When I’m on the low iodine diet one of my biggest struggles is what to eat for dinner during the week. I need recipes that fit into the dietary requirements, are fast and that my husband will eat as well.
I hope these easy low iodine diet dinner ideas give you some inspiration as you embark on your LID adventure.
For more low iodine diet meal ideas check out – 5 Easy Low Iodine Diet Breakfast Ideas
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Awesome and Easy Low Iodine Diet Dinner Ideas
Baked chicken breast with olive oil and fresh herbs along with homemade baked sweet potato fries and roasted broccoli.
To make the chicken – place your chicken in a pyrex dish, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and then sprinkle dried and fresh herbs of your choice. Bake in the oven until the juice runs clear.
For the sweet potato fries – peel the sweet potatoes and cut them in rounds. Then line a baking pan with tin foil, spray the foil with olive oil and place the sweet potato rounds on the pan. Sprinkle the rounds with dried herbs of your choice – I really like rosemary. Bake until tender.
To roast the broccoli – wash and cut up your broccoli and place it on a lined baking pan and bake in the oven along with your chicken and sweet potatoes.
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Pasta with homemade tomato sauce and lentils
Cook the pasta per the package directions. Just double check that the pasta doesn’t contain any prohibited ingredients (salt, egg yolk, dairy products).
For the tomato sauce – I make this low iodine diet compliant tomato sauce and it’s amazing.
To make the lentils – purchase dried lentils and prepare them per the instructions on the bag. Just remember not to add any salt and not to use prepared vegetable broth to cook the lentils.
If you’re in the mood for meat you can add ground beef or chicken instead of the lentils for a super hearty dish.
Vegetarian Curry
Curries are great when you’re on the low iodine diet because they are super flavorful but without the addition of salt, soy sauce or other prepared sauces that have ingredients that aren’t allowed on the low iodine diet.
I like to add chickpeas to my curry and serve it with quinoa. If you choose to do the same, remember that you have to soak and cook your own chickpeas. No canned chickpeas allowed on the LID!
Also, if your curry calls for milk or nut milk remember that you need to make your own nut milk from raw nuts.
Baked Lake Trout, Roasted Root Vegetables and Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ocean seafood is off limits under the low iodine diet but I’ve been advised that eating lake fish is ok since they don’t live in salt water. If you’ve been given the go ahead to eat lake fish as well, then this is a really easy low iodine diet dinner idea for a weeknight.
To make the trout – bake it in the oven with fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice.
For the roasted root vegetables – you can check out my favorite recipe just omit the salt.
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To roast the Brussels sprouts – roast them along with the other veggies and the trout.
Avocado pasta
This is one of those recipes that makes you feel as though you get to eat real food despite being on a very restrictive diet. This avocado pasta is easy to make, yummy and pretty healthy as well.
I hope that these low iodine diet dinner ideas are helpful for you and provide you with some inspiration. Just remember, the LID is only temporary and you’ll be finished it soon! Good luck 🙂
Wendie Fischer says
Thank you! I’m still not sure if fruit grown in seaweed fertilizer is safe. My doctor told me to begin the diet now, though my i131 is on 5/23/18.
Nicole Salama says
Hi Wendie, I have no idea about seaweed fertilizer! My doctor never mentioned it to me. I think the longer you’re on the diet the more starved any remaining cells become so the radioactive iodine can attach to them (I’m not a doctor or health care professional but I think that’s how it works). Best of luck with the treatment and if you need any further help please let me know.
Jen @ Practical, By Default says
These sound like great options, thank you for sharing! #SmallVictoriesSundaylinkup
Ilka says
Nicole – these recipes are for sure a very yummy option to meet your special diet requirements! Delicious!
Jennifer Weinberg says
It is always a challenge to adapt to a limited diet, but you came up with some delicious-sounding options! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Nicole Salama says
Thank you Jennifer – glad you found the ideas inspirational