The Food Spot

Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits

Knowing your triggers is the key to minimizing eczema outbreaks is important!

While everyone is different, the most common food allergies associated with eczema flare-ups include the following:

Including

• Cow’s Milk
• Eggs
• Soy Products
• Gluten
• Nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish

Here are two eczema friendly recipes to help you along your journey to a healthier lifestyle and overall condition management. We will share a new recipe each month. Enjoy!

 

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

This smoothie is filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.The raspberries and flaxseed are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• 1 cup rice milk
• 1 Tbsp flaxseed, freshly ground

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Garnish as desired. Serve immediately.

 

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Soup

This gluten and dairy free recipe is great for inflammation.

The cayenne pepper, curry powder, garlic, onions, and turmeric are great anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp oil
• 1 onion, cubed
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• A pinch of both cloves and cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp curry powder
• 1 Tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 Tsp ground turmeric
• 3 sweet potatoes, cubed
• 2 white potatoes, cubed
• 1 Lt vegetable broth, low sodium preferably
• 4 cups of hot water
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 can of coconut milk

Directions

1. Place the oil in a large pot and then add the onion, cooking for 5 minutes on a low heat
2. Add the seasoning and garlic, stirring well
3. Add in the potatoes, cooking for 5 minutes and continually stirring
4. Add the broth and water and bring to a boil
5.  Reduce heat to simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the zucchini
6.  Simmer for another 10-15 minutes and then add the coconut milk, stirring to combine and using a fork to check the potatoes are soft
7. Pour into a blender and pulse until as much as you like is pureed
8. Garnish with cayenne pepper and herbs of your choice.

 

Chocolate-Free Chocolate Pudding

This is a great recipe for if your child’s eczema is linked to a food allergy or intolerance to chocolate. Your child can still enjoy the delightfulness of chocolate with the use of carob flour in this “chocolate” pudding recipe. Carob flour is made from the carob tree and has a sweet, slightly cocoa-like flavor, but is considered hypoallergenic. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup dates, chopped
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp carob powder
• 1 1/3 cups hot cooked millet

Directions

1. Mix water and dates in a food processor
2. Process until smooth
3. Transfer to a saucepan and bring to a boil
4. Remove from heat, and add rest of ingredients
5. Blend until smooth
6. Chill and serve

 

Chicken and Apple Salad

This eczema friendly recipe pairs meaty chicken with succulent grapes and crunchy apples to create a wonderful meal you and your little one will enjoy. Chicken, apples, and grapes typically do not cause allergic reactions, making it a safe dish for people with eczema and food allergies. The apples in this salad also possess strong antioxidant, anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties, which help relieve symptoms associated with a number of inflammatory conditions, like eczema. Enjoy!

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1 cup grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 3 tbsp red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup organic apples, diced
• 6 tbsp extra light mayonnaise
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Lettuce leaves

Directions

1. Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl.
2.  In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
3.  Stir into chicken mix.
4. Arrange lettuce leaves on serving plates and top with chicken salad.

Serves 4

 

Apple Slices with Cinnamon

This snack is easy to prepare and something quick for you and your little one to enjoy, especially when you are on the go. Apples are a great snack for eczema patients due to the high concentration of quercetin found in apples. Quercetin is a flavonoid that has antioxidant, anti-histamine, and anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows that quercetin can help relieve symptoms associated with a number of inflammatory conditions, including eczema.

 

Ingredients

• 1 medium apple, cored and sliced
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground

Directions

1. Place apple slices on a small serving plate.
2. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve immediately.

Serves 1