GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 1 – Food List, Recipes, Meal Ideas & my experience of the 1st phase of the GAPS Diet.
Two weeks ago we got started on our long awaited GAPS Intro Diet Journey. Here’s our experience of GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 1.
The weekend before we began we visited a local farmers market and stocked up on produce for our first week. The farmers market haul included the following stage 1 foods:
- Lamb Shanks
- Osso Bucco
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Beetroot
- Zucchini
- Leeks
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
The freezer was also full of stock and veg I made while preparing for the GAPS Diet – it was good to know I had it all there as back up.
What does Stage 1 of GAPS Introduction Include?
This is the strictest of all phases, consisting of stock at every meal, soup at least once a day and all vegetables and meat must be boiled and softened in stock in order to be eaten. For more details on the intricacies of The GAPS Diet, be sure to get yourself a copy of The GAPS Diet Book
– essential reading if you’re embarking on a GAPS Diet journey.
I made a fresh pot of stock each day, firstly with the shanks I bought at the farmers market and followed that by making chicken stock with 1.5kgs of mixed drumsticks and wings. {I had wanted to make that batch of stock with a whole chicken, but the day I went to buy whole organic chickens they were all out, so I ended up with a mix of wings and drumsticks instead!}
Meals for Stage 1 Of GAPS Intro included:
- Pumpkin Soup
- Cauliflower Soup
- Carrot and Zucchini Sticks cooked in stock
- Beetroot Soup
- Zucchini, Leek and Broccoli Soup
- Burgers (beef mince mixed with grated leek, carrots, salt & pepper) cooked in stock
- Raw Honey & Coconut Oil “Treats” – I simply mixed the 2 together and stored in the fridge in chocolate molds and we each had one “treat” a day.
The meat/chicken from the stock making was added to the soups as we went along and also eaten on it’s own on the side at mealtimes.
A family favorite vegetable dish was cauliflower “rice”. I grated a few cauliflower florets into some stock to cook and then simply eat like rice. With a little imagination it makes for a good rice substitution.
Another veggie favorite has been Zucchini “noodles”. I simply use a clean vegetable peeler to peel a zucchini into “noodles” and then cook briefly in stock. The boys LOVED them! If you’d prefer your noodles a little more uniform, then a Vegetable Spiralizer is a must have!
With such a limited diet, I tried to serve a variety of vegetables with each meal, to keep their plates exciting and colourful and ensure they were getting a nourishing array of nutrients. This colourful meal includes meat from stock making, homemade tomato sauce for dipping, red peppers/capsicum, tomato, pumpkin, carrots and broccoli. The boys let out a collective “wow” when they saw their bright, colourful meals, before tucking into them.
How did we go?
I suspected that changing the boys diet would be met with some resistance… and yes, they did argue at first, but soon they began to slowly embrace the new food and ate pumpkin soup or whatever I presented them with. It did take a tiny bit of bribery at first, for example on the very first morning when they both turned their noses up and WALKED AWAY from the table, I eventually resorted to “eat 4 mouthfuls and you’ll get a present”…. ok, not 100% the best strategy, but I knew I had to get them started somehow, and it’s not something that has been repeated often since… it was a way to get them to at least TASTE the pumpkin soup… and you know what – they both LOVED it and after the 4 mouthfuls and the present (a $2.29 hot wheels car!) – they ate the rest of the bowl and have been happy to do so since, with no further bribery.
I’ve been referring to Cara from Health, Home and Happiness’ 30 Days On GAPS Intro Handbook – constantly (Download It Now), it’s invaluable for making sure you’re staying on track and keeps you organized and inspired with meal ideas. I highly recommend the book if you’re thinking about going onto the GAPS Diet, or are about the start the GAPS Diet – purchasing the book will be a lifesaver for you! (Download It Now)
We were on Stage 1 of the GAPS Introduction Diet for 3 days before progressing onto Stage 2. The 1st stage of the GAPS Diet Introduction wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought it would be, thankfully we breezed through it and the boys ate well and began their healing.
I’d love to hear from you – have you been on the GAPS Diet? How did you find the introduction diet? Any tips would be much appreciated. 🙂
Edited to add: NOW Available – GAPS Starter Package – complete with EVERYTHING you need to succeed! Click here to learn more!
More GAPS Diet Information:
The GAPS Diet Info Page
To GAPS Or Not To GAPS
GAPS Diet Preparation
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 1
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 2
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 3
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 4
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 5
GAPS Introduction Diet Stage 6
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Disclaimer – this post should not be treated as medical advice. It is meant for informational purposes only – please consult with your health professional if you have any concerns for the health of you or your family. Thank you.
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