As convenient as eating out can be, it’s always stuck in the back of your mind – heartburn. What can I eat? Will there be anything for me to eat? You may even find yourself avoiding social situations, just to stay clear of your heartburn worries, and eat a tomato-free, spicy- free meal at home instead.
You shouldn’t let heartburn stop you from doing what you love to do, and especially being social. We will look at the best ways to tackle going out to eat, while avoiding heartburn, too!
Remember and know your heartburn trigger foods: each food affects each person differently. Avoiding heartburn while you eat out will be much easier if you know what gives you heartburn and what doesn’t. Common trigger foods include fried foods, tomato based foods, spicy foods, alcohol, soda, chocolate and citrus fruits. Keep a journal to track which foods work for you, and which don’t.
Make changes to suit you: most restaurants are open to making slight changes to suit your needs. For example, ordering pasta with a different sauce, such as pesto, rather than a tomato based sauce, will allow you to eat what you like without the heartburn kicking in.
Try to avoid alcohol: choose a different drink, such as ice tea, if you find alcohol triggers your heartburn. If you want to indulge, don’t gulp down your whole drink. Slowly sip your drink instead.
Eat smaller portions: the portions at restaurants tend to be rather big. Eating your whole meal or stuffing yourself until you are overfull may trigger heartburn. Order smaller or half size portions, or even a kid’s meal. Sharing food with your friends is also a good way to prevent overeating. You can also take your leftovers home if it is too much to eat at once.
Eat slowly: take time to enjoy your food and eat at a slower pace to prevent eating too much and too fast. Converse with friends and take your time. Stop eating when you feel comfortable and not too full.
Don’t eat too late: if you are out at the movies or at a show, it can quickly become really late to eat dinner. Try eating early, maybe before the movies, to allow your food to digest and prevent heartburn. You should aim to eat at least 3 hours before you sleep. If it does happen to get late, stick with lighter foods and drinks, such as salads and water.
Dress in comfortable clothes: you may not realize, but what you wear can have an impact on your heartburn. Tight clothes, especially around your stomach, are bad news for heartburn, as this can increase pressure on your stomach and push what’s inside your stomach up into the esophagus.
Follow these simple tips for a heartburn-free night out with friends and family. Contact the specialists at Houston Heartburn today if you are unable to control your heartburn.