N

utrition

&D
ietetics

Diet Sheet

Dietary Information for Acute Pancreatitis

The pancreas is a gland (an organ that produces and releases substances for the
rest of the body) located behind the stomach.

It is responsible for making different enzymes including digestive enzymes and a

substance known as insulin. These enzymes help to break down the different
types of food (e.g. carbohydrate, protein and fats) into small particles suitable for
absorption.

Acute Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed.

It can be associated with other conditions but the two main causes are:-

 Gallstones
 Excess Alcohol

Symptoms include:

 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Abdominal pain

Avoidance of alcohol is usually recommended for several months. Please consult

your GP/doctor if you are unsure, especially as you may need specialist help to
avoid alcohol permanently.

At first you may be asked not to eat and drink. Once your symptoms have reduced
enough to allow it, fluid and then food can be reintroduced as you can manage
them. Eventually you should return to a normal well-balanced diet.

When you start eating and drinking again, food containing fat may cause pain for
the first few days.

To start with, you should follow a low fat diet. Foods containing fat should be
reintroduced slowly as you can manage them. This may vary depending on the
individual. If you are still in hospital you can choose meals on the menu with LF
(Low Fat) written next to them.

Produced By: Dietitics Dept. (Code No. 3820) Date Produced: 09/2008
Reviewed By: Reviewed:
Version No: DIET/PI/13 Review Date: 09/2010

©Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.mkhospital.nhs.uk

Page 1 of 4
Low and High Fat Foods List

Food Group Suitable Low Fat Foods High Fat Foods to Avoid

Meat Lean red meats Fried/fatty meats

Chicken, turkey (no skin) Lamb, goose, duck, sausage,
Gammon burgers, corned beef, pork
pie, bacon rashers
Fish Tinned fish in brine or tomato sauce Fish in batter/breadcrumbs
White fish (e.g. cod, plaice)
Milk/dairy Cottage cheese and other low fat Full cream/whole milk
cheese, semi skimmed or skimmed Full fat or Thick and Creamy
milk, low fat yoghurt yoghurts, Cream
Eggs Scrambled, poached, boiled Fried, scotch egg
Fats Low fat spread Butter, oil, lard, ghee, suet
Fruit All dried, tinned and fresh fruits Avocado
Vegetables/ All vegetables/salad Roasted vegetables
Salad
Potatoes Oven chips, jacket potato, mashed Chips, waffles, croquette
potato, boiled potato potatoes, crisps, potato salad
made with mayonnaise
Rice, pasta and Boiled rice, pasta and noodles Fried rice and noodles
noodles
Lentils/pulses All None
Sweets Pastilles, fruit gums, boiled sweets, Chocolate, fudge
liquorice, marshmallows, jelly sweets.
Puddings Jelly, sorbet, meringue, low fat Ice-cream, custard, pastry
yoghurt, fruit desserts, e.g. tarts, gateau,
cheesecake
Sugar, spreads, Lemon curd, honey, syrup, treacle, Peanut butter, chocolate
and preserves Marmite, Bovril spread
Ready made Healthy Options, Weight Watchers, Curries, masalas, lasagne,
meals Lean Cuisine meals, supermarket pizza, quiche, pies, Chicken
brand low fat ready meals. Kiev
Snacks Popcorn, rice cakes, crackers, plain Onion bhajis, samosas, nuts,
pretzels crisps, spring rolls, pasties,
sausage rolls
Dressings, Tomato ketchup, barbecue sauce, Mayonnaise, salad cream, oil
sauces and salsa, tomato based sauces, pickle, dressings, hummus, tartare
seasonings soya sauce, salt, pepper, herbs, sauce, curry sauce, coleslaw,
spices, instant gravy creamy sauces, gravy made
from dripping

Produced By: Dietitics Dept. (Code No. 3820) Date Produced: 09/2008
Reviewed By: Reviewed:
Version No: DIET/PI/13 Review Date: 09/2010

©Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.mkhospital.nhs.uk

Page 2 of 4
Food Group Suitable Low Fat Foods High Fat Foods to Avoid

Drinks Water, tea, fruit juice, squash, Full cream milk, smoothies made
fizzy drinks, drinks made with with full cream milk/yoghurt
semi or skimmed milk
Cereals, breads All flour, breakfast cereals, Naan, croissants, Italian breads
most breads
Cakes biscuits and Iced buns, teacakes, Jaffa Doughnuts, sponge, scones,
pastries cakes, Rich Tea Digestives, shortcakes, cream-
filled biscuits, chocolate biscuits,
flapjacks, dumplings, danish
pastries

After an attack of acute pancreatitis your appetite may remain poor. You may have
also lost weight; therefore it may be necessary to increase your food intake in order
to stop this.

You should make sure you:

 Eat small regular meals.

 Have snacks in between meals

Here are some ideas for low fat, high calorie snacks:

 Try jelly as a dessert

 Toasted tea-cake/toast with jam
 Jelly sweets and boiled sweets
 Fat free sponge cake (without cream)
 Meringue nests with fruit
 Plain biscuits, e.g. ginger snaps, Rich Tea
 Add sugar to drinks
 Tinned fruit in syrup

Produced By: Dietitics Dept. (Code No. 3820) Date Produced: 09/2008
Reviewed By: Reviewed:
Version No: DIET/PI/13 Review Date: 09/2010

©Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.mkhospital.nhs.uk

Page 3 of 4
Further Information:

CORE Charity
www.digestivedisorders.org.uk

The Pancreatitis Supporters’ Network

www.pancreatitis.org.uk

Contact Details:

Department of Nutrition & Dietetics

Milton Keynes Hospital
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes

TEL: 01908 243126

Produced By: Dietitics Dept. (Code No. 3820) Date Produced: 09/2008
Reviewed By: Reviewed:
Version No: DIET/PI/13 Review Date: 09/2010

©Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.mkhospital.nhs.uk

Page 4 of 4