A Dietitians Review of Dineamic and Fodbods
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 7 people. The FODMAP Diet is the most effective way of managing this, helping up to 75% of sufferers!
There are plenty of low FODMAP (LF) recipes available to prepare yourself, but Dineamic has created a LF range of healthy, ready-to-eat meals to make your life that little bit easier. Even better, they've just added Fodbods protein bars to their menu to provide a complete and wholesome LF offering.
It can be quite daunting trying new products online so Accredited Practicing Dietitian Eloise Turner has reviewed these LF options so you know what they involve.
Taste
There is no denying Dineamic meals are delicious. Their flavour profiles are absolutely incredible – considerably more flavoursome than most people’s usual homemade dinners. They’re also surprisingly fresh for a premade meal!
Dineamic’s LF menu includes a variety of options for lunch and dinner, as listed here:
- Beef Bolognese with Penne
- Butter Chicken With Wild Rice Blend (our personal favourite)
- Chicken & Vegetable Risotto
- Chicken Cacciatore With Mixed Potato Mash
- Slow-Cooked Mediterranean Beef With Rosemary Roasted Vegetables
Fodbods bars offer quite unique flavour combinations. They’re super fudgy, yet have a good crunch and the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s also important to mention that they don’t have any artificial protein powder aftertaste!
Fodbods come in a variety of flavours. Dineamic stocks:
- Lemon and Coconut
- Peanut Choc Chunk
- Mint Chocolate (our personal favourite)
Convenience
Convenience is a top priority for many Australians and fortunately, both Dineamic and Fodbods are massive time savers (whether you’re following the LF diet or not). They remove the hassle of grocery shopping and meal planning, and require absolutely no cooking or cleaning – what a win! Perfect for when you don’t feel like cooking, have a super busy week or just have no leftovers for lunch. They can also both be purchased online for quick and easy delivery, straight to your door.
Price
Whilst some may consider Dineamic and Fodbods to be a bit pricey, both brands use only the highest quality and locally sourced ingredients. They’re also both dietitian and nutritionist-approved and designed to be nutritionally balanced and complete.
Dineamic also uses eco-friendly packaging (which reduces over 20 tonnes of plastic a year!) and only ever cook to order which minimises food wastage.
It’s important to note that if you're constantly finding yourself buying takeaway or making that afternoon trip to the vending machine, opting for pre-made meals and snacks might actually be a great way for you to save money! The fact that they’re also portion-controlled means that you could also save some money by minimising food wastage at home.
Ingredients
Both Dineamic and Fodbods have impressive ingredient lists! Super minimal, and only real, nourishing ingredients that we can all recognise and love. Nothing artificial, no additives or preservatives – it’s just like you’ve made a meal or protein bar at home!
Dineamic’s meals are packed full of wholesome veggies (like tomato, capsicum, carrot, zucchini, spinach, and pumpkin), low GI carbohydrates (like sweet potato, brown rice, and quinoa), lean proteins (like free-range chicken and grass-fed beef), healthy fats (like olive oil), and flavoured with only natural ingredients (like herbs and spices).
Fodbods bars actually contain two plant proteins – pea and rice, to offer a more complete and superior amino acid profile, and are sweetened with organic rice malt syrup (no artificial sweeteners to keep our tummies happy).
Nutritional Information
Overall, Dineamic’s LF menu is healthy, balanced and nutritious. All of their meals (as listed above), provide approximately:
- 20-30g of protein (if you’re looking for a heftier hit of protein, Fodbods make the perfect meal companion/dessert!)
- <15 of fat (most of which is healthy, unsaturated fat from the olive oil)
- ~300 calories (the spag bol however is a tad more energy dense, providing 440 calories)
Fodbods bars are nutritionally balanced – not too high in sugar but high in protein and healthy fats. This means they’re bound to keep you feeling fuller for longer! Additionally, they’re all plant-based, gluten and lactose-free so everyone can enjoy them!
FODMAP Friendly
Whilst Dineamic’s LF range was designed using Dr Sue Shepherd's guidelines, they do contain small amounts of celery and/or mushroom so just be mindful if you’re on the elimination diet or are intolerant to mannitol. If this is the case, the great thing about Dineamic is that they will work with you to find a gut-friendly meal that’s suitable for you!
Fodbods on the other hand are certified FODMAP Friendly so you can trust they’ll keep your tummy happy, and are suitable for all phases of the FODMAP diet.
