Acid reflux is a digestive disorder characterized by the flow of stomach acid from the stomach up into the esophagus. The stomach acid irritates the lining of the esophagus and causes heartburn. Altering your diet may help alleviate the acid reflux and heartburn. Meals for acid reflux sufferers should be small and low in fat.
Breakfast
To limit acid reflux, you need to limit the amount of fat in your diet. Fat in food decreases the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve separating the contents of the stomach from the esophagus. When this happens, it can lead to acid reflux. In addition, fatty foods take longer to leave the stomach thereby increasing your chances of refluxing. A bowl of cereal with skim milk makes a healthy breakfast choice for acid reflux sufferers. Add some fresh fruit for additional vitamins and minerals. Acid reflux sufferers should avoid citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, because the additional acid can aggravate your symptoms. You can try scrambled eggs made with spray oil and serve it with toast and jelly or try a whole wheat bagel with low-fat cream cheese and a container of fat-free fruit yogurt. Caffeine in beverages like coffee can increase your acid reflux and should only be consumed as tolerated.
Lunch
Keep your meal sizes small. Large meals increase gastric pressure and the likelihood of acid reflux. For lunch, try a sandwich on whole wheat bread with lean luncheon meats, mustard and lettuce with a fresh apple. Or you can have a bowl of chicken noodle or beef barley soup with whole grain crackers and some grapes. Another lunch meal idea for acid reflux sufferers may include a salad entree with grilled salmon and low-fat salad dressing with a whole-grain roll. Carbonated beverages can aggravate the acid reflux and thus water is the best beverage to drink with your meals.
Dinner
Meat and dairy foods can be a source of fat in the diet. Acid reflux sufferers should choose lean meats and low-fat and nonfat dairy products to limit their symptoms. For dinner, acid reflux sufferers may try a grilled chicken breast with a baked potato with fat-free sour cream and a piece of corn on the cob. Acid reflux sufferers can eat pasta, but not the tomato sauce. Instead, mix cooked whole wheat pasta with cooked mixed vegetables and shrimp and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese for a low-fat, healthy pasta meal. You can even try a lean hamburger on a whole wheat bun with oven baked fries and a side of steamed broccoli. Instead of catsup, try a mild mustard.
Snacks
Eating snacks will help you from feeling too hungry with your smaller meal sizes. Appropriate snack choices for acid reflux sufferers include apples, bananas, melon, whole-grain crackers, pretzels, fat-free yogurt, gelatin and fat-free pudding.
