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.
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