Valentine’s Day Dinner: GERD-Friendly Ideas to Impress Your Date

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and you might have already begun thinking about what to cook for your special someone. Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we don’t want your GERD to get in the way of having a wonderful evening! In this blog, we’re going to cover several GERD-friendly recipes that you can either use or let inspire your very own Valentine’s Day dinner ideas. We’ll also cover what to avoid for sure and which are some of the best Valentine’s foods for acid reflux. Let’s jump right in.

Foods to Avoid This Valentine’s Day

It can be helpful to review the (rather long) list of foods and beverages that you’ll definitely want to avoid this Valentine’s Day. Avoiding these foods will help ensure that you are feeling your best for a great night.

  • Tomato products

  • Chocolate

  • Caffeine

  • Most alcohol

  • Spicy foods

  • Foods high in fat

  • Carbonated beverages

  • Citrus

To learn more about these foods and why they are GERD triggers, check out 10 Foods That Trigger Acid Reflux.


Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

Drinks:

If you really want to have drinks at your Valentine’s Day dinner, it’s best to choose the least aggravating drinks possible. This might include a gin and tonic (stirred a bit to release some of the carbonation), a citrus-free juice spiked with tequila or non-grain vodka, or something else that will be lighter on your stomach.

Appetizers:

There are many different options for an appetizer for your Valentine’s Day dinner. Some of our favorites that stood out to us are:

  • Fat-free chips and Low FODMAP Eggplant Dip (if you are highly sensitive to citrus, just use less juice and add lemon zest to taste)

  • Turkey and Quinoa Meatballs (use the sauce lightly, since it contains tomato sauce and vinegar)

  • A traditional charcuterie with toasted baguette, fig jam, a low-fat cream cheese-based spread, and a low-fat deli meat

Main Courses:

When it comes time for the main course, you can really go as fancy or as simple as you’d like. Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep the fat content down, and whole grains will help fill you up and soak up any excess stomach acid, making it harder for reflux to occur. With these tips in mind, here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day dinner ideas:

  • Low FODMAP Balsamic Chicken with Peaches served with mashed potatoes (mixed with low-fat additives) and a side of salad or wilted greens

  • A lightly-seasoned fresh shrimp scampi (if you’re looking for fancy) with garlic toast; make sure to go light on the lemon juice or use just lemon zest

  • A homemade curry like Low FODMAP Chicken Pumpkin Curry with whole grain rice and some naan

Desserts:

You might think that you can’t partake in dessert because of your reflux, but that’s not true! There are many delicious, low-fat options that you can try to share with your sweetheart. Remember that small portions are less likely to upset your stomach. Here are a few that stuck out to us:


What Are the Best Foods for Acid Reflux?

We get it, date night is supposed to be fun. But, realistically, if you don’t pay attention to what you’re eating and drinking, the rest of the night isn’t going to go well. When selecting what to partake in, keep in mind that the following foods are super-GERD-safe and can even help your stomach settle:

  • Ginger

  • Leafy greens

  • Oats and other whole grains

  • Nut butter

  • Non-citrus fruit

  • Caffeine-free teas like chamomile


Above all, make sure you’re paying attention to what you’re eating. And, if you missed the mark, this blog, How to Reduce Your Symptoms of GERD Before a Date Night, might have some helpful tips for you, too!


Happy Valentine’s Day,

The Tampa Bay Reflux Center



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