Diet for pancreatitis: what to eat and what to avoid (with menu)

In the acute pancreatitis diet, it is recommended to fast for the first few days to help control the symptoms of this condition. After the crisis, you should follow a liquid diet, including soups, vegetable and meat broths, fruit juices and coconut water.

During chronic pancreatitis, it is recommended to eat a low-fat diet, avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages and processed foods, thus avoiding new attacks of pancreatitis.

A proper diet is key to treating pancreatitis because it helps alleviate the symptoms of this condition, as well as preventing nutrient deficiencies and weight loss. However, as the diet varies depending on the type of pancreatitis, it is recommended to always consult a nutritionist before starting the diet.

Diet for acute pancreatitis

The diet for acute pancreatitis must be followed in the hospital and consists of fasting for up to 2 days until symptoms are controlled. In more serious cases, feeding may be recommended through tubes.

After an acute pancreatitis attack, the nutritionist prescribes a liquid diet, including soups, vegetable and meat broths, low-fat blended smoothies, strained fruit juices and coconut water. Here’s how to go on a liquid diet.

As the person tolerates food better, solid preparations with little fat are recommended, such as lean meats, fish and skinless chicken. Vegetables and fruits at this stage must be cooked to facilitate digestion.

Allowed foods

After a pancreatitis crisis, the following foods should be preferred:

• Lean dairy products, such as skimmed milk and yogurt and white cheeses such as minas and ricotta;
• Easily digestible cereals, such as white rice, white pasta and white bread;
• Tubers, like English potatoes, especially in mashed form;
• lean meats, such as eggs, turkey, fish and skinless chicken;
• Cooked vegetables, such as pumpkin, chayote, carrots, beets and zucchini;
• cooked fruits, without shell and pomace.

This diet lasts for approximately 1 to 2 weeks after the crisis, depending on each person’s acceptance and evolution.

Prohibited foods

To avoid new attacks of pancreatitis, you should avoid foods such as:

• Foods that stimulate the intestine, such as coffee, mint and pepper;
• Foods rich in fat, such as red meat, butter, yellow cheeses, biscuits, ice cream and margarine;
• processed meat, such as sausage, sausage, bacon, ham, mortadella;
• frozen ready-made foods, burger, lasagna and fast food in general;
• Foods rich in sugar, such as cakes, ice creams, puddings and jellies;

Furthermore, it is also advised to avoid alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine and sparkling wine.

Diet for chronic pancreatitis

The goals of the diet in chronic pancreatitis are to prevent weight loss, stimulate appetite, and alleviate symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

What to eat

During chronic pancreatitis, the following foods should be prioritized:

• Low-fat dairy products, such as skimmed milk, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cheeses like cottage and ricotta;
• Whole grains, such as brown rice, wholemeal pasta and wholemeal bread;
• lean meats, such as eggs, fish and skinless chicken;
• Legumes, such as okra, jiló, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, pumpkin and lettuce;
• Fruits, such as apple, pear, pineapple, mango, guava, banana and cashew;
• Vegetable fats in moderation, such as olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil;
• Herbs and spices, such as pepper, cinnamon, coriander, parsley and chives;
• Drinks, such as water, teas and coconut water.

As chronic pancreatitis can cause poor absorption of nutrients, your doctor or nutritionist may also recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements.

What to avoid

Foods that should be avoided during chronic pancreatitis are:

• Foods rich in fat, such as red meat, whole milk, butter, yellow cheeses, full-fat yogurt, cookies, ice cream and margarine;
• Built-ins, such as sausage, sausage, bacon, ham, mortadella;
• Processed foods, such as hamburgers, pizza, lasagna and fast food;
• Foods rich in sugar, such as chocolate, ice cream, cakes and jellies;
• Ready-made sauces and seasonings, such as mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and seasonings in sachets or cubes;
• Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, whiskey and sparkling wine.

It is also essential to avoid large meals, preferring to have 5 to 6 small meals distributed throughout the day.

Diet menu for pancreatitis

The following table provides an example of a 3-day menu for the pancreatitis diet:

This menu is just a model, where the types and quantities of food vary depending on the type of pancreatitis and the person’s general health. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a nutritionist to develop a nutritional plan adapted to individual nutritional needs.

Watch the following video and check out the foods recommended for those suffering from pancreatitis: