Navigating Filipino Feasts on a Low-Oxalate Diet: Your Survival Guide

Savoring the vibrant flavors of Filipino cuisine while maintaining a low-oxalate diet might seem challenging—but it’s entirely possible! Popular dishes often hide high-oxalate ingredients like spinach, nuts, beets, and soy products. Fear not—whether you’re at a family gathering or festive celebration, this guide arms you with smart strategies and makes mm food your indispensable dining ally.

Why Filipino Cuisine Poses Oxalate Challenges

Iconic Filipino dishes often rely on high-oxalate stars:

• Kare-Kare: Peanut-based sauce
• Laing/Dinengdeng: Taro leaves + legumes
• Adobo Variations: Soy sauce (moderate oxalate)
• Champorado: Cocoa powder
• Soups/Sinigang: Often feature spinach or bok choy

Your Low-Oxalate Filipino Feast Strategy

1. Scout Safe Dishes Ahead

Lean into these typically lower-oxalate staples:

• Grilled proteins (Inasal, Isaw, Lechon Kawali - sans breading)
• Sinigang made with meat/fish + safe veggies like eggplant
• Crispy Pata (ensure preparation excludes soy or spices)
• Ginataang Manok/Hipon (chicken/shrimp in coconut milk)
• Steamed white rice (yes, rice is oxalate-friendly!)

2. Skip or Modify These Common Pitfalls

Foods to ask about/substitute:

• Dishes with spinach, kamote (sweet potato), peanuts, or beans
• Sauces: Request peanut-free kare-kare, soy-light adobo broth
• Veggies: Swap water spinach (kangkong) for cabbage 🥬

3. Moonlight as Your Own Advocate

Speak up politely! Ask:

• “Can nuts or spinach be removed from this dish?”
• “Is soy sauce cooked into the meat or added after?”

Supercharge Safety with mm food

Don’t navigate menus alone! mm food’s AI deciphers ingredients and flags hidden oxalate risks:

1. Translate: Instantly convert Tagalog dish names to your language.
2. Custom Filter: Set dietary restrictions → "Low Oxalate".
3. AI Analysis: Upload or snap a menu photo. mm food highlights safe picks and risky items!

Festive Feast Cheat Sheet

Safe Bets ✅ Questionable 🚧 Avoid ❌ Lechon (no sauce) Pancit Canton Kare-kare Grilled Bangus Lumpia (ask filling) Laing Chicken Inasal Adobo (light sauce) Champorado Sinigang na Baboy Ginataang Kalabasa Ube desserts

Celebrate Without Compromise

You’ve got this—and mm food’s got you! Translate unfamiliar terms, customize your dietary alerts, enjoy authentic fiesta flavors, and feast confidently. Trust your instincts, lean on tech, and indulge in the joy of Filipino hospitality—oxalate-safe!

Note: Oxalate content can vary based on recipes. Consult your doctor and use mm food for general guidance when eating out.