Try some hot oatmeal with a little skim milk. Because the fat in whole milk could make your symptoms worse, skim milk is your best choice. Skip the orange juice and other acidic juice choices -- if you want juice try some apple juice. Try low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt with fresh fruit, along with a bran muffin. An English muffin or toast with jelly and a wedge of cantaloupe would also make a good breakfast that shouldn't give anyone heartburn.
Fill a low-fat tortilla with chicken or tuna salad made with fat-free mayonnaise. Make a chef's salad with strips of chicken breast, cucumbers, carrots, sprouts and light dressing. Add a few tortilla chips and a glass of skim milk and you should have a meal that will sit right in everyone's stomach. Try a black bean and vegetable soup with a wholegrain dinner roll for a nutritious and satisfying lunch.
Choose lean cuts of meat such as chicken, turkey, fish and pork to serve the family. Prepare the meats using healthier methods of baking, broiling or braising. Deep-frying can make acid reflux worse. Add lots of fresh or cooked vegetables in stir-fries and salads and as side dishes. Always use low-fat dips and light dressings to avoid the GERD symptoms that come with fats. Try baked potatoes with low-fat sour cream, rice pilaf with fresh vegetables, and pasta tossed with a little olive oil and fresh basil. Don't forget to add fresh fruit to the dinner menu -- either colorful fruit salads, berry medleys or wedges of honeydew or watermelon.
Eating smaller meals can help control acid reflux symptoms. Instead of eating three large meals, try eating smaller meals and adding one or two snacks in between. Keep the snacks light and nutritious, serving foods like a half bagel with fat-free cream cheese, a low-fat cereal bar and sugar-free non-fat yogurt. Don't forget fresh fruits such as bananas, papaya, pears and peaches.
Chocolate can make acid reflux symptoms worse, so try to offer different dessert options. Carbonated beverages and caffeine can also contribute to more GERD symptoms. Avoid foods with high acidity levels, like tomatoes and citrus fruits. Steer clear of high fat foods like anything deep-fried, as well as spicy foods, alcohol and onions.