This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive

Summer Recipes for Heartburn Relief

Enjoy picnics and BBQs without heartburn this summer.

By Jenny Stamos WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Do you wish you had a heartburn-free recipe for your next barbecue? Summer is, unfortunately, one of the worst seasons for those who suffer from heartburn. With spicy barbecue and citrusy lemonade, heartburn triggers are everywhere. "Check out the following list, and you'll notice that many potential heartburn triggers are also common favorites for summer picnics and barbecues," says Jill Sklar, co-author of Eating for Acid Reflux. But with our heartburn-free recipes, you'll be able to enjoy those summer picnics like you'd never even heard of heartburn.

Typical Heartburn Trigger Foods

Common trigger foods for those with heartburn include:

• citrus foods (limes, lemons, grapefruits, oranges, etc)
• acidic fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, cranberries, pineapple, cucumbers)
• certain vinegars and vinegar-cured condiments (mustard, sauerkraut, olives, pickles)
• fatty or fried foods
• dairy products, especially those that are acidic (like yogurt) or higher in fat
• hot peppers
• sugary treats
• chocolate
• peppermint
• caffeine
• alcohol
• carbonated beverages

Fresh Fruit That Helps Heartburn

The taste of fresh blueberries, succulent peaches, and strawberries fresh from the garden or local farmer's market defines summer. Fruit is a quintessential summer food, but for people with heartburn, this food category has huge potential for problems. But don't dismiss fruit completely. "Not everyone with heartburn is going to react the same way to all of the trigger foods," Sklar tells WebMD. "Some people can barely look at citrus fruits without feeling that familiar burning sensation, while others consume oranges and fresh lemonade with no problems at all."

Luckily for fruit-lovers, there are many fresh summer fruits that you can eat without suffering symptoms. "Ripe mango and papaya can actually help in digestion and tend to be more alkaline than acidic," Sklar says. "Cantaloupe, watermelon, bananas, figs, dates, cherries, pears, peaches, and guava also tend to be less acidic and seldom cause heartburn, even in the most sensitive patients."

For summer meals without heartburn, try these recipes. They've been adapted to reduce your risk of heartburn.

Heartburn-Free Recipes for Summertime Fun

Buttermilk Oven-"Fried" Chicken
Though not as decadent as the real thing, this version of fried chicken has great taste without ingredients that can trigger heartburn and GERD. Boneless and skinless breasts also make for easy eating and eliminate the fatty chicken skin.

6 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon granulated garlic (as tolerated)

1. Soak chicken in milk in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Spray a large baking dish or sheet well with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside
3. Preheat oven to 400° F. Brush the butter over the bottom of the baking dish.
4. Mix flour, cornmeal, salt, paprika, and garlic together in a large zip-top plastic bag.
5. Add one milk-soaked piece of chicken to the seasoned flour and shake well to dredge.
6. Place the dredged chicken breast in the baking dish and repeat with remaining chicken and flour mixture.
7. Bake for the chicken 10 minutes, turn it over, and bake an additional 10 minutes or until cooked through. Do not overcook.
8. Remove chicken from the oven and serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 6
Per serving: 413 calories, 18 g fat, 40 g protein, 29.6 g carbohydrates, 504 mg sodium

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4    Next: Blueberry Maple Crisp

Print Friendly Version          Email a Friend