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The holidays can be stressful if you have a chronic illness like Lyme Disease. One of the main symptoms of the illness is a person’s decreased energy level. This can range from slightly tired to complete physical and mental exhaustion. There are many treatments and recommendations for managing the symptoms of Lyme Disease, but diet is one of the most often mentioned. Since the holidays revolve a lot around eating it may be hard for those with Lyme Disease to partake in a lot of things, especially foods with dairy and sugar. The other option is to make things that are “Lyme-Friendly”, but add in the exhaustion factor above and it may seem like a losing battle.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but feel free to ask for help! There’s no harm in telling the host of the dinner that you have dietary needs and to keep that in mind. If you’re hosting bring on extra help and share some of your diet needs with them. Thanksgiving is about togetherness and inclusion and you’re a part of that.
Here are some examples of “Lyme-Friendly” recipes that you can bring or serve this Thanksgiving. They’re simple enough to make so you don’t over-exhaust yourself but still delicious and crowd pleasing!
Soup’s On! Carrot and Cauliflower Soup (serves 4)
Vegetarian and dairy-free this sweet and savory soup is perfect for Thanksgiving
What you need:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ small head cauliflower (about 8 ounces) cut into florets
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 1-quart Vegetable Stock
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup of coconut milk
What to do:
- Heat the oil in a 2-quart sauce pot over medium-high heat for 1 minute or until hot.
- Saute the onions for 3 minutes or until limp.
- Add the garlic, cauliflower, and carrots and saute for 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.
- Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium and simmer for 35 minutes.
- Pour the soup into a blender container and puree the soup until smooth.
- Serve immediately and refrigerate leftovers.
Naturally Sweet Frozen Berry Dessert (serves 4)
No Sugar? No Problem! This is a refreshing and healthy alternative to desserts with lots of refined sugars that everyone can enjoy.
What you need:
- 6 oz. frozen strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or blueberries or a combination
- 1 cup coconut milk, canned
- a pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
What to do:
- Put the frozen berries into the food processor. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped. If you don’t have a processor a blender or cutting by hand will work too.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Pulse until smooth.
- Place in a container and freeze for two hours before serving.
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