Thyroid cancer patients are often required to alter their dietary intake in preparation for either a radio-iodine scan or treatment. Restricting the amount of iodine in the diet for a period of two weeks does not need to be overly challenging. This article provides a few delicious recipes that can be served to the entire family.
Restrictions
The following breakfast foods must be avoided while conforming to a low-iodine diet.
- Dairy: this includes the omission of butter, milk (including commercial almond, soy), coffee creamer, eggs and cheese.
- Commercial bread products.
- Instant hot cereals.
- Instant coffee.
The biggest challenge for breakfast is the milk restriction. However, if you possess a blender you can make your own almond or cashew milk at home.
Homemade Almond or Cashew Milk
Prep
20 m
Ready in
8 h
- Simply soak 1 cup of unsalted nuts (purchased in the grocery’s baking section) in two cups of water overnight.
- In the morning, drain and rinse.
- Add 2 fresh cups of water to the soaked nuts and blend.
- Strain, using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Voila!
Not feeling ambitious? The brand So Delicious offers an acceptable coconut milk. However, only the coconut milk with the orange packaging is carrageenan free and acceptable.
Now that you have milk you can make a low-iodine coffee, oatmeal, or cream of wheat!
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Oatmeal
Important note: do not use the instant individual wrapped portions of oatmeal. Oatmeal can be cooked ahead of time and just reheated in the morning.
If you experience difficulty swallowing, we recommend using McCann’s Irish Oatmeal or place the cooked oatmeal in a blender.
Want to ramp up the protein?
During the last few seconds of cooking add 3 tablespoons of packaged egg whites. OR mash half a banana with unsalted peanut butter.
Smoothies
Your almond, cashew or coconut milk provides an excellent base for a nutritious smoothie! Just add your choice of frozen fruit and for an extra protein boost, unsalted peanut butter. It makes for an easy alternative breakfast.
