No Popcorn at the Movies

In the years since I first started showing symptoms of Crohn’s disease, there have been about a million dietary changes I’ve made. I try to reduce the impact of the disease on my body, to minimize the symptoms, and to avoid exacerbating symptoms I’m experiencing at the time. Keeping a food journal was important in the beginning, but only in the sense that for me, I learned that my patterns were more broad, harder to identify, and sometimes harder to prevent. 

This lesson was incredibly frustrating to learn, and I hope that what I share here makes it easier for you to identify your patterns and/or feel less alone in having to have lists in the first place.

Safe foods and triggers

Right from the beginning, I saw that things which have “roughage” like lettuce, almonds, oats, apples - things that are generally considered healthy and good for you and worse, things I actually really enjoyed eating - exacerbated my symptoms. And did it fairly quickly, too. This was a trend I wish I had been able to ignore, but my body demanded that I do no such thing.

Then, there was the pathway to identifying my “safe” foods - which turned out to be mostly white carbs. Including things like crackers, flour tortillas, noodles and potatoes - things generally considered not so healthy and something to eat in moderation only. These were the things that prevented already occurring symptoms from worsening, calming my gut down in the process.

Now, there are also absolutely foods I’ve identified that cause upheaval all on their own. This generally includes things with seeds, kernels and nuts. Any of these could send my body into a tailspin and even end me up in the emergency room.

Eliminating a favorite treat

The saddest, hardest one for me to make peace with - no popcorn. See, I used to love popcorn - from the microwave version at home to the oven popped, butter saturated version at the movie theaters, popcorn was my favorite treat. But then, on three separate occasions, it eviscerated my stomach, leaving me sitting on a public bathroom floor crying.

Today when I go to the movies, I always feel a hint of sadness when the cravings for salty, buttery popcorn tickle the back of my throat. Now, coping with it is one thing that I've just had to find radical acceptance with - eating popcorn with kernels will cause me severe pain and possibly even a trip to the hospital, and it’s just not worth the fallout.

That’s something my logical brain has been able to wrap around. But, I’ve had to get creative too, to help move the focus to something else.

Finding alternatives

Before going to a movie today, I check the theater's website to see what food or snacks they serve, and identify a few that would be fine for me to consume (such as gummy bears, or a chocolate bar). Additionally, while not all theaters allow it, when I’m able I’ll bring snacks from home in Ziploc bags. Things such as teddy grahams, crackers, or string cheese, so I know I’ll have a yummy snack available to me when I inevitably get hungry.

What’s one food you’ve regretfully had to remove from your diet, and how do you handle the elimination physically and emotionally?