Allergic to fresh fruit/vegetables... Need suggestions.

cd0289
cd0289 Posts: 8
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I know that it sounds hard to believe if you haven't heard of it before, but it's true. Personal research some time ago has pointed to something called Oral Allergy Syndrome. To read more about it, you can read about it on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_allergy_syndrome

I need help from any users out there who may have the same problem, or anyone who might be able to help me out with solutions to come up with to get a proper intake of fruits and vegetables, without compromising on nutrition. So far, I have been successful with frozen fruits blended up into a smoothie, or baking/cooking these fruits and vegetables very thoroughly. Frozen fruit seems to be the most nutritious... but there's only so much you can do.

Fresh fruits (uncooked) I know I am NOT allergic to are:

Lemons, limes, grapefruits*, cranberries, blackberries*, raspberries*

* If I eat too much, or at random times I may or may not have an allergic reaction to these when they are fresh.


Fresh Vegetables commenly eaten raw (uncooked... I realize some of these items may be considered fruits or "botanical fruit") I know I AM allergic to are:

Avacado, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cucumber, lettuce (all types), radish, tomato

Also allergic to almost everything listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_allergy_syndrome#Cross_reactions


Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I avoid fruit all together, or should I cook them? If I cook them, does anyone have recipes for it? The most recipes I have found for fruit are dessert or sugary... which obviously I am trying to avoid. I have had canned and packaged fruits from Del Monte and that type of stuff... but again, trying to avoid the sugary/corn syrup items...

I appreciate any help you have to offer.

Thank you.

Replies

  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    Don't eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    Thanks for the wise advice, koosdel. I haven't been... but I am trying to find alternative ways some of you might have experience with.
  • ellekay22
    ellekay22 Posts: 147 Member
    Cooked is better than none at all.

    You can slow cook apples and berries together with cinnamon. You don't need to add sugar. I throw some prepared pancake mix on top and make like a cakey-thing (low sugar).

    What about blanching? Throw veggies/fruits into boiling water just for a few seconds, but in strainer and run under cold water. Does that work for you?
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    How about the V8 fusions? They are good for you and have fruits and vegetables.
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    I did drink that V8/V8 Splash in the past. I got sick of it after a while but maybe I'll go get some more. Thank you for reminding me of that stuff.
  • Pangea250
    Pangea250 Posts: 965 Member
    Not meaning to be sarcastic...but if you are allergic to something, then don't eat it. Have something else. Have 5 of something else.
  • Fattack
    Fattack Posts: 666 Member
    Try to find a nutritionist who can advise you better - without knowing the rest of your diet it's hard to see which vitamins you are deficient in. I am studying basic nutrition as part of my Personal Training qualification, but I am NOT a qualified nutritionist, and just as a guess, you're probably struggling with Vitamin A, C, and maybe Potassium depending on how many beans / pulses you eat. Maybe look into a Vitamin C supplement too, as that's one vitamin that seems to be really hard to find from other sources (unless you like liver and offal - personally that makes me want to retch but some people love it).
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    You can slow cook apples and berries together with cinnamon. You don't need to add sugar. I throw some prepared pancake mix on top and make like a cakey-thing (low sugar).

    What about blanching? Throw veggies/fruits into boiling water just for a few seconds, but in strainer and run under cold water. Does that work for you?

    If I cook the fruit, doesn't it lose most of it's nutritional value? I suppose I could try that out, never thought about a slow cooker. Blanching only helps with some vegetables. Broccoli, for example, if it is steamed I feel nausea after eating it, but if it is stir fried or baked, it's fine. I don't understand that one.
  • Roni_M
    Roni_M Posts: 717 Member
    That must be a horrible condition to have!

    Have you thought of doing the cooking with a sugar substitute like splenda? I have a friend who is diebetic and he makes all his jams & jellies with splenda. They are pretty tasty and you can't tell the difference. I believe you can substitute it in any recipe.

    There are lots of frozen fruits offered now...can you eat them once they are thawed? What about making your own fruit salad and freezing it to make it safe for you? How about melons like cantelope or honey dew?

    Sorry I'm not more help. Veggies are easier since most can be cooked. Fruits a tough one!
  • zenchild
    zenchild Posts: 680 Member
    If you can do cooked fruits try baking. Baked apples are amazing. No need to add sugar, just sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg and it's like eating pie. Pears would probably work well too.
    Can you eat dried fruits/veggies? A dehydrator may be helpful. Dried green beans are pretty tasty. And you can dry just about any fruit.
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    Not meaning to be sarcastic...but if you are allergic to something, then don't eat it. Have something else. Have 5 of something else.

    I don't eat it if I am allergic to it :tongue: perhaps I should have mentioned that in my original post. I'm trying to see mainly if anyone else has this problem, and if they do, how to overcome it. I'm trying to add these things to my diet, so the most suggestions the better for me.

    As far as seeing a nutritionist, I do suppose I should. I just feel like they'll tell me something I already know. I do take one multivitamin, fish oil, and a couple other supplements daily.
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    That must be a horrible condition to have!

    Have you thought of doing the cooking with a sugar substitute like splenda? I have a friend who is diebetic and he makes all his jams & jellies with splenda. They are pretty tasty and you can't tell the difference. I believe you can substitute it in any recipe.

    There are lots of frozen fruits offered now...can you eat them once they are thawed? What about making your own fruit salad and freezing it to make it safe for you? How about melons like cantelope or honey dew?

    Sorry I'm not more help. Veggies are easier since most can be cooked. Fruits a tough one!

    It does suck because I used to be able to eat all fruit, but it is what it is. I have baked with splenda, though I haven't found too many "meal" types of recipes with fruit. I can thaw frozen fruit but if it's not at least partially frozen, the allergy is more apparent. I have tried freezing fruit in the past, but for some reason it doesn't work as well for me... I'm not sure if I need to freeze it for expended periods of time or what. I'll give that a go at some point.
  • applebobbrush
    applebobbrush Posts: 235 Member
    You can hide a lot of vegetables in home made sauces like marinara. I make a home made marinara with canned tomatoes, shredded carrots, bell peppers and whatever else I have in the fridge. I blenderize them then simmer them for a while in a frying pan with some olive oil and then on top of pasta and bake for a bit. Then it's cooked, worth a try.
  • cd0289
    cd0289 Posts: 8
    If you can do cooked fruits try baking. Baked apples are amazing. No need to add sugar, just sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg and it's like eating pie. Pears would probably work well too.
    Can you eat dried fruits/veggies? A dehydrator may be helpful. Dried green beans are pretty tasty. And you can dry just about any fruit.

    I can have most dried fruits, and I love them because you can still get most of the flavor of a fresh fruit. For some reason, things like dried plums, dates, peaches, or larger fruits aren't compatible with me. Pineapple is usually fine too, which I find odd.
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