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Hi from Belfast Northern Ireland.

Just finished reading the book, already cutting back on the rich foods, already about 90 % meat free and 90 % dairy free. not nearly as hard as I’d always thought it would be but I’m a very motivated person once I start something.

It's a shame I have spent the last 5 years partly in the wrong direction although not as bad as some. after researching for a long time I though food-combining was the answer. only when my daughter (now3.5) had some bad reactions did I look a bit harder and thanks goodness I found John McDougall. I have now researched deeper and it is all coming together nicely.

One or two problems in the UK, mainly cost of unusual items, like gluten free stuff and dairy free things. perhaps others on here could help.

Anyway recommend the diet and the book to anyone, and my recommending something does not come easy.

Kind regards Dudley

Welcome to the forum.


Which book are you following?


Congratulations on making such a strong start. Remember that the transition period is the hard part. Tastes change. You will learn more about what to buy and how to prepare it. And as time passes, you will be able to experiment with many new foods too.


Are you following the McDougall Regular diet? Unless you suspect a reaction to wheat, you don't need to give it up.

Generally, the McDougall regular diet shouldn't be more expensive than what you were spending on your previous way of eating.

Here is what I eat, approximately, for my particular requirements:
- 50% tubers (white potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes).
- 25% vegs.
- 25% fruit.

The McDougall regular diet is very broad. It offers lots of space for personal variations as long as the foods meet the main requirements:
- Plant food: fruit, vegs, starches (tubers, grains, etc.).
- Starch centered.
- "Whole" (unrefined) food generally.
- Variety.
- Very low fat overall and no added fat (olive oil, e.g.,) at all.
- Low to moderate protein.

That is my understanding of the McDougall regular diet generally, but there are many people on this forum who have specialized knowledge on particular questions.

The McDougall plan is the book I have just finished reading. I have now also bought medical second opinion and the two cook books. I am also sending the McDougall plan to my family members instead of a Christmas present this year. and the second opinion medical book to people who I know have health issues. my good deed for this year

The cost is because both myself , my partner and my daughter each have a problem which we are trying to get to the bottom of.

daughter gets skin rashes mainly on cheeks but sometimes on inside of arms and bottom cheeks etc. seems to be dairy related

Partner seems to be have a reaction to oranges.

I have a problem with either gluten, sugar or fat.

The book is brilliant and a godsend.

the diet is fine my partner is a fantastic chef so that helps. and yes money saved on meat is good. but we are also stepping up to organic veg to equalise that.

Good times ahead. feeling better even after a few days

The only different thing we do is to eat fruit only in the morning, because we got used to that when following a food combining method. which is sort of a half way house to going vegan.

thanks for your kind words and links much appreciated. kind regards John (Dudley)

Going to talk to John (McDougall) about setting up a uk site for distribution of his books and other items (postage cost from America are mad). When I get a chance.

you will find a wealth of info here, checkout all the links and subjects.

Thanks , not too bothered about weight although it seems to be falling off at the mo. lost 8 pounds in a less than a week. It's more about the health benefits to us.

Starting weight 13st 8 current weight 13 st. in a perfect world I would be between 11.7 amd 12 stone.

kind regards

Any chance your daughter's rash could be dermatitis herpeteformis? The location is right.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a manifestation of celiac sprue, which is, in essence, the inability to digest gluten. Many celiacs are also lactose intolerant because the same part the villi are damaged from eating gluten. Hence it is not uncommon for an undiagnosed celiac to think that dairy is the cause of their rashes and/or intestinal problems. (the lactose intolerance often goes away once they've followed a strict gluten-free diet for a year or so).

You mentioned that you may have a problem with gluten, and celiac is a strongly hereditary disease...

If you both haven't been tested in the past year or two, it's worth having the blood screening done. For reasons not yet understood, people quite often test negative in their younger years and don't actually "develop" celiac sprue until later.

Thanks for that. my goodness you guys are on the ball here. kind regards