For Cancer Patient:recipes using limited ingredients. Please help.

My mother was diagnosed with cancer a year ago. As such, with the purpose of succoring her immune system her diet became exceedingly restricted. For the first 6-8 months she meticulously followed this new regime.

However, following an experimental treatment which she will continue to undergo, she has recently discovered gallstones that cause unbearable pain if paired with even the slightest fatty food. She cannot have surgery or take any medication to lessen pain because of the high probability that it will undermine the affects of the treatment. Therefore, foods with  fat content are also excluded. The following is a list of the foods that she is allowed to eat, issued by our doctors.

Low GI diet

Protein – fish, chicken, egg whites

Limit Carbs. – buckwheat, brown rice, millet, oats, quinoa, other grains, rye bread, spelt bread

Vegetables– green leafy salads, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini,eggplant, onions, tomato(slightly limited), cucumber, radish, peppers(those with high sugar levels are limited). I have forgotten a few vegetables so post if you are unsure

Berries: blueberry, blackberry, strawberry

(Allowed Once a Day):plain yogurt, 1 serving. (Other dairy is strictly prohibited)

Other Fruits: Grapefruit, Granny Smith Apple

*She cannot eat anything that has been or is in a can.

**She cannot have both added sugar and artificial sweetners, honey is allowed, but limited.

***She cannot have soy or any products of soy. Nuts are no longer allowed.

****Please note that if a recipe requires a whole egg, I am allowed to use the egg yolk, but am very limited. I can only use egg yolk about once every 4 days because too much fat causes unbearable pain due to gallstones.

Her every day food consumption has become tired and mundane. Often, if every day, she "cheats". This is not good and might jeopardize her health. She is too tired to cook after work, so I cook for the family.  I'm seeking new recipes using this list of ingredients, in order to entice her to eat what she is allowed to eat. If you know of any please post them.

I've been home all summer and will be for the next 2 weeks due to my cracked heel bone. Complex recipes are welcomed but once I start school I will have less time to cook so simple, tasty recipes are desired.

Thanks =]

What seasonings is she allowed to have?  I'm sure we can come up with some recipes that fit these perameters.

Folks, please don't post recipes unless they agree with limits stated in the original post!

She's allowed to have any seasonings, however extremely spicy ones are not recommended. Thanks for helping.

A friend of the family came  to my house recently with a new "cancer diet" as well, but he didn't have the gallstones.  Ouch for her :(

I don't know any recipes off the top of my head,  but maybe I'll think of some combos that you haven't yet.

Salsa salad, make non-spicy salsa for dressing, especially over a salad made with hard-boiled egg whites and chicken on top.

Microwaved apples with cinnamon is something I've heard is good.

Fried rice I'm sure you've made... stir fry?  Have you tried using cabbage as a base instead of a grain?   Cabbage can be used where a lot of carbs normally would.  I like to use it in place of tortilla chips, noodles, etc.

Make homemade spaghetti sauce with cabbage "noodles!"

Found this on a vegan blog.  I'll be back with more.  Dunno if carrots are allowed.

Spiced Carrot and Celery Soup

Colourful, lively and warming.

Ingredients:

Pam spray

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon of curry powder

6 medium carrots, roughly chopped

4 large sticks of celery, cut into pieces

2 pints/4 cups/1200ml of water

seasalt to taste

Sautee the onion and garlic for a few minutes and then add the curry powder and stir to release the flavours. Add the carrots, celery and water and cook gently until the vegetables are tender. Whizz up in a liquidiser/blender until smooth and add salt.

Also- I saw "milk" made entirely of whole grains the other day.  No soy.  It was at Trader Joes, so you may want to check that out.  I'm sure that having milk would open a whole range of recipes.

Finally, what I've found is that the best way to find total health recipes is to go through "The Sunny Raw Kitchen" blog.  You'll always find something there since the ingredients are so basic.

Thanks so much! You have some great ideas there, ill definently try out thr salsa over a salad made with egg whites and chicken on top. I can make so many thing out of the cabbage suggestion. Carrots are allowed, ill try out the soup and once I can walk i'll go to trader joe's. We usually do some of our grocery shopping there.

Steamed broccoli slaw is a pretty good noodle substitute as well.  Pair it with some homemade tomato sauce, and maybe some sliced zucchini and eggplant?

From your parameters, I take it homemade peanut butter would be out?

Peanut butter would probably have her hospitalized, she cant consume any type of nut. However the broccoli slaw idea is really good, i'll try it out tomorrow. Thanks for the input.

Carrot & Apple Salad

2 cups coarsely grated carrots
1 cup coarsely grated apple
3 TBS lemon juice (if allowed - if not use half that amount of cider vinegar)
1 tsp honey

Add golden raisins to taste, if allowed

Combine and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

I think ratatouille would fit this diet.  If you eliminate the olive oil and any other questionable ingredients, it will turn out just fine - it's a very forgiving dish.  You can limit the tomatoes and peppers as much as you like.

Don't be put off by the complicated instructions in this particular recipe. I figure it's worth knowing how the classic dish is prepared, then you can use your imagination to make a simpler version. 

There are lots of very simple preparations if you look for them.  Basically, it's just eggplant, squash, tomatoes and peppers, stewed.   Personally, I just cut everything up and throw it in a pot to stew.  I've even done it in the crockpot. 

You could also cook chicken breast in this to make a one dish meal.

Classic Ratatouille

I have been making Ratatouille for my mom since she was diagnosed, it's alright it's not too complex. I've taken culinary classes so I guess I'll try anything. The complexity isn't a problem just the time it takes to make it once I start school. Thanks for the suggestions guys!I really appreciate it.

She might like this.  It's like a quiche, except there's no crust.  Obviously add whatever veggies she likes best.  It's made with 2 whole eggs and five whites, but I've made it with no yolks at all and it still tasted good.