by Elaine Wakefield, Metabolic Dietitian, The Community Health Clinic
Celebrate a World of Flavors
March is National Nutrition month! The theme for the 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Association’s annual celebration of good nutrition is Celebrate a World of Flavors. Keep meals healthy by including lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Experiment with some new spices or flavor combinations to make meals or snacks fun.
Many of our metabolic patients here at the Community Health Clinic need to follow a low protein diet. Meals can become very boring if you don’t add a little spice to the basic potatoes, vegetables and low protein pasta that make up the meals.
Recipe Ideas
Here are some lower protein ideas from around the world to add some new flavors for those who need to restrict protein. If you don’t need to restrict protein, use regular pasta or tortilla wraps in the recipes below.
Greek Potatoes
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon salt
Mix above ingredients together and pour over 2 to 3 medium peeled and quartered potatoes.
Place seasoned potatoes on rimmed baking pan. Bake in 400° F oven for 20 minutes, stir and continue roasting until tender and edges are beginning to brown.
Makes 4 servings. 2 grams protein per ½ cup serving.
Sweet Curry Pasta Salad
½ cup dry low protein pasta
¼ cup chopped apples
¼ cup chopped celery
2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 Tablespoons raisins
¼ teaspoon curry powder
1 Tablespoon fruit jam or jelly (apple, grape or berry)
3 Tablespoons Miracle Whip®
1 Tablespoon chopped green onion, for garnish, optional
Cook pasta according to directions; Drain and rinse in cold water after cooking.
Add cooked pasta and all ingredients except green onions to bowl large enough to mix everything together.
Mix well until blended. If desired, sprinkle reserved green onions on top and serve.
Makes two servings. 1 gram protein per serving.
Vegetable Fajitas
2 low protein tortilla wraps
1 cup sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, orange or green)
1 cup sliced onion (red, white, or yellow onion)
¼ cup sliced mushrooms
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoons chili powder
¼ teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
Extra ingredients, use as desired:
Lime wedges
Cilantro, roughly chopped
Avocado, sliced or mashed = 0.5 gram protein per 2 Tablespoons
Salsa
Hot sauce
In a hot skillet over a medium heat, combine peppers, onion and oil; saute for 2 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low, add mushrooms, seasonings and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften. Warm tortilla. Place all ingredients from the skillet onto warmed tortilla. Add any extra ingredients. Roll or fold the tortilla so that the mixture is wrapped in the center.
Makes 2 servings. 1 gram protein per serving without avocado.
Enjoy celebrating National Nutrition Month!