Pancreatitis Diet Food List and Shopping List + PDF

The pancreatitis diet is a low-fat way of eating built on small, frequent meals and no alcohol, for eating at home after acute pancreatitis or with chronic pancreatitis. An acute attack itself is treated in hospital. This list covers the lower-fat foods the sources name and the ones to limit.

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Diets for digestive health

How the pancreatitis diet works

An acute attack is treated in hospital, not at home. NIDDK says doctors may tell you not to eat or drink for a while, sometimes using a feeding tube, then prescribe a healthy, low-fat eating plan with small, frequent meals once you can eat. The NHS says most people leave hospital after about 5 to 10 days. This page is for the eating that follows, and for chronic pancreatitis.

The common pattern is small meals, little fat, and no alcohol. A Hamad Medical Corporation handout suggests 5 to 6 small meals and snacks a day, 30 to 50 grams of fat spread across the day depending on tolerance, and boiling, steaming, baking, grilling or roasting rather than frying. CommonSpirit Health, using Healthwise content, caps added fats and oils at 1 tablespoon per meal.

NIDDK says health care professionals strongly advise against alcohol, even when the pancreatitis is mild, and to drink plenty of fluids and limit caffeine. If chronic pancreatitis leaves the pancreas unable to digest food properly, ESPEN says pancreatic enzyme capsules should be started. A doctor prescribes and doses them, and they’re taken with meals and snacks.

Advice on fat differs. For chronic pancreatitis, ESPEN says there’s no need to restrict fat unless fatty stools can’t be controlled, and that very high fiber diets should be avoided. The list below follows the lower-fat patient handouts, and the downsides section explains the gap.

What can you eat on the pancreatitis diet

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  Lean protein

  Skinless chicken and turkey, lean beef, white fish and tuna packed in water fit the lower-fat advice in both the Hamad and CommonSpirit guides. Trim visible fat, and note that CommonSpirit caps meat at 5 to 6½ ounces a day.

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  Legumes

  Hamad's handout lists lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas as recommended and says to eat beans if tolerated. It also says pulses can be left out if you feel bloated.

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  Fruit and vegetables

  Hamad lists all types of fresh and frozen vegetables and fresh fruit, prepared with minimal oil, so boiled, baked or mashed potatoes rather than chips. It says cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, garlic and onion can be left out if you feel bloated.

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  Whole grains

  Both guides name whole-grain bread, cereal, rice and pasta, and Hamad adds oats, quinoa and bulgur. ESPEN advises against very high fiber diets in chronic pancreatitis, because a very high fiber intake may interfere with enzyme capsules.

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  Dairy and egg whites

  Skim milk, nonfat yogurt and low-fat cottage cheese are on Hamad's recommended list, and CommonSpirit says to choose cheese with less than 5 grams of fat per ounce. Egg whites are on Hamad's list, while CommonSpirit lists egg yolks among the foods to limit.

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  Healthy fats

  Hamad lists olive, canola, corn and sunflower oil, used sparingly and spread across the day. CommonSpirit allows no more than 1 tablespoon of added fat or oil per meal.

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  Herbs and spices

  CommonSpirit suggests basil, tarragon, mint, lemon juice, fat-free sauces and fat-free dressing in place of butter and mayonnaise. Hamad lists mild spices and vinegar, and says to eat spicy foods only as tolerated.

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  Beverages

  NIDDK says to drink plenty of fluids and limit caffeine. Hamad lists water, herbal drinks, low-sugar tea and black coffee in moderation, made without cream or full-fat milk.

Foods to limit on the pancreatitis diet

On a pancreatitis diet, the sources say to avoid or limit:

• Alcohol. NIDDK says health care professionals strongly advise people with pancreatitis not to drink alcohol, even if the pancreatitis is mild. CommonSpirit adds that alcohol may worsen pain.
• Fried and greasy foods. CommonSpirit lists fried and buttered foods, fast food and convenience meals. Hamad adds fried chicken and fish, french fries, chips and pizza.
• Fatty and processed meats. Sausage, salami and bacon are on CommonSpirit's list. Hamad names high-fat meat, burgers, nuggets, mortadella and organ meats such as liver and kidney.
• Full-fat dairy, butter and egg yolks. CommonSpirit lists whole milk, regular ice cream, processed cheese, butter, margarine, mayonnaise, cream sauces and egg yolks. Hamad adds ghee and cream.
• Pastries, sweets and rich snacks. CommonSpirit names cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, cookies, croissants, doughnuts, muffins, chocolate, potato chips and granola bars. Hamad also lists biscuits and wafers.
• Avocado, coconut and nuts. CommonSpirit lists avocado, coconut, mixed nuts and nut bars to limit. Hamad allows unsalted nuts and seeds in careful portions, so the sources differ, and this list leaves them off.
• Sugary and creamy drinks. Hamad lists soft drinks, energy drinks, sweetened hot drinks, and coffee or tea made with cream, creamer or full-fat milk. NIDDK also says to limit caffeine.

Downsides to know about

• Fat limits are not settled. Patient handouts give fat limits, such as 30 to 50 grams a day in the Hamad handout. ESPEN says people with chronic pancreatitis don't need to restrict fat unless fatty stools can't be controlled, and notes that low-fat advice is historical, yet 48 to 58% of patients in Dutch studies still restrict fat.
• Eating too little is a risk. ESPEN says both acute and chronic pancreatitis carry a significant risk of malnutrition, and that cutting dietary fat risks lowering energy intake. For malnourished people with chronic pancreatitis, it advises high-protein, high-energy food in 5 to 6 small meals a day.
• Little firm evidence. ESPEN says there are very little data on the best diet for chronic pancreatitis. The handouts also differ on details: CommonSpirit lists nuts and egg yolks to limit, while Hamad allows unsalted nuts in careful portions and a whole egg no more than 2 to 3 times a week.