Pancreatitis Diet

WHAT IS PANCREATITIS? 

The pancreas produces hormones that help to manage blood sugar. It also produces enzymes that help to digest food. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It may be temporary or may become a chronic condition. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and fatty stools.  

DIET THERAPY FOR PANCREATITIS 

• Avoid alcohol, which can worsen the condition.
• Aim for smaller volume meals spread at more frequent intervals throughout the day, such as 4-6 small meals per day. 
• If having trouble maintaining weight: 
  • Consider supplementing with Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) oil. This type of fat does not need pancreatic enzymes to digest or absorb it. Small amounts occur naturally in coconut oil. You can mix MCT oil into your foods to help add more calories. 
  • Include protein foods, especially leaner sources. Some lean protein sources include low fat dairy, eggs, lean cuts of poultry, fish, and tofu. 
  • Include protein shakes or oral nutrition shakes if necessary. If you have difficulty tolerating solid foods, you may benefit from more intake from oral nutrition shakes. Talk with your dietitian about options that may work best for you. 
• Follow a low fat diet. With pancreatitis, you may have increased pain when eating. Foods high in fat are more challenging to digest and may cause the most pain. Limiting fat in your diet may help manage your symptoms. Spread small amounts of fat (such as cheese, nut butter, cooking oil, avocado, etc.) throughout the day. Choose cooking methods that use less fat, such as baking, grilling, roasting, or steaming. Avoid higher fat foods (see below). 

	Foods Recommended	Foods to Limit
Protein	Lean cuts of poultry, beef, and pork (choose baked, grilled, broiled, poached options) Fish  Eggs  Low fat deli meat (turkey breast, roasted chicken)  Low fat dairy products  Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)  Soy foods (tofu, tempeh)	Fried meats, poultry, or fish  High-fat meats (such as dark meat poultry, high fat cuts of beef)  High fat processed meats (sausage, bacon, salami, etc.)  High fat dairy products (whole milk, cream, cream sauces)  Large amounts of cheese  Nuts and nut butters (may be ok in small portions)  Beans prepared with high amounts of fat (i.e., refried beans)
Starches	Rice (all types) Pasta and noodles  Breads (all types)  Tortillas  Hot/cold cereals  Pancakes/waffles  Air-popped popcorn  Pancakes/waffles  Potatoes (baked, boiled, prepared with low fat ingredients)	Fried starches (i.e., french fries)  High fat pastries (biscuits, croissants, donuts, muffins, etc.)
Fruits and Vegetables	Fresh, frozen, canned fruits and vegetables	Fried fruits/vegetables  Avocado (may be ok in small portions)
Other	Spices/herbs Jam  Mustard  Low fat/light mayonnaise  Gelatin desserts and low-fat pudding  Sorbet  Sherbet  Popsicles  Small amounts of butter, oil, and high fat condiments	Olives  High fat desserts (cheesecake, fried desserts, pastries, and most baked goods)

PANCREATIC ENZYME REPLACEMENT THERAPY 

If the pancreas is unable to produce enough digestive enzymes, malabsorption of nutrients may occur, and you may need to take digestive enzymes to help absorb nutrients from your food. If prescribed, pancreatic enzymes should be taken with each meal and snack to help manage malabsorption. You may need to work with your doctor and dietitian to adjust your enzyme dosing. If taking pancreatic enzymes, you may not need to adjust the amount of fat in your diet.