Recipe Ideas for a VERY Restricted Diet

Cutemesoon
Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member
edited November 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Help! I have various health issues that require me to stay away from certain things. There’s not much I can or want to eat. The only animal flesh I can have is wild caught salmon and organic chicken breast. I can’t have lots of green leafy vegetables. No flour, no white sugar, no canola or olive oil, onions, mushrooms or tomatoes.

The tomato is the hardest. So many yummy recipes have tomato as a base. Can anyone recommend recipes or a website that would help? Thanks.

Signed,

One depressed eater :(:'(

*EDIT* I also can't have soy or dairy. I can however have almond yogurt, milk & cheese. :smile:
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Replies

  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Perhaps you should consult your medical professional for diet and nutrition suggestions, esp if you have so many medically necessary restrictions on what you "can" eat...
  • Cutemesoon
    Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    I am a little confused about why you can only have one lean meat protein and one fatty fish. I understand ruling out shellfish but limiting to two very specific and common items seems odd.

    It has to do with digestion. Other proteins would be difficult for my system to break down.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Have your dr refer you to a dietician if you can. Your needs are complicated.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Another vote for using the Ingredients feature on allrecipes.com.
  • HealthyTardis
    HealthyTardis Posts: 12 Member
    You need a consultation with a dietician. I'd recommend taking a quality multivitamin (with their approval), and perhaps a nutritional drink like boost or breeze.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    edited May 2018
    My son had a weird list of restrictions to try and avoid known migraine triggers. It included tomatoes, MSG, and old cheese which pretty well eliminated any prepared foods.

    I became practiced at reading labels.

    I learned to make my own sauces.

    Here are alternatives you can eat:

    green leafy vegetables> all the orange, root and starchy vegetables

    flour > cornstarch for thickening

    white sugar > skip the sugars or use Stevia

    no canola or olive oil > corn, safflower oil

    onions [is it the whole family? If not...] > garlic, chives, shallot

    mushrooms > just skip it or replace with corn

    tomatoes > squash/pumpkin purée

    You also still have all the fruits, whole grains and beans/legumes. Unless this was somehow missed by whomever came up with this tortuous list.

    It seems to me you could make a great coconut curry with your allowed ingredients. Stir fries are also in the running. Substitute where necessary.

    For instance this recipe only has one disallowed ingredient. Simply sub the olive oil for an allowed oil.

    https://healthyaperture.com/blog/post/stir-fry-made-without-soy-sauce
  • Cutemesoon
    Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member
    edited May 2018
    @jgnatca Thanks a million for the great ideas! The recipe looks amazing! Can't wait to try it this wknd.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    edited May 2018
    Oh! Yes. Look up coconut flour recipes. Those were a lifesaver! They use a lot of eggs/fluids, but there are some really good coconut flour recipes!

    Grape seed oil works well as a general replacement for oil. Can you do ghee (clarified butter)?
  • dotren
    dotren Posts: 26 Member
    Google through "whole 30" and "paleo" recipes. A lot of those could be adapted to your food restrictions. Good luck!
  • d090882
    d090882 Posts: 148 Member
    simply boil potatoes and eat it - And stir fry the vegetables you can eat with chicken stock and olive oil. Simple and yummy! For sugar - strawberry & frozen berry whey protein shake.
  • Cutemesoon
    Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member

    Grape seed oil works well as a general replacement for oil. Can you do ghee (clarified butter)?

    Yes. I really like ghee.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I think you can have this if you skip the cilantro (which is what I would do anyways).

    https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/thai-peanut-coconut-cauliflower-chickpea-curry/
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    allrecipes.com

    You can input the ingredients you want or that you have on hand and it will generate recipes.
  • Cutemesoon
    Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »

    Thanks for reccomending this website. It's awesome! I'm finding lots of great recipes! :smiley:
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Cutemesoon wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »

    Thanks for reccomending this website. It's awesome! I'm finding lots of great recipes! :smiley:

    Purely the accident of google. Nice to hear you more hopeful.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    If you can't have soy, then look into coconut aminos. That is what I use for Asian cooking in place of soy sauce (and also in place of other items like worcestershire sauce).

    Also, if you can have red bell peppers they make a great substitute for tomatoes in many dishes. Especially roasted.

    I know what it is like to be heavily restricted when it comes to what you can eat. I am lucky that I have since been able to add foods back in as my medical condition has improved/gone into remission but I still have a LOT of restrictions. Especially those first few months after being diagnosed. I remember times being in the grocery stores and crying because finding stuff to eat could be so hard. I mostly cook at home, but sometimes needed items that could be short cuts because of energy issues from other medical conditions.

    The way I found recipes was simply to educate myself on substitutions, go to Pinterest or Google, and see what I could find that I could adjust. Heck, I even have a decent no tomato chili recipe I use.

    Stay strong. You can do this. You may want to talk to your doctor about speaking to a professional who can help guide you.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I think you can have this if you skip the cilantro (which is what I would do anyways).

    https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/thai-peanut-coconut-cauliflower-chickpea-curry/

    I printed this and gave it to my husband. Hint hint, dear! :smiley:
  • ByteLily
    ByteLily Posts: 52 Member
    I have celiacs. I also cannot have dairy. In any form. Cassien, whey, lactose. I also cannot have oats. So, I understand about a restricted diet. I have ankylosing spondylitis and my Dr also likes me to eat low starch to help with inflammation. What medical condition do you have and what does your Dr say? Mine sent me to a nutritionist. I've been eating this way for 6 years. Be happy to help .
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