If you're cooking for a friend or family member who has gout, you may feel challenged by the dietary restrictions this condition imposes. Gout occurs when uric acid, a byproduct of purine metabolism, builds up in the soft tissues around joints. The accumulation of uric acid crystals causes pain and stiffness similar to arthritis. Careful planning can help ensure your menu excludes foods known to trigger gout.
Breakfast
Unlike most animal proteins, eggs are low in purines, the amino acids that are metabolized into uric acid. This makes serving breakfast to a person with gout relatively easy. Choose from thousands of egg dishes, as long as you don't add meat to the eggs. Dairy products are fine for gout patients, so adding some cheese to an omelet shouldn't pose any problems for the gout sufferer and can enhance the flavor of the morning meal.
As an added benefit of using dairy products, MayoClinic.com notes that low-fat or fat-free dairy products may help reduce gout risk. A yogurt parfait with fresh fruit is another gout-friendly breakfast option. Milk or fruit juice are appropriate beverages for breakfast, or any other meal.
Lunch
Soup and a sandwich are satisfying as a midday meal, but when you're serving a gout patient, it is crucial you choose suitable ingredients in both the soup and the sandwich.
Vegetable soup is usually a safe choice for gout patients. By using a vegetable-based stock and omitting the few vegetables that contain purines, you can create a bowl of nutritious soup for lunch. The Boston University Medical Campus notes that some vegetables, including asparagus, cauliflower, green peas, fresh beans, mushrooms and spinach include moderate amounts of purine and should be avoided if you want to be sure the meal won't trigger gout.
To supplement the soup, try a grilled cheese sandwich. As Boston University notes, refined breads are preferable for gout patients, and dairy products shouldn't pose any problems in terms of triggering symptoms.
Dinner
If you want to serve animal proteins, dinner might be the time to splurge. Be prudent because all animal proteins contain purines, though some contain more than others. High-purine animal proteins include organ meats, such as liver and kidney, game animal meats such as venison, and certain types of seafood such as cod, mussels, haddock, herring, mackerel, sardines, scallops, smelt and shrimp. Other fish, beef, lamb and pork contain moderate amounts of purines. If you're going to serve animal protein, the Ohio State University Medical Center suggests limiting portions to 3 oz, about the size of a woman's palm.
If you'd rather opt out of animal proteins completely, a pasta dinner using refined grain noodles with Alfredo sauce, plus a hearty green salad and garlic bread should satisfy while not triggering gout symptoms.
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