Health Information Sheet

Low Fat Diet

A low Fat Diet is recommended in the treatment of gallbladder disease in which dietary fat may cause painful gallbladder contraction during the secretion of bile. It is also recommended in the treatment of pancreatic or biliary tract disease in which fat malabsorption and steatorrhea may occur, secondary to reduced lipase secretion.

General Instructions:

The recommended dietary intake of fat for the treatment of gallbladder and biliary tract disease has never been scientifically determined. However, it appears that most patients tolerate 40-50 grams of fat/day. Total fat intake may be specified in the diet prescription. Unless otherwise specified, fat intake is limited to 40-50 grams/day, as tolerated by the patient.

For patients who have severe fat malabsorption or who cannot obtain adequate kilocalories on 50 grams of fat/day, supplementation with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) is highly recommended. MCT oil does not require bile for emulsification or lipase for enzymatic digestion.

Intolerance of certain strongly flavored vegetables, legumes, melons and berries occurs in many patients with gallbladder disease; the reason for this is not known. Typically, most persons with gallbladder disease are overweight and should be given a kilocalorie restricted diet. Although the chief component of gallstones is cholesterol, dietary restriction of cholesterol is probably not very effective in the prevention of gallstone formation.

Fat digestion appears to be unimpaired following a cholecystectomy. Patients who have undergone cholecystectomies should be able to follow a diet of normal composition soon after surgery without any digestive difficulties.

The Low Fat Diet is planned to meet the Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance for all nutrients.
Foods Included Foods Omitted
Beverages
Carbonated Beverages, if tolerated

Cocoa made with skim milk
Coffee: regular/decaffeinated
Fruit base drinks: Kool-aid, Lemonade, Tang
Beverages
All others made with chocolate, cream or whole milk
Breads and Cereals
Bread: white, whole wheat, pumpernickel
French or Italian
Cereals: any
Crackers: Graham, Melba toast, saltines
Macaroni
Matzoth
Noodles
Rice
Rolls
Breads and Cereals
Baked goods: containing whole milk, egg yolks, nuts, containing more than 2 g fat/serving
Corn Chips
Crackers: all others
Doughnuts
Fried Breads or dough
Muffins
Pancakes
Pastries
Potato Chips
Quick Breads
Sweet Rolls
Waffles
Desserts
Cake: angel food
Fruit ices and whips
Gelatin
Cookies: meringue
Popsicles
Puddings: made with skim milk
Sherbet
Desserts
Cakes: all others
Cookies: all others
Desserts: made with chocolate, cream, whole milk or egg yolks
Ice cream
Pies
Eggs - One(1) egg/day
Hard cooked, soft cooked
Poached or scrambled
Eggs
Fried Eggs
Fats-Limit to 3/day
Avocado : 1/8
Butter: 1 teaspoon
Cream: 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce
Cream Cheese: 1 tablespoon
Half and Half: 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce
Margarine: 1 teaspoon
Mayonnaise: 1 teaspoon
Non-dairy creamer: 4 tablespoons or 2 ounces
Nuts: 4-5
Olives: 5 small
Peanut butter: 1 tablespoon
Salad dressing: 1 tablespoon
Shortening: 1 teaspoon
Sour cream: 2 tablespoons
Vegetable oil: 1 teaspoon
Fats
All in amounts greater than allowed
Visible fat in meat
Fruits
All as tolerated: except limited amounts of avocado
Fruits
Avocado: see fat allowance
Meats, Poultry, Fish and Cheese
Limit to total of six (6) ounces/day
Baked, broiled, roasted
Fat trimmed, lean:
    Beef
    Ham
    Lamb
    Liver
    Pork
    Poultry: without skin
    Veal
Fish and shellfish: fresh, frozen or canned in water
Skim or low fat cheeses:
    Cottage cheese
    Ricotta
    Farmer's
    Mozzarella
    Sapsago
Meats, Poultry, Fish and Cheese
Bacon
Beef short ribs
Cheese: made with whole milk
Fish: canned in oil
Frankfurters
Fried or fatty meats
Liver: chicken
Luncheon meat
Salt pork
Sardines
Sausages
Milk
Buttermilk: made with skim milk
Milk, plain, chocolate: skim
Eggnog: skim
Yogurt: made with skim milk
Milk
Chocolate milk made with whole milk, Eggnog made with whole milk, Milkshakes made with whole mile
Whole milk
Soups
Bouillon
Clear Broth
Clear consommé
Cream soups made with skim milk
Fat free vegetable soup
Soups
Cream soups: prepared with whole milk or added fat
Vegetables
Any prepared without whole milk or added fat
Vegetables
Creamed or Fried vegetables
Miscellaneous
Candy: gumdrops or hard
Catsup
Herbs
Honey
Jelly
Lemon
Marshmallows
Mustards
Pickles
Relish
Salt
Spices
Vinegar
Miscellaneous
Coconut
Gravies
Meat sauces



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