Diet Foods for Pancreatitis & Gallstones

by Jill Corleone, RD

About 40 percent of pancreatitis cases are related to gallstones, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The gallstones cause inflammation in the pancreas as they pass through the bile duct. Gallstones are small pebbles formed in the gallbladder. In the hospital, a person with gallstone-related pancreatitis may not be allowed to eat. Once discharged to home, you will be advised to follow a low-fat diet.

Bread and Grains

Total fat intake for pancreatitis and gallstones is usually limited to 20 percent of total calorie intake, according to the Jackson/Seigelbaum Gastroenterology group. Most breads and grains are naturally low in fat and are healthy diet food choices for people with pancreatitis and gallstones. You will need four or more servings of breads and grains a day. Choices include whole-wheat bread and bread products, plain pasta, plain rice, whole-grain cereals, saltine crackers, soda crackers, oatmeal, rice cakes, air-popped popcorn, low-fat muffins, pancakes made without added fat and french toast made with skim milk and egg substitute.

Fruits and Vegetables

People with pancreatitis and gallstones should be able to tolerate most fruits and vegetables, as long as they are not prepared with high-fat sauces. You will need about five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Healthy fruit choices include all fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruits. Healthy vegetable choices include all fresh, frozen and canned varieties without any added sauces.

Dairy Foods

Dairy foods can be a source of fat in the diet. The pancreas releases enzymes that help you to digest fat in foods. When the pancreas is inflamed, fat is not digested, leading to malabsorption and diarrhea. Low-fat and fat-free dairy foods for pancreatitis and gallstones include skim milk, 1 percent fat milk, nonfat yogurt, fat-free cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, part-skim mozzarella cheese and part-skim ricotta cheese. You can have two or more servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods a day with pancreatitis and gallstones.

Meat and Meat Alternatives

Meat can also be a source of fat in the diet. Low-fat choices include skinless poultry, veal, beef sirloin and tenderloin, pork tenderloin and chops, fresh or frozen fish, canned fish packed in water, eggs prepared without added fat and 95 percent fat luncheon meats. Low-fat meat alternatives include tofu and legumes. Aim for 5 to 6 oz. of meat and meat alternatives a day.

Sweets and Desserts

You can have low-fat sweets and desserts with pancreatitis and gallstones. Healthy choices include sherbet, gelatin, low-fat ice cream and frozen yogurt, vanilla wafer cookies, angel food cake, graham crackers, jelly beans, marshmallows and fat-free cakes and cookies. These foods contain little nutritional value, and intake should be limited to a few times a week.

Avoiding Certain Foods May Help

Fatty Foods

High-fat foods may trigger or exacerbate pancreatitis symptoms. For this reason, the Mayo Clinic recommends a low-fat diet, limited in high-fat foods. Avoid saturated fat and trans fats in particular, since they increase your risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. Common fatty foods include beef, beef fat, poultry fat, butter, whole milk, cream, high-fat cheeses and ice cream, fried foods and processed foods, such as potato chips, tortilla chips, pastries, sausage and pepperoni. When ordering food at restaurants, ask that creamy sauces and dressings be omitted or served on the side, so that you can better control your portions. Though healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, avocados and plant-based oils, support wellness, keep your portion sizes modest. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a low-fat diet should contain no more than 20 percent fat. In other words, limit your fat intake to no more than 1 to 2 tsp. of oil, peanut butter or salad dressing at each meal.

Refined Flour

To produce refined flour, food processing plants remove nutritious parts of whole grains and grind what remains down into a fine powder. The result is a long-lasting, affordable substance used in a broad range of foods. Unfortunately, refined flour contains "empty calories," meaning it provides calories and virtually no nutrients. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests replacing refined flour products, such as enriched breads, pasta, cereals, rice and crackers, with whole-grain equivalents for improved wellness and reduced pancreatitis symptoms. Since refined flour-based foods have a greater impact on blood sugar levels than whole grains, you may find that your energy levels, blood sugar balance and appetite control improve. When purchasing breads, cereals and pasta, check food packaging and avoid those that list enriched white or wheat flour, white flour, baking flour, semolina flour or bread flour as a primary ingredient.

Refined Sugar

Refined sugar is similar to refined flour in that it is a processed form or derivative of a natural plant and is virtually devoid of nutrients. Examples of refined sugar include cane or table sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, glucose, malt syrup and sucrose. While natural sugars, found in fruits, vegetables and dairy products, are considered acceptable parts of a healthy diet, refined sugars should be consumed on a limited basis. Consuming whole, natural foods in place of sugary sweets allows for greater nutrient intake and can enhance your overall wellness. To cut back on refined sugar, drink water, herbal teas or low-fat milk in place of soft drinks and reduce the amount of sugar you add to coffee, tea, cereals and baked goods. Common foods rich in refined sugar include candy, jelly, jam, pancake syrup and commercially prepared cookies, cakes, doughnuts, muffins, sweet breads and caramel rolls.