It may sound like the title of a sad ballad, but there are a lot of medical diets that remove bacon. Interstitial cystitis, and low histamine diets both recommend removing bacon as there are reasons that it can be a trigger. I’m sure there are many other diets that remove it as well, though those two have been my experience. And don’t worry, there is a simple substitution.

First let’s look at why bacon can be an issue.

There are a few reasons that bacon can be a problem. One problem is flavours or seasonings that are added to bacon. Especially when these flavours or seasonings are only disclosed with such sketchy wording as ‘flavours’ or ‘seasonings’. Do you know what those words mean? It means ‘we put whatever we felt like into this, and we hope you enjoy the end result’ but it really isn’t an ‘ingredient’, it’s a word. And that gets weirder and weirder the more you think about it.

Another reason is nitrates. Nitrates are in lots of things, but when we think of nitrates in food we tend to think of curing salts, or sodium nitrate. The thing that makes bacon and processed meats especially delicious, and kind of a different colour.

Curing meats changes the chemical composition and this can have negative reactions in some people. Thus the reason why it is removed from some medically recommended diets.

What about the naturally cured, no nitrates added bacon that you find at the grocery store? Usually these are made with celery extracts. Check the ingredient labels. The celery extract is just another way of producing nitrates. Its taking something natural and using it to do the exact same thing with the exact same results. I have read that it may contain more nitrates than the other forms. So this is no better. Its just creative marketing and food science at work.

Even if you can find bacon that is uncured by either sodium nitrate or celery extract, the bacon will still be smoked. And yes, this can also cause some people problems. The reason for this is that smoking meat can change the chemical composition of it. I’m not super techy, but all I know is that it changes the meat. Yes it makes it more delicious, but it makes it harder for sensitive bodies to handle without consequence.

I know this all sounds pretty rough so far. Whether you are cutting out bacon as part of an elimination diet, or whether you find that you can’t handle it (I am truly sorry, I do feel your pain) there is a workaround.

What is the best replacement for bacon? Pork belly, or pork side. Whatever you want to call it. And these are my best tips to make the best substitution.

Go to Your Butcher and request to have pork belly thinly sliced like bacon. It is what bacon is made from after all so they are willing to shave it thinner so you can still have a crispy bacon experience. Buying pork belly from the grocery store tends to be ‘close but no cigar’ as it is thicker. Though I do love the thicker slices from the grocery store to cook and chop as bacon bits…

Season it salt and pepper will do to season you bacon, though if you would like to get creative with a little seasoning salt or paprika go wild. Once your bacon is almost cooked, you can also add a little maple syrup to make yourself maple bacon.

When cut and cooked properly, you can barely notice the difference. This is a replacement that honestly will fill the bacon sized hole in your heart.

I wish you best of luck whether eliminating bacon is a temporary or permanent solution for you!

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