Elimination Diet Recipes

Determining the cause of food allergies, and conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, can often be a difficult task. One method is to remove all foods from the diet that commonly cause allergies, and then re-introduce them one at a time, looking for signs of an allergic reaction. This is called an elimination diet. Listed below are some strategies, as well as some examples, of easy and tasty recipes that can be prepared while on an elimination diet.

Foods That Commonly Cause Allergies

• Being placed on an elimination diet will mean that you will be taken off most of the following foods: citrus fruits, chicken, eggs, soy products, vinegar and other fermented products, cane sugar (including many syrups), tomatoes, food additives, corn, oats, wheat, dairy, chocolate, coffee, tea, processed foods, legumes and peanuts. In addition, foods that you eat more than three times a week may be added to this list as potential allergy-causing foods.

What is Left?

• While it may seem like there are very few foods left that can be eaten on the elimination diet, keep in mind that all of the foods above will slowly be added back to your diet. Until that time, however, there are still many foods that can be eaten. These include: all vegetables except peas, corn and beans; any meat except heavily processed hot dogs, lunch meat, sausage and bacon; and grains such as barley, rice and oats. You may still eat all non-citrus fruits. You may also have herbal teas and bottled or distilled water. Permitted spices or condiments include sugar-free mustard and ketchup, herbal spices that do not contain preservatives, garlic and ginger.

  This list of permitted foods is based on foods that generally do not cause allergic reactions. However, you should always consult with your doctor before eating any foods on this list--they may not be included on your list of permitted foods due to potential allergic reactions.

A Breakfast Recipe

• If you aren't in the mood for cooked cereals for breakfast, you might want to try this alternative. Be creative--use your favorite fruits and serve in a pretty glass:

  Fruit Smoothie
  Combine a banana, a cup of frozen blueberries (or another kind of berry, if you prefer), 1 tbsp. of honey (if permitted), 1 tbsp. of flax seed (ground), ¼ cup of fruit juice of your choice and a scoop of rice protein powder in a blender. Pour in enough rice milk to cover the fruit (or you can use almond milk if you prefer) and blend.

An Easy Lunch

• Salads are quick and easy for lunch, but for an interesting variation, try this alternative to a sandwich:

  Lettuce Wraps
  Make a quick pesto sauce by blending 2 tbsp. of pine nuts, fresh basil to taste, 1 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 to 2 cloves of garlic in a food processor. You may need to add a little water if it is too thick. Spread the inside of a large lettuce leaf with this sauce, and add a tasty chicken salad created from shredded chicken, diced apples and grapes. Drizzle a little more pesto over the top, roll up the lettuce leaf like a burrito, and enjoy. Create variations on this recipe using different meats, and vegetables instead of fruit.

Something Different for Dinner

• When you tire of meat, vegetables and rice dinners, try this alternative:

  Black Beans and Rice with Veggies
  Place a small amount of olive oil in a wok or skillet, and when the oil is hot, add 4 cloves of minced garlic. Stir for about 30 seconds, then add 1 to 2 cups of your favorite chopped vegetables (consider using green beans, cabbage or even celery). Add 1 to 2 cups of black beans, and seasonings to taste--maybe a little black pepper or some chopped chives. When thoroughly heated, serve over brown rice.

  Variations:
  Add 1 cup of cooked lamb and decrease vegetables to 1 cup.
  Use chopped onions instead of garlic.

Be Creative and Think Positive

• Rather than looking at all the foods you can't eat, make a list of all the foods you can eat. This will make creating new recipes, and revising old favorites, much easier. The elimination diet is a very healthy diet, so look at this time as an opportunity to shed a few pounds and find tasty recipes that you will want to continue making even after the diet is over.

  If you must place a child on the elimination diet, find ways to recreate some of his favorite recipes using permitted foods. For example, try yam fries with sea salt and black pepper, served with sugar free ketchup. Or turkey burgers seasoned with sunflower seeds or other permitted herbs. Keep reminding the child that this diet is a temporary thing, and something that will make him feel better in the long run.