** Disclaimer: due to the severe nature of PKU, please ensure you communicate with your healthcare provider about any changes to your child’s diet.
After a diagnosis of PKU and a quick Google search, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the foods your child can’t eat.
So let’s ditch the confusion and overwhelming restrictions, and get some inspiration for foods your child will love. Make sure to download the free PKU Recipes E-Book for easy PKU recipes!
Also – send this post to grandparents, friends, teachers, daycare workers, etc to give them a better idea of how to keep your child safe and fed.
How does PKU change our dietary needs?
PKU stands for phenylketonuria. This is a genetic disorder that prevents proper digestion of phenylalanine, a common compound within proteins (1).
Because of this digestive issue, children with PKU need to severely restrict their dietary protein intake. If protein is not limited, it could lead to severe mental and cognitive delays (1).
How much protein is allowed for PKU?
It is generally recommended for children with PKU to eat less than 10 grams of protein per day, or less than 500mg of phenylalanine (2).
However, Each PKU child can tolerate a different level of phenylalanine (2). Consult with your physician to evaluate your child’s tolerance. By using their blood phenylalanine level, they can make sure you aren’t unnecessarily over-restricting their diet, while also keeping your child safe
What foods do PKU kids need to limit?
Avoidance/restriction of the following food groups is recommended (2):
- meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and cheese (from animal milk – cow, goat, sheep)
- nuts, seeds, quinoa, wheat, oats, rye, barley
- soya, tempeh, lentils
- gelatin and plant algae such as spirulina
- aspartame (an artificial sweetener)
Approved PKU Food List
Click here for a downloadable PDF [Table View].
![Click here for a downloadable PDF [Table View].](http://the-pediatric-dietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PKU-Food-List.png){kind=link}
Fruits
| Apple | Cherries | Jackfruit | Mango | Pears | Raisin |
| Apricots | Cranberries | Kiwi | Melon | Pineapple | Raspberries |
| Avocado | Dragon fruit | Lemons | Nectarines | Plantain | Strawberries |
| Bananas | Grapefruit | Limes | Olives | Plums | Tangerine |
| Blackberries | Grapes | Lychees | Oranges | Pomegranate | Tomato |
| Clementines | Guava | Mandarins | Peaches | Prune | Watermelon |
*be careful to avoid dried fruit – they are essentially condensed versions of fruit and contain more phenylalanine per serving
Vegetables
| Artichoke | Chicory | Onions |
| Cucumber | Eggplant | Parsnip |
| Green Beans | Fennel | Peppers |
| Beets | Garlic | Pumpkin |
| Cabbage | Pickles | Radish |
| Carrots | Okra | Squash (acorn, butternut) |
| Capers | Leeks | Spinach (raw) |
| Cauliflower | Lettuce | Sweet Potato |
| Celery | Mustard Greens | Zucchini |
Phenyl-Free or Low Protein Products
This might sound like a no-brainer, but the market for phenyl-free foods is incredible!
- Phenyl-Free: this is a food powder that has essential amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals
- Country Sunrise: this is a great brand for low protein options! They have everything from brownie mix to burgers
- Nutricia Products: they have ready-to-drink shakes and a great variety of meal replacement powders
Alternative flours
- Arrowroot
- Tapioca Starch
- Casava Flour
- Sago
- Corn Flour
Dairy-free milk
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Rice milk
Fats & cooking oils
- Oil (any variety)
- Butter
- Margarine
- Coconut Oil
- Ghee
Sweeteners
- Sweet N’ Low (Saccharin)
- Splenda (Sucralose)
- Honey
- Sucrose
- Sorbitol
- Xylitol
- Maltodextrin
- Fructose
Beverages
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Lemonade
Herbs, Spices, Flavorings
- Dried seasonings
- Fresh herbs
- Pepper/jalapeño
- Vinegar
- Extracts
- Maple Syrup
**Just make sure they are aspartame-free!
Free PKU Recipe E-Book
Now that we know the approved foods for PKU, it’s time to put them all together! Download this free PKU Recipe E-Book for access to five easy and delicious PKU-friendly recipes.