegetables and low-FODMAP servings suggestions. This is such smart thinking – the products not only taste good, but they make life for low-FODMAP dieters so much easier. GREAT NEWS – FODMAPPED is coming soon to the U.S. and will be available on Amazon! Stay tuned as I will share the news via my email newsletter, blog and social networks.
FODMAPPED Slow Roasted Vegetables Tomato Pasta Sauce – With slow-roasted tomato, eggplant & capsicum, this pasta sauce has beautiful intense flavors. A nutritious and delicious option, especially for those following a vegetarian diet. Just heat and serve over warm pasta, use in an Italian-style panini, use with a gluten-free Chicken Parmesan recipe, make Eggs in Purgatory by simmering 1 cup Slow Roasted Vegetables Tomato Pasta Sauce in a small skillet. Crack in 2 eggs, cover and cook until the whites set; top with pepper and grated parmesan cheese.
Rachel Pauls™ Happy Bars Chocolate Chip Delight (and three other flavors!)- If you missed it, we just had a giveaway with these delicious Happy Bars! I love the flavors, texture and deliciously chewiness of the bars. They are great to throw in your bag when on the go or have on hand at home or at work as a meal replacement. I’ve enjoyed them during this super-busy holiday season!
TrueSelf™ Foods Low FODMAP Snack Bars – certified low-FODMAP by the FODMAP Friendly Food Program – My absolute favorite is the Pumpkin Spice but I also love all the other flavors like Blueberry, Lemon Poppy, and Banana Cinnamon! When I bite into the Pumpkin Spice I can taste the pumpkin seeds, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and a hint of sea salt. Just 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber, 28 grams of carbs, 9 grams of sugar and 4 grams of protein. These bars are satisfying but don’t make me feel too full. I swear I heard my tummy say “yum!” after I finished one!
Casa de Sante Certified Onion and Garlic Substitute All Variants’ Sample Spices – certified low-FODMAP by the FODMAP Friendly Food Program – Use these all purpose seasoning mixes for your low FODMAP dishes! Free of high-FODMAPs like onion and garlic, gluten free, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and vegan.
FODY Dark Chocolate, Nuts & Sea Salt Bars – I was told before trying these bars that they’d be addicting! I am definitely in agreement. I love how these low-FODMAP snack bars are loaded with crunchy nuts, scrumptious dark chocolate, and just a bit of sea salt. Tuck these into your bag on your next hike, long bike ride, family road trip or plane ride for the holidays.
FODMAP Friendly Products
88 Acres Craft Seed Bar, Dark Chocolate/Sea Salt (box of 9 bars) – I like the earthiness of these bars. They aren’t very sweet and they’ve got a nice texture to them. 88 Acres is a homegrown company that creates healthy snacks, free of the most common food allergens, and crafted with simple ingredients. They built their own dedicated allergen-free facility in a place I used to work and call home, Dorchester (Boston), Massachusetts. 88 Acres also makes seed butter and Seednola. Yup you guessed it – it’s like granola, but with an emphasis on seeds! Try their Chocolate & Sea Salt Seednola which contains organic sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, organic gluten-free certified oats, brown rice syrup, Vermont maple syrup, organic dark chocolate (organic cane sugar, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla extract) and sea salt.
- Nicer Foods Garlic Infused Olive Oil – Missing garlic in your meals? You don’t have to anymore with this powerfully delicious low-FODMAP Garlic Infused Flavored Oil. Add it to stir fry, gluten-free pasta dishes, drizzle it over low-FODMAP vegetables, add to mashed potatoes, or soak it up with some Parmesan cheese, sea salt, black pepper and gluten-free bread! The possibilities are endless.
- Justin’s Classic Almond Butter – squeeze packets – this is my favorite almond butter brand. These packets are great for on the go or to stash in your bag or drawer at work.
- Natural Asafetida Powder, gluten free – just a little goes a long way. This is an essential staple for your low-FODMAP kitchen! Make sure when buying asafetida powder that it always free of wheat. Another gluten-free version I like is Uncle Harry’s.
- Check here for more products that are made with low-FODMAP ingredients.
Harem Pants have been a godsend for me when I have been bloated or distended. I first found them while on a trip to Thailand. The waistband is so comfortable across my abdomen, so I don’t feel any pressure like I would from most pants or skirts. They can be dressed up or down, worn around the house, or after a calming yoga session. I think they are the perfect piece of clothing for anyone with IBS! When you checkout at HaremPants.com, enter the code FODMAPlife for 10% off your order.
Gift Certificate – Low-FODMAP Coaching – Could you or someone you know use help in getting started on the low-FODMAP diet? Get a gift certificate for Low-FODMAP Coaching with FODMAP Life’s educational plan which includes two, 30-minute calls, a personalized menu plan, personalized lifestyle plan, handouts and six weeks email support. They will learn about the different phases of the diet, which foods are low and high in FODMAPs, how to prepare their lifestyle for the diet, how to go shopping and read labels, what are low-FODMAP serving sizes and how to use them to build a nutritious low-FODMAP meal, how to eat out and travel and many more helpful tips. Click here to buy this package!
My Low-FODMAP Journal – You’ll want this personal journal to keep track of the foods and drinks you consume, as well as any bowel movements or stressful situations. Keeping a journal on the diet may help you to more quickly uncover possible triggers (foods, stress, environment). Once you know your triggers, you’ll have peace of mind about which FODMAPs you should avoid and which to enjoy, allowing you to finish the diet and move on to a modified low-FODMAP diet. Shop here: http://bit.ly/2gKKMfi
High-FODMAPs Sticker – After you’ve gone shopping for low-FODMAP foods, these stickers are great to remind yourself which foods you already have in your home that are high in FODMAPs. Just stick on to packages or bags or produce bags, and you’ll be less likely to consume the wrong high-FODMAP foods (or drinks). Shop here: http://bit.ly/2gkimI8
Low-FODMAPs Shopping List Shopping Bag – Next time you go to the store, bring this bag along which has a handy list of healthy low-FODMAP foods to incorporate into your low-FODMAP diet! Shop here: http://bit.ly/2heLKUD
Low-FODMAP Recipes – If you’re like most low-FODMAP dieters and need really good low-FODMAP recipes right at your fingertips, go ahead and start your FREE 14-day trial of GutRXgurus.com right now, and if you like it, ask for a subscription from family or friends! I am at GutRX Guru and you can find my low-FODMAP recipes on this site.
For the Home
Poo-Pourri Potty Box Classic – “The Potty Box is the gift they’ll remember, for the smell they’d rather forget!” I keep Poo-Pourri around my home and they always take care of any smelly issue quickly. I like this brand of spray as they use essential oils and do not include synthetic fragrance, phthalates, parabens or formaldehyde (eeeek!). Put bottles of Poo-Pourri in your bathroom and share them in your guest bathroom or at work so everyone can leave the bathroom smiling with confidence 🙂
Squatty Potty Unicorn Gold – It’s magical! Unicorn Gold is a ‘before-you-squat’ potty spray uniquely created by Squatty Potty.Just a few sprays of Unicorn Gold into the toilet bowl and that skunky, putrid bathroom stench stays where it belongs – trapped deep below the surface of the toilet water.
LoveBug Probiotics – I had the chance to meet LoveBug founders Ashley and Ben Harris at the Natural Products Expo West in 2015. They are the most lovely couple and their brand story started with Ashley learning she had celiac, candida, dysbiosis, leaky gut and “very little of the good bacteria and lots of the bad bugs.” Together, they created an awesome, award-winning product, and are helping people with bad gut bugs everywhere. LoveBug’s probiotics are filled with gut-friendly bacteria that are essential to repopulate your gut for a healthy and happy life. For my Holiday Gift Guide you can get 20% off of your first purchase by using the code FODMAP20 on their website or on Amazon! Shop here: LoveBugProbiotics.com or on Amazon – Here’s the Skinny and Yeast is a Beast
Squatty Potty – for the best poop of your life (I can personally attest to this magic!) try the Squatty Potty. If you want to read up on why using the Squatty Potty can help when you go #2, check out these medical case studies. And if you haven’t seen their hilarious commercials yet, you must!
Nature Creation- Menstrual Cramps Reliever – Stomach Pain Relief – Place this heating pad across your abdomen when you’ve been hit hard with an IBS attack. Turn on some relaxing music or watch a funny movie and forget about your IBS woes.
doTERRA DigestZen Essential Oil Digestive Blend 15 ml – I have found this essential oil blend to be very calming for my gut. Just a little may do the trick for you too. This oil may help aid in the digestion of food, soothe occasional upset stomachs, and reduce uncomfortable gas and bloating.
Nature’s Way Pepogest Peppermint Oil — 60 Softgels – Recent evidence suggests that enteric-coated peppermint oil may be effective in relieving some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Buy peppermint oil in a coated-capsule form to reduce heartburn and use in small doses. Always consult with your doctor before changing or trying a new health regimen.
Organic India Whole Husk Psyllium, 12-Ounce – If you need some extra fiber to help move things along, this product is natural and low in FODMAPs. I use it in my morning smoothies or in lactose-free yogurt. I personally use psyllium husk to help with constipation and it can also be used to help with diarrhea. It can also help with hemorrhoids and IBD. Dr. Kevin Curran, founder of EthnoHerbalist goes into more detail about the benefits of psyllium husk. Please read his article here. Dr. Curran holds a PhD in molecular biology and currently serves as a professor at the University of San Diego, teaching courses on Cell Biology and Ethnobotany.
The Everything® Low-FODMAP Diet Cookbook – by Colleen Francioli, CNC: After you try a few recipes in my book (over 300 low-FODMAP and gluten-free recipes) and get more acquainted with low-FODMAP foods and ingredients, your confidence in the diet will be boosted, your creative juices flowing and hopefully you too will be inspired to create your own low-FODMAP dishes!
The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet: A Revolutionary Plan for Managing IBS and Other Digestive Disorders by Sue Shepherd PhD and , Peter Gibson MD. Buy on Amazon.com
IBS-Free Recipes for the Whole Family (The Flavor without FODMAPs Series) (Volume 2), Patsy Catsos, RDN – Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN, LDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist. Karen Warman, MS, RD, LDN is a pediatric dietitian at Boston Children’s Hospital. What’s inside: Tips and precautions for using the FODMAP approach with children; Menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Snack ideas; Lists of low-FODMAP foods (updated 9/2015); Flavor without FODMAPs in over 110 recipes; Low-FODMAP versions of family favorites.
A New IBS Solution: Bacteria-The Missing Link in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome by IBS and FODMAP expert Dr. Mark Pimentel. Dr. Pimentel believes that the “missing link,” or root cause of most IBS symptoms can be attributed to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. A New IBS Solution takes you through the historical evolution of conventional medicine’s views on IBS in a way that can be easily understood. In addition, Dr. Pimentel presents a simple treatment protocol that will not only help you resolve your IBS symptoms, but will also prevent their recurrence.
Yoga for Digestion: 12 Simple Yoga Exercises for Enhancing Your Digestive Capabilities, Improving Assimilation of Consumed Food and Shifting Your Metabolism into the Next Gear. Good health begins in your stomach and Ayurveda states that, the health of an individual deteriorates as a result of breakdown of various essential organs due to fatigue, and in Ayurveda a fatigued stomach and digestive system are referred as the root cause of all ill health and disease.
21-Day Tummy Diet: A Revolutionary Plan that Soothes and Shrinks Any Belly Fast co-authored by Kate Scarlata, RDN. An easy-to-follow 21-day eating plan that minimizes shocking Belly Bully foods that cause discomfort and weight gain, while piling on soothing Belly Buddy foods.
Just for Fun
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be a very serious matter and drag a person down. If you have IBS or know someone that does, make a positive spin out of it with these fun gifts:
- This Emoji Face Poop pillow
- I’m Not Pregnant #darnFODMAPs Mug
- Keep Calm and Poop Rainbows Pillow
- What’s Your Poo Telling You?
Happy Holidays! Make sure to Click here to be notified when the Holiday Giveaway is live!
**Please note that some of the products I’ve listed for IBS are for educational purposes and it is best to discuss some of these products (such as supplements) with your physician.
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Be good to yourself and your gut!