Hypoallergenic foods are foods that are unlikely to cause allergic reactions. Many physicians prescribe elimination diets to narrow down specific foods that may be causing food allergies. An alternative to an elimination diet is a hypoallergenic diet, which consists of foods that do not cause allergies. Eating a hypoallergenic diet can be difficult because of the many foods you can't eat, most notably wheat, dairy products, eggs, soy foods, but there are a good number of foods that you can eat. It's important to identify what type of allergy you have (such as nut, soy, dairy or wheat) and then choose hypoallergenic foods based on your particular allergy.
Grains
Some grains that are hypoallergenic include millet, quinoa and amaranth. All wheat-based food products, including wheat bran, wheat germ, wheat starch, wheat nuts, semolina, seitan, triticale, couscous, tabouleh and wheat berries should be excluded from a hypoallergenic meal plan.
Sweeteners
Typically the only sweeteners allowed are maple syrup or brown rice syrup. Acceptable beverages include rice milk, pear nectar, chamomile tea, and sparkling water (without any added sweeteners).
Vegetables
The majority of vegetables are considered hypoallergenic. Eat vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, celery, carrots and Brussels sprouts. Avoid vegetables such as eggplant, corn, tomatoes, broccoli, olives, spinach, mushrooms and avocado if you're on a hypoallergenic diet because these vegetables contain amines or salicylates, two common naturally occurring chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions.
Beans and Legumes
The majority of beans and legumes, with the exception of peanuts, are considered to be hypoallergenic. Choose foods from this category such as lentils, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, peas, navy beans, black beans, lima beans and pinto beans.
Fruits
Certain fruits such as apples and pears are examples of hypoallergenic foods that are safe to eat. Avoid all types of dried fruits, which may contain amines or salicylates.
Meat
Lamb is one of the only meats deemed to be hypoallergenic, because most animals such as chicken and cows are exposed to wheat and dairy products, which are two of the more common food allergens. Avoid canned meat and smoked cheeses as well.
