Newbie with Gallstones needs Fat Free Cooking Advice

Counting_Pennies_2

I just wanted to let you know it isn't just fat you should be worried about, it is anything that has a skin.

The whole point about a gall bladder that has failed is it can't process and break down the skins in foods, which might explain the fruit dessert, if it had dried fruit, or indeed any fruit cooked with its skins on, you will find this is also causing the problem.

My worst attack was when I ate the skins to the pears and apples I was cooking for pureed food for my baby. The attack went on for days. It was only later when I read some information on a website for gall bladders was that you have to avoid anything with skins.

So he really shouldn't eat the skins to any fruit or veg, or meat. Even if you have cooked it, it shouldn't be eaten. So potatoes, apples, peaches, tomatoes, grapes, dried fruit should be avoided.

I ended up having an operation to have it taken out a year after the pain started (following the birth of my first child) I have since had bad irritable bowel and phantom pains, of which I now take Lansopraxole tablets every day to stop the pain.

hth

otterspasm

Hi there,
I have just been diagnosed with gallstones after about six months of fortnightly attacks. I had realised that eggs were triggering my attacks and since being discharged from hospital I am eating a reasonably low fat diet and definitely avoiding eggs . So far (about three weeks later) I have had no attacks and am really hoping to be able to control it through diet rather than have to have surgery :eek:.

I am thinking of asking my GP for referral to a dietician as I'd like some information about what is best to eat and am wondering if this might be helpful for your husband too?

I don't think a low fat diet has to be boring and I am eating lots of nice foods but it will depend I suppose on what sets your husband off.

Here are a few of the things I'm eating....

Chicken breast stir-fry (with a little olive oil)
Home made pizza with a little cheese on but not much.
Low fat yogurt can be made into delicious ice cream if you add pureed fruit and some sugar
Pasta with salmon and veg
Sardine pate made by mixing a tin of sardines in tom sauce with a tablespoon or so of light cream cheese. Great for sandwiches if you like fish.
Porridge/cereal for breakfast or toast with a little low fat spread and marmite/marmalade etc
Homemade soup makes a great tasty low fat meal...served with homemade bread YUM!

I am eating fruit and veg with skins on with no problems. I guess everyone will have different things which trigger it.

I hope he can adjust to it. At least he can still eat sweet things (I sometimes have some fruit gum type sweets like wine gums etc which aren't fatty....good for when I want choc) and have a glass of wine/beer :-).

All the best and HTH
Tess

mummyslittleboy

Hi

I have gallstones to after a couple of attacks I changed to a low fat diet here are a couple of recipes even my children enjoy them and you dont need to run from food low fat doesnt mean no fat you just need to lower your fat intake one thing I do instead of using butter or marg in sandwiches I use a low fat salad cream, use semi skimmed milk in drinks,I was getting weekly attacks and have had 3 in almost a year know since I changed my diet.

Sweet potateo cottage pie

300g old potatoes, peeled and chopped
300g sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
500g lean minced beef
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsps vegetable bouillon stock powder
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs
300ml water
1 tbsp low-fat gravy granules
2 tbsps skimmed milk
salt and freshly ground black pepper


Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6. Boil the old and sweet potatoes together until soft.
2. Meanwhile, in a preheated, non-stick pan, dry-fry the mince until lightly browned. Tip into a sieve to drain off the fat. Return the mince to the pan.
3. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, and cook for 3-4 minutes while stirring in the stock powder.
4. Add the carrots, stir in the herbs and water and bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Add the gravy granules and simmer for 20 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Check the seasoning, then transfer to an ovenproof dish.
6. Drain the potatoes and mash well, adding the skimmed milk, and season with salt and black pepper. Spread the potato mixture over the meat and smooth over, using a fork.
7. Bake in the top of the oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Garnish with herbs of your choice and serve with a selection of fresh vegetables.

Aubergine and chick pea curry

This can be made and frozen and has 4.4g fat per serving
2 red onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large aubergine, diced
2 tsps chopped fresh thyme
½ tsp ground allspice
2 tsps ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tbsp chopped fresh root ginger
2 red chillies, finely sliced
150ml (¼ pint) vegetable stock
1 tbsp plain flour
1 x 400g (14oz) can chickpeas, drained
1 x 400g (14oz) can chopped tomatoes
450g (1lb) tomato passata

1. Preheat a non-stick pan. Add the onions, garlic and aubergine and dry-fry for 5 minutes until soft. Add the thyme, spices and chilli, and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Add 3 tbsps stock, then stir in the flour, cooking it over a low heat.
3. Gradually stir in the remaining stock, the chickpeas, chopped tomatoes and passata.
4. Simmer gently gently for 20 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
5. Serve with boiled rice and additional vegetables

Lamb and mushroom goulash

This can be frozen and had 10.6g fat per serving

2 red onions, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
450g lean diced lamb
1 tbsp flour
2 tsps paprika
1.2 litres meat stock
10g dried wild mushrooms
2 tbsps tomato puree
450g small new potatoes
2 celery sticks, chopped
200g button mushrooms
1 tbsp mixed herbs (e.g. parsley, thyme, chives)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat a non-stick pan, then dry-fry the onions and garlic until the onion starts to brown.
2. Add the lamb to the pan, season with salt and black pepper and cook until sealed. Sprinkle the flour and paprika over and cook out for 1 minute, then gradually stir in the meat stock.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, then cover and simmer gently for 1 hour until the meat is tender. Serve with green vegetables.

For a low fat breakfast you could try a breakfast wrap

This one has 0.5g fat per serving.
1 x 100g wrap
2 tbsps tomato ketchup
4 turkey rashers
8 cherry tomatoes

1. Open out the wrap, then cut into 4 pieces and spread the ketchup on them.
2. Heat a non-stick pan and dry-fry the turkey rashers, adding the tomatoes towards the end of the cooking time.
3. Divide the turkey and tomatoes between the 4 pieces of wrap and roll up tight. Serve warm

I have loads of recipes so not really sure what sort of things you like but feel free to pm and let me know what you like and i will see if i have the low fat recipe for it.

shandyclover

See if you can borrow any of these books from the library - I used them before hubby's gallbladder op. We all ate the same and theres plenty of variety and all very low fat.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sue+kreizman&x=0&y=0

Shysarah

Hey All,

Newbie here so please bear with me. I am suffering intense pain right now so if I have missed the obvious please feel free to 'gently' point me in the right direction.

I have been diagnosed with gallstones and am awaiting an operation I do not seek any medical advice, believe me I have terrified myself enough already seeing some negative experiences on google.

The thing is I am really struggling to survive on SSP and have been advised to follow a fat free diet (well as much as possible) to reduce my pain.

It is a nightmare I find it really hard to find affordable low/fat free foods. I have made some batches of stew and aim to try and make it to a local car boot tomorrow to hit the cheap veg stall (if pain allows)to make more. I have both eating and cooking apples in abundance with which i will make sauce from to freeze.

Does anyone have any other ideas of ways to eat on an extremely tight budget?

I have done the usual sold things on ebay, sold old mobile phones, reduced my mobile contract, changed energy supplier etc. So, am being very frugal but I find food so expensive.

I use a local 'tin shop' which sells cans/jars with damaged labels, I always search for the yellow label bargains...

Anything else I can do would be really appreciated...

blueeye

I'm sure I'm correct in thinking that Rosemary Conley devised her diet because she had gallstones. I am fairly certain all the recipes in her books will be suitable for you especially the early books she wrote.

foxgloves

Yes that's true, that is how Rosemary Conley came up with the original Hip & Thigh diet. You could also try the library as even if your local branch doesn't have a suitable book for the diet you need, which it may well do, they will be able to source one for you & get it in for you to borrow.

Pink.

Hi Shysarah,

Welcome to MSE. I'm sorry that you're in so much pain. These threads have some ideas that may help:

Fat Free diet

Low Fat and Sugar Free diet ???

help needed for low fat diet PLEASE


Pink

ALIBOBSY

OH had some gallstones. but he was lucky and he had lots of small ones that passed rather than needing an op-although he has spent time in hospital. Have they checked your cholesterol, his was high and they think inherited ( he is not overweight) so he has gone on satins. The diet helps, but as most cholesterol is produced by the body it can't solve everything. We adapted some existing recipes by reducing meat portions and adding more veg. Pulses are a good way to fill up and get protein without saturated fat and also are good cholesterol reducers.

Some recent medical studies show that natural fats such as butter and milk actually break down in the body into "good" blood cholesterol, but most governments aren't changing the current guidence as yet. One thing we all should avoid is so called trans fats, bad for all of us especially those with cholesterol/heart problems.

Good luck, and defo try the library we got loads of good books from there and jotted down the best ideas and recipes for us. It all depends on what food you like.
OH was also told to avoid alcohol as it can irritate the gall bladder as well as stimulate production of body cholesterol.

ali x

Shysarah

Thank you all for your advice. I will check out those links next Pink thanks and also look into R.C.'s diet.

Does anyone have any shopping tips as that's my main problem?

I am doing a lot to be conservative with my funds as I mentioned in my primary post but I am wondering if anyone has any other ideas?

I also always go for the home or value ranges too, I work in the food industry (when I am well) and have for 10+ years so am used to seeing what really goes into things..

I don't drink which is a good job really as with all the pain relief and alcohol I would be even more loopy than I am already lol

Your advice is greatly appreciated..
Sarah x