Dietry needs (i figured this was a better place!)

Post by **Lostintranslation** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:50 pm

Hello/Salams all

Have recently moved to Egypt and I am really struggling with the food/grocery situation. More so because I am pregnant and lactose intolerant (also have a chicken and beef phobia which doesn't help...don't ask!)

Does anyone know if there is a place where they stock UK/US brands. I have tried the soy milk from carrefour (the only place I could find it) and it nearly made me throw up...needless to say I don't need much assistance in that department these days!

I can deal with the obsession with fatty American food chains or the addiction to salt or the lack of Asian ingredients (where do the far eastern community buy there stuff?) and even the lack of vegetarian options available but I need a milk substitute desperately. In the UK I have the option of at least 5 different types and then there was rice milk and oat milk mmmmm...

So I managed to get some lamb and soy beans from Gourmet Egypt (bit pricey but o well) but even they don't stock speciality stuff.

Sorry about the moaning it just been a tough few weeks and I am at a loss.

Hope everyone is well insh.

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:10 pm

Hello there and welcome and mabrook on your pregnancy

Have you tries any Metro stores?

Egyptians don't really do healthy!!

Tried Hyper One yet on the Mehwar?

I can look next time I am there for rice milk if you like

what about fish? how are you getting your protein?

I'm sure the rest of the gang will be along shortly to help you out too so hang on and we'll see what we can do.

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:13 pm

oh a thought

you could call Wagamama in City Stars and ask them where they get their supplies and maybe if you are 'cheeky' see if they will sell you some. The staff there are wonderful

Do you like sushi?
There is a sushi mori at Dandy Mall .

Post by **Glyphdoctor** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:39 pm

The best source for Asian foods I have found is Alfa Market. The one in Doqqi is quite good. They have a greater variety of soy sauces there than I have seen in dedicated Asian shops in California! You will also find a lot of US products there.

And if you are looking for a good vitamin supplement, try Mamyvit or Unavit for Women. Both have the nutrients pregnant women need, although you may need an additional folic acid tablet.

Post by **Glyphdoctor** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:44 pm

For a milk substitute, have you considered making a milk from tigernuts (called horchata in Spain)? They are called habb al-aziz here. I know they stock them at Abd el-Harraz in the beginning of Darb al-Ahmar.

Here's a little article about it:
http://www.ehow.com/about_4586487_what- ... -made.html

Post by **Goddess** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:05 am

Hello there, welcome to Egypt!!

There are a few brands of soy milk available, which one did you try? (just so we don't all go looking and recommend it!)
Carrefour has cheaper lamb than Gourmet Egypt, may not be up to quite the same standard as the Aussie lamb in the gourmet shop, but the cuts I've seen there look quite good, and a friend says its ok and buys it regularly.

What else are you looking for? Let us know and we'll tell you where we've seen it lately. It is possible to find most things in Egypt .... it's just a pain searching for it til you find it!

Post by **Winged Isis** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:07 pm

Also in City Stars is Spinneys Hypermarket... French, I think? They have a huge range of everything. Don't know how prices compare as have never grocery-shopped in Cairo before this time.

Post by **Lostintranslation** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:40 am

Hi all, thanks for your responses and sorry it has taken me foreva to respond!

Thanks Ebikatsu that would be brilliant as I’m not very mobile right now. I tried online and it would cost me around £50 delivery for one carton of calc fortified rice dream

I gathered that Egyptians don’t do healthy-saw a less than 1 year old being fed an entire cheese burger from macd’s- I nearly fainted. I’m eating, lentils, beans and edemame for protein and of course some lamb now if i can stomach it! Dunno if I can have sushi but i think i have found half the solution to my asian food dilemma and the other half- will check out Glyphdoctor’s suggestion (thanks). Bought my vitamin supply from UK but thanks for the advise

oh and I’m ideally looking for calcium fortified rice or soy milk so don’t think the nuts will do the same job but sounds very interesting and yummy.

Goddess – I bought vita life or something like that and let me update you. So it kinda tastes like creamy sweet long-life milk so I thought k lemme just have some anyways. Was just starting to almost enjoy it sickly sweetness when suddenly my stomach started to feel...odd. 5mins later I was in the loo again! I ‘ll spare you the details from there on but i read the pack and it has 1% milk in it..........When i calmed down and stopped crying, i realised it must be used for protein rather than a dairy free diet? Also no calcium added so pointless for me in a way. I promise i could only find this brand in Carrefour....or was it spinnys.... Speaking of, I have checked out Spinnys, Carrefour and 2 different metros-NADA. Only that soy milk I mentioned.
Bought some broccoli (pre packaged) and it was covered with worms or some strange transparent creatures so now thats out as a source of calc etc...sigh
Gosh i think i will have moaniest baby ever!
So I think we need another Gourmet Egypt for specific dietary NEEDS.
Plan of action- Try out health shop in maadi (Al Nahrain...anyone heard of?) and try out alpha market. If this fails I’ll just replace all food with tablets

great, just what i wanted for my 1st preg

Please don’t think I’m being ungrateful , I appreciate your input so much and ur all so sweet for helping...I’m just a bit stressed at the mo.

x

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:03 pm

No problem I'll look next time I go

What about getting your calcium from the veggies?

Dark green ones are best. Things like Spinach, Bok Choi, Chard, Brocolli, Kale, Savoy type cabbage are high in calcium too.

1 orange has about 70mgs of calcium too and raisins are a good source

Can's of fish like Sardine are high in calcium and you can find black molasses in every shop in Egypt and that's also high. Almonds sesame and hazlenuts are really high, along with pumpkin and sunflower seeds

Maybe ditch the search for fortified soy milk and find it in the natural state in the other foods.

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:17 pm

You still on about them Sardines, Ebi?

Sorry you're having such a rough time. That milk dilemma sounds like it's going to be a pain in the butt over here. All I can say is keep looking.
Don't Isis do some kind of Organic Soy milk?

On saying that though, just checked their website but I don't see it listed??
http://www.organicisis.com/
Did I imagine seeing it in the supermarket or has it just disappeared?

The brocolli is a bit pants at the mo - some days they seem to have the same packet sitting on the shelf for about a week. Just keep on the look out and you may come across some good stuff, Doesn't the decent brocolli appear soon? At least up here we get decent stuff on the veggie stall for about a couple of months ... and then after that you're left with the measly pickings from the Metro fridges.

Post by **Lostintranslation** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:48 pm

So I went to Alfa Market, dragged 4 adults and a baby but made it finally and I FOUND IT!

calc enriched, lactose free soy milk! Alhm (I love you glyphdoctor) ahem so thanks for all your help

ppl.

Ebikatsu- Thanks for the suggestions, have no kitchen right now (just a sink , cooker and fridge) so its hard to prep the vegs as a-I am always dizzy and b-I'm very used to 'ready to eat' stuff that doesnt even need to be rinsed so its not as straightforward but I am going to obv make a special effort and they said the kitchen should be done within 2 weeks (yeh right) defo going to stock up on the nuts though
Goddess I'm thinking I need to get used to seasonal fruits n veg but the market/stall type places defo look better than some supermarkets. Can't wait till i have the energy to shop properly.

I am a happy bunny today - this place is way cooler than the other expat forums

So my next annoying question (might as well give it a shot) where can I buy ready to apply Henna? this is not a desperate need I am just curious! shall i start a new thread? think I'm high on soymilk!

Post by **Horus** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:24 pm

Glad that you found all of 'our ladies' so helpful

I knew that they would be.
By all means start a new thread on Henna

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:24 pm

Yay!!
Glad you're onto a winner with the soy milk, bet you just feel relieved to get that hurdle out of the way!

Seasonal fruit and veg is a pain, had my first lump of cauliflower in what feels like ages the other day and really enjoyed it! Just wish it was available all the time because I love to snack on it raw.

Since were on about dietary needs: My old friend Anemia is back - so if anyone has any ideas a shout out would be most welcome.

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:27 pm

PS - Got no idea on the henna. Maybe a pharmacy?? Bet Glyph knows!

Post by **Horus** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:02 am

If I remember correctly, Spinach is rich in iron

or you could just try licking the rails of your balcony

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:46 am

Horus wrote:If I remember correctly, Spinach is rich in iron or you could just try licking the rails of your balcony

NUTTER!!!

Do you know why you have anaemia Goddess? I'm assuming you know the cause

SARDINES!!! are high in Iron

Liver is loaded with it too.
Cashews, halzenuts and almonds, Porridge,

You know the black molasses you get here is a great source of it too and really cheap

Do you know that for the iron to be properly absorbed you shouldn't have your iron (food) 2 hours before or after having (sweet potatoes, tea, coffee, or anything with soy)

these things actually inhibit it's absorbtion.

Spinach is a good source BUT!!! it has inhibitors too

So if you want the iron from the spinach you need to drink a glass of orange , tomato, or strawberry juice with it

or have it with liver.

Post by **Smitch** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:47 am

According to some websites spinach, while rich in iron inhibits its absorption into the body- am not good on science but can be found on google.

Basically I think most green leafy veg are good sources of iron
Meat is the best source, but if you are vegetarian like me, or wish to eat iron from a non-animal source then drink a glass of orange juice with it to aid absorption into the body and don't drink tea with an iron-rich meal. There are loads of websites that show the relative amounts of iron in different foods.

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:00 am

Hello Smitch

Mabrook on your first post

Post by **Smitch** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:08 am

Cheers- have been a lurker for a while but am massively bored at work today so decided to finally start posting!

Post by **Horus** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:25 am

Welcome Smitch