Here’s something to be grateful for this holiday season: If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you can still enjoy a variety of healthful, delicious recipes.
What you eat can have a huge impact on how you feel as an RA patient. Typically, people with RA are told to avoid refined sugar, certain dairy products, meat, gluten, and bad-for-you fats such as trans and saturated fats. On the flip side, some foods have been shown to combat inflammation, strengthen bones, and enhance immune system function.
These recipes are specially geared for RA patients who want to enjoy tasty holiday dishes that will keep RA symptoms in check. Many of them already feature healthy alternatives, such as coconut or almond milk instead of dairy, or incorporating gluten-free ingredients instead of refined carbs. Others are ideal for making your own healthy substitutions.
1. Autumn Baked Oatmeal Squares with Mulberries
The Healthy Apple blog offers up these oatmeal squares that have a seasonal taste without all the fat. There’s no refined sugar, and the recipe calls for the healthful dairy alternative of coconut milk.
2. Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies
This low-sugar recipe calls for gluten-free oats and incorporates both sweet potato and cocoa to deliver a fudgy brownie consistency along with healthful nutrition. It is an ideal chocolate dessert with a healthy twist, not to mention a seasonal one!
3. Sugar-Free Egg Nog
Enjoy a traditional holiday egg nog without sugar. This recipe uses almond milk and egg substitutes to deliver a delicious taste without all the sugar, fat, or calories in traditional egg nog. To make it even healthier, leave out the pudding mix.
4. Root Vegetable Pot Pie
Packed with healthy root vegetables, this gluten-free pot pie from The RA Vegan blog delivers the consistency of a traditional one without triggering inflammation. Her substitutions turn a traditionally fattening dish into one that manages refined carbohydrates and fats while delivering big taste.
5. Pumpkin French Toast Bake
Not all of the best holiday dishes come out with the main meal. Try this pumpkin French toast bake the night before or morning of a holiday! You can use the milk of your choice, opt for a gluten-free bread, and make some other substitutions to make it more accommodating for your RA — and delicious for everyone!
6. Pumpkin Mousse Shooters
Easy to whip up, these healthful dessert cups give you the option of using fat-free or low-fat dairy to enjoy traditional seasonal flavors of pumpkin, ginger, clove, and cinnamon.
7. Low-Calorie Thanksgiving Stuffing
Who says you have to give up stuffing just because you’re trying to watch your carbs? This recipe uses light bread — you could substitute in a gluten-free option — to create a flavorful stuffing that will delight every guest at the table!
8. Sweet Potato Casserole
Imagine your favorite Thanksgiving casserole, but with low-fat vanilla yogurt instead of butter, cream, and tons of sugar.
9. Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad
This seasonal salad is sure to draw praise from your holiday crowds. Not only does it use fresh fruits and veggies, but it brings together fall and winter flavors for a crunchy, healthy result.
10. Creamy Green Bean Casserole
Skip the canned mushroom filler — it is often filled with fat — and make your green bean casserole from scratch. For even more RA-friendly holiday recipe benefits, swap out traditional milk for a dairy alternative, choose butter from grass-fed cows or use a gluten-free flour in place of a traditional flour.
11. Crispy Roasted Green Beans
Sometimes you want to go back to basics without skimping on flavor. These crispy roasted green beans skip traditional creamy sauce and offer roasted taste that’s both healthy and delicious!
You can take a lot of your favorite holiday dishes and swap out some of the high fat, carb, and sugar ingredients. Hopefully these provide you with some delicious meals that help you avoid inflammation and delight all of your holiday guests.
