Happy Monday! Huge thank you to Mod R for a week of awesome posts.
It’s a beautiful, although overcast day. I have a mountain of work ahead of me, all of which needs to be done asap. Good news, I can sit in the chair a bit longer now, and I no longer wince when I try to stretch.
We’ve received the first design of the interior chapter headings for Roman’s novella and it is too adorable for words. I wish I could show you, but I need to get all the paperwork settled. It is amazing how tasks accumulate when you take time off.
My new gallbladder-missing status has come with menu challenges. Prior to the surgery, my diet was mostly “things that might not hurt me.” Prior to that, there was severe limiting of starches because of the prediabetes. I had stuck to whole grains, fresh vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion, cooked vegetables like brussels sprouts and cauliflower, fruit, fish, and small servings of meat.
Onion is off the table for some reason. The dietary guidance doesn’t explain why, just says limit. Cauliflower and broccoli are gas producing and counter indicated right now. Salmon, my go to fish, is fatty, and everyone says it should be approached with caution. Bacon, sausage, etc. are right out. I can’t keep leaning on oatmeal, no matter how plain or old fashioned, because there is too much starch, and I have to be really careful, as I am unmedicated for the next 30 days.
Help me, BDH. Give me some healthy breakfast ideas that don’t have fat, sugar, or simple carbs. ::looks at the list:: Maybe I should eat paper. On second thought, with my luck, I will develop termite metabolism and find some way to digest it.
I actually do have some assistance for you. After getting a gallstone caught in the pancreatic duct and developing pancreatitis, necessitating gallstone removal and subsequently developing gastroparesis, the attempt to maintain a healthy diet has become a lifestyle. Focus on small meals, and stop as soon as you start to feel nauseous. Eat more when you feel hungry again. Brown rice (a little overcooked at first), eggs, chicken, congee (it’s like a rice porridge), and yogurt work for me. Carb conscious breads and cereals often work as long as they aren’t too high in fiber. Peanut butter and carb conscious tortillas also work. If you want specific recipes that have worked, email me. I’ve been doing this since the 90’s. It will get better.
My cousin recently had her gallbladder removed. She is still mourning the loss of avocado and Brie in her sandwiches.
For breakfast she usually has low fat Greek yogurt with all-bran and fruit. Adding Ceylon (true) cinnamon is yummy. A sprinkling of cocoa power wouldn’t add any discernible amount of fat.
If you have an instapot try making your own yogurt. I found this guide really helpful https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-yogurt/
To make it into Greek yogurt strain overnight in something like this https://www.amazon.com/Euro-Cuisine-GY50-Greek-Yogurt/dp/B0091XNL0I/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=MZBVJ8OEPNW2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.plV_Pt4wiQvvH–r3YUn4QR9EG_vyJVX0d-T-UlGsYcfdt_jKKqKRQzqoCn2MIw9b0gxj2N3sNhRojIjsakmIGyAOtnXvZBn5BH3uP31WKsyTjhbc14__3RCo5OKOZ5CCksWHpFFA7eSKj-tw1x7b6yP–Kj08NPugat_Zoyy_sDvIKzVz90dMTq8qqwxZ–tFnBm48MT6AXXPtcCmcP5Q.-H8Gez2SXg55k7qYLjLL5665c8y6A53IkSngghFjty0&dib_tag=se&keywords=yogurt+strainer&qid=1713293405&sprefix=yogurt+str%2Caps%2C447&sr=8-3
I had my gallbladder out 30+ years ago. My experience has been different than many people in above comments. Spices, any types of onions, garlic, peppers including bell peppers, cucumbers, pickles, vinegar, & any vegetables that cause gas. Fatty food has not been as much of a problem for me. I am Type 2 diabetic so I know eating to control both can be difficult. For me it has been a lot of trial & error. Also, weirdly enough, sometimes something that bothered me previously became an OK food to eat. Hopefully you will be one of the people who just have to adjust for a short while & then won’t have any further problems. Good Luck!
Recovery after my gall bladder surgery was a snap except for the effects of sneezing, coughing, and laughing. Didn’t realize I had to avoid anything and so ate my usual ordinary diet (heavy on meat and cheese) with no ill effects. Now that I am pre-diabetic, we mostly eat broth-based soups/stews that combine lots of vegetables with chicken, beef, or pork. We rarely eat traditional breakfast food. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
After my gallbladder surgery I ate SO MUCH grilled chicken breast. With various little dipping sauces to change it up. BBQ, mustard, etc.
Pro Tip: Tyson frozen grilled chicken breasts can be microwaved for a quick meal, and surprisingly don’t suck.
Also, I ate Quaker rice cakes in various flavors for some crunch/snacking. It got me through!
Sometimes I just need protein and even though I love sausage and cheese I know it’s not good for me.
Lately I’ve been going with hard boiled eggs, but I marinade them in the fridge with soy sauce. A medium boiled egg would be about the same, I just am picky and can have “egg ick” sometimes. The soy sauce changes things for me and it’s not as “icky”. (Egg-ick is explained in the short video).
I have been meaning to try Mayak hard boiled eggs, but haven’t managed it yet…
https://youtube.com/shorts/LG6OoduYluI?si=71WSb_XHAQ9K6ZsP
Low-fat yogurt (if skim possible, then that), add collagen powder to it and whey powder as well. Yogurt mixes with both very nicely. Try adding a blackberry or blueberry or two as your blood sugar tolerates or just stick to the yogurt with extra protein for now. You can also put collagen powder in your tea or coffee since the micronized version dissolves well. Whey doesn’t dissolve well in my experience so I just add it to yogurt. Since you can’t have much fat and carbs are difficult right now, always start with low-fat protein. Once you have the protein in your system, you can add some complex carbs with high fiber without shooting your blood sugar up too much. Can you take a bile acid supplement to be able to take some healthy fats? Without a functioning gallbladder, one can only take a little fat at a time without some sort of supplement. An avocado, though high in fat, may be a place to start testing how you tolerate different fats. Maybe vegetable fat in complex with all else that’s in the vegetable might be better tolerated? I’d try a slice here or there to see how it goes, then increase as tolerated. Best of luck!
For oats and glycemic load, it’s all in the details.
TL;DR: soaked oats & chia seeds with spices; fruit; nuts & seeds.
I make batches of soaked oats, usually enough for 3 days per batch.
I mix a slurry of coconut kefir with nut butter, vanilla, spices (such as allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg), salt; stir in chia seeds then oats. Sometimes I include protein powder, vitamin C powder. Add more liquids for thinner; a splash of fruit juice for sweeter. Add more oats or protein powder for thicker, but it will thicken more with soaking. Cover and keep in the fridge. Use over the next ~5 days.
My oats are sprouted and old-fashioned cut, ~ 1/2 cup per serving; chia seeds, ~ 1 Tablespoon per serving.
The fruit is often from frozen and combining 2-3, e.g. cranberry (and mango) from freezer with fresh apple; defrosted in summer and heated in winter. Sometimes a bit more salt to bring out the natural sweetness, or extra spice for particular fruits, e.g. nutmeg for blueberries.
I get raw nuts and seeds and dry roast or toast. Usually include: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, brazil nuts, hemp hearts; often some of: almond, hazelnut, cacao nibs; sometimes: pecan, macadamia. More seeds than nuts by volume.
Assembled servings are ~ equal parts of fruit, oats, and nuts&seeds. I call it Oatcetera.
P.S. I sprinkle hemp hearts and/or toasted pumpkin seeds on almost anything
Hi Ilona! One option could be avocado with eggs (I like them soft boiled but you can have them sunny side up or hard boiled) and tomatoes. You may add a whole grain toast. Coffee -though I prefer mate🧉.
Fruits like berries, apples, pears… papaya is great and also mango.
Get well soon! Lots of healing vibes for you!
Have any of your doctors spoken to you about taking digestive enzymes before meals to help with the breakdown of fats and proteins? I’ve been in the wellness industry for almost 25 years, and despite the surgery and your other health challenges, now is not the time to skimp on quality supplements, including fish oil, once your doctor gives you the ok.
As for yogurt, consider trying a low-fat or non-fat goat milk yogurt (for example, Red Hill) or sheep milk (Bellweather) yogurt since they tend to be more easily digested. I also eat oatmeal, and will add in a whey-based protein powder as well as yogurt to boost protein content.
Instead of the sausage or bacon, have you ever tried plant-based veggie burgers? Especially Dr. Praeger’s? There are several tasty variations, but the one I love is the gluten-free Black Bean Quinoa-7 g. total fat (0.5g saturated), 0 cholesterol, 290 mg sodium, 7g dietary fiber, total sugars 1.0 g, protein 5 g.
BTW, you and Gordon are just…awesome! Your books have helped keep me sane for years! So hang in there!
My husband had his gallbladder out about 20 years ago, so I don’t remember what he was eating right after, but have hope. At this point, he no longer really thinks about it and his body doesn’t usually complain too much if he eats too much fat.
Yogurt, bananas, hard boiled eggs (or scrambled without butter 😔). Have more traditionally lunch food like a piece of chicken and whatever veggies work.
– Various egg and egg derivatives – poached, scrambled, omelettes.
– Yogurt with chia seeds, honey and cinnamon
– Apples – I like to grind them and top them with granola.
– Whole grain mini waffles are favorite of mine
– Bagel with tuna salad
– Hash browns occasionally, since they can be fatty (due to frying) and starchy (due to the potato)
This will sound extremely puritan and un-breakfast-y, but my naturopath recommended this and I find it gives me good energy and up-ness:
1 cucumber
2 tablespoons protein powder (collagen or hemp)
1⁄2 lemon
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
Ice cubes
Water – as much or little as you want
If it’s a cucumber with edible skin I use the whole thing. If it has inedible skin I peel it. If I feel like a citrus peel tang I chuck the entire half lemon in the blender. If not, I squeeze the juice and use only that. It’s less bitter with only the juice, so that’s a good place to start if you’re not used to bitter at breakfast.
Best wishes for your recovery.
I have found egg whites cooked with spinach and a bit of cooked potato topped with bits of tomato and one slice of sour dough or marble rye are very satisfying. Take out the potato next day, add avocado, easy on the digestion, good for your blood sugar. Almost my entire large family has diabetes except for me. Once you are fully recovered walking helps everything! Good luck. Selfishly, we want you well so we can enjoy many more of your books! Get well soon.
As a type 2 diabetec i start my day with eggs a meat (bacon, sausage, or ham) and a small amount of potatoes either fries or hash brown. No toast because that sets me off much more than the potatoes. It does set me up well for the rest of the day and i have far fewer cravings for carbs.
I have been wearing a CGM for over a year now and i can’t tell you how useful they are. Not everyone responds to the same foods the same way.
My body will turn any kind of wheat into massive amounts of glucose. But its a lot more forgiving on potatoes or rice. I put it down to my ancestors coming from places where wheat was the main starch.
I also use a set portion size. I predivide a bag of frozen hash browns into about 15 gram carb portions and freeze them that way. the fries the same.
good luck. The more i do the more i realize that the medical advice is of the shotgun variety. we think all these things may work so do them all. The truth is that if you can determine what works better or worse for YOUR body you can get a lot more lenient.
I found that eating carbs before bed raised my blood sugar all night. But the same thing in the afternoon didn’t do much. You can match your intake to your exercise routine. You can do a lot of things but you need the knowledge to see what is actually going on in your body. I highly recommend trying the CGM for a while just to be able to track everything you do and what affects you and what doesn’t. I literally went from an 8.2 A1C to 5.7. It is doable with life and diet changes but they don’t have to be anywhere near as drastic as the literature suggests.
I’m so glad things are becoming more comfy for you! I hear you as I’m recovering from breast cancer surgery, and have a list of food ‘dos and don’ts’ which are a bit annoying- especially not being allowed Turmeric, because it interferes with the drug I’ll be on for the next 5-7years. Dammit! Curry is my comfort food, so I’m not feeling particularly comforted right now!
Right- Pinterest has a really variety of yummy recipes for gall-bladder-free-gourmands if you search for ‘Good After Gallbladder Surgery’
Happy noshing Ilona.
I cannot eat onion or it’s family members so I get how bland that makes food. I use green/spring onions (green part only)(NOT shallots) but remember they’re much stronger than onions so only use one or two shoots. I also sub garlic chives for garlic so if you find that produces gas (very common) try that. Look at IBS recipes for ideas about food that does not produce gas. Look at helathy plant based or vegan recipes for ideas for low sugar, low carb, low gas foods. BUT if you are not used to eating beans or very high fibre diet this is not the time to experiment as the unusual foods will change your gut biome and produce – you knew it – more gas. In Australia in your position we would automatically get a referral to a dietitian. I’ve used one for my situation and found them great. Saves a lot of mucking around and provides a lot of confidence so you can actually enjoy what you can eat without worrying. Can you get professional advice?
Smoothie made with almond butter, unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, and honey. Honey is low glycemic and cinnamon also helps with blood sugar. I had this for breakfast every day when I had gestational diabetes with my twins. I usually decreased the fat in the almond butter by letting it separate and pouring off most of the oil. Bone broth might be a good snack. It has lots of protein but is easy to digest. I add rosemary and lemon juice (and salt if it’s unsalted).
Oops! Just realized I forgot the frozen banana in the smoothie.
Surgeon here, took 3 gallbags (as we affectionately call them) out today.
Every patient asks me about post operative diet. I very specifically DO NOT put any dietary restrictions on my patients.
Only 25% of people will have diarrhea after a cholecystectomy no matter what you eat. This usually resolves with 3-7 days as the liver learns how much bile to make since the fancy gallbag purse is no longer there to hold the extra. For these patients, I tell them to avoid the super fatty and fried foods for a week or two and then slowly add them back in.
Less than 1% of patients have more longer lasting diarrhea, however it is nearly always associated with very specific foods. For example, one of my patients knows if he wants to eat brisket, he should be within 15 minutes of a toilet. He makes those decisions knowingly.
If you are not experiencing diarrhea, there is no reason to avoid certain food groups (other than those to avoid for diabetic reasons). Just go slowly with adding them back and if they bother you, wait a week or too and try again.
There is a medication that can help with chronic diarrhea. If this is something you’re experiencing more than a month out from surgery, please talk to your surgeon about it.
You can take over the counter stool softeners and fiber to prevent constipation/bloating if you’re going the other direction.
Hope that helps!! (And that you see this comment so late in the day!)
Oat bran instead of oatmeal can work as a lower glycemic, higher fiber option.
Plain Greek yogurt turns nicely vanilla flavored just by mixing in some vanilla extract.
I have breakfast “stir fry” a lot. The protein is usually chicken cut into large bite-size pieces that was marinated in yogurt and salt so it has some flavor and a better texture and then baked. I combine that with whatever vegetables I have sauteed recently. It’s surprisingly good if I heat up the stir fry and then stir in a spoonful of cold vanilla yogurt. This may be a weird just me thing though, I have a very limited palette of foods I can eat.
I think this one is okay, but double-check against your list: rolled oats in greek yogurt with banana, coconut flakes, and blueberries mixed in. I think the recipe says to puree it but I just smoosh it all up. Let sit overnight in the fridge and then sweeten with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.
What I eat most mornings that may also work: black beans with cumin, an egg, salsa, and greek yogurt.
And another that I used to do is a quick frittata with an egg stirred up and then add whatever cheese, veg, meat you can have. I used to do spinach and cheese (and ham but I assume that’s out) but have also done sundried tomatoes and goat cheese etc.
The MIND diet book has two of the recipes above. May be worth checking out.
Hugs regarding your surgery. I hope you continue to heal. My husband and I enjoy quinoa hot and cold. Lentil based soups and hard boiled eggs with salsa as a breakfast item. i love the Costco Kirkland brand fat free Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of cinnamon and either Envy apples or blueberries. Sometimes I go nuts and add Trader Joes Extra dark chocolate chips to the yogurt. It hasn’t spiked blood sugar to date 🙂
I am on low sugar diet and my favourite go-to breakfast is 100g Cottage cheese (full fat) + 100g berries of choice. Add a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes and some crumbled pecan nuts and a splash of sugar-free maple flavoured syrup for extra texture and taste. For the rest of my meals – it is a bit of lean meat and a side of veg. Works really well.
what rob mark says. Bodies are weird and every body is different.
I’m prediabetic and gallbladder-free. None of the online dire warnings about eating fats post gallbladder removal happened. The only thing I lost after the surgery was the pain. I had to recover from the laparoscopic but it was After decades of feeling like I’d eaten broken glass it took a minute to try the ‘dangerous foods’ again.
The CGM has completely changed my food game because I can see in real-time what my body does with the carbs I eat and adjust accordingly. Brown rice was no biggie but oatmeal shot it through the roof.
Plus the CGM app is like a game – every time I check it and my glucose level is between the green lines I get this little dopamine surge. It’s a game of strategy.
Stonyfield yogurt with Polaner’s all fruit or blueberries and a few drops of vanilla is my fast breakfast. Monin sugar-free syrups make sparkling water delicious. Triple Sec and Pomegranate flavors: 10/10 can recommend. Butternut squash chunks roasted in coconut or olive oil with chili and cinnamon is on repeat.
Smoothie with frozen wild blueberries, frozen cherries, spinach/lettuce, and protein powder.
The best thing you can do for breakfast is get out of the mindset of typical American breakfast food, which is either fatty (eggs and bacon!) or sugary (pancakes, cereal, bagels, donuts- basically everything else!). Just think of it as meal #1 and approach it as you would your other meals. I have had veggie bowls, salads, anything and everything for breakfast! Leftovers are great too!
hi as someone with diabetes I eat steal cut oatmeal (a more complex carb) with added hemp hearts and chia seeds (added fibre and protein) and top with plain Greek yogurt. Actually really yummy.
They make a peanut butter powder, is that Ok? It’s PB without fat. Trader Joe’s makes a chocolate almond butter, I add that nut butter to Greek Yogurt with frozen strawberries or cherries, you could do a riff on that with cocoa, honey and the frozen berries in Greek Yogurt. I also add chia seed for fiber. I TBSP per serving. I’ve been adding coconut milk to make it more smoothy like. Been having teeth problems. Or you could do an omelet with feta, mushroom and spinach. that stuff is delish. use a goat feta, less fat. I hate getting old, but it beats the alternative.
When my husband was on the keto diet (and my numbers were trending toward prediabetic), we would have “fake oatmeal”. A one bowl serving is 1/4 cup ground flax meal (we like Bob’s Red Mill golden flax), 1 TBSP chia seeds, 1 TBSP fake brown sugar (we like Sukrin brand) though my nutritionist has been championing allulose.
I also would poach chicken breast and that’s low fat, high protein.
Plain greek yogurt and cottage cheese are fridge staples too.
I guess if you could have eggs, you would’ve been eating them by now 🤔
Can you have tuna? We buy Wild Planet brand tuna that’s canned in its own juices (rather than in water/oil).
Forgot to mention, add hot water into the fake oatmeal, mix & let it thicken (about 5-10 mins). Then consume. I opt for a hint of sugar, but feel free to omit and add your choice of fruit instead, like berries or chopped apples.
Person with type 2 diabetes here who primarily manages blood sugar via diet. Eggs and I do not get along. Whole grains such as oatmeal spike my blood glucose. I started making chia pudding for breakfast. 3 tablespoons of chia, 1/2 cup of blueberries, 1/4 cup of raw almonds, 4-5 tablespoons of water. Let the mixture set for a few minutes to thicken.I have no idea if this would work after gallbladder removal.
It gets better! When i had mine out, along with orher gastric surgeries, my go to was zero sugar canned peaches with low fat cottage cheese, fruit smoothies with oatmilk, or max protein ensure. These are all easy to digest which reduces stomach acid and gas. Also, if you aren’t on metamucil, when you are allowed do that. It will make a difference.
Quinoa porridge – you can do whatever liquid you like then add whatever fruits/flavor things you like. I do it with plain vanilla almond milk and goji berries. Is is very good.
Melt peanut butter and honey. Add cheerios and mix. Toss globs on a plate and let it cool/set.
My husband is a type 1 diabetic. Even with the pump we had trouble controlling highs after breakfast. We now sautee any mix of tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, squash, asparagus or cauliflower without oil in a nonstick skillet. Then we scramble in 2 eggs for each of us. This makes a delicious, filling and low carb breakfast. Change up the vegetables each day to keep it interesting. I add Tony Chachere’s and sometimes a very light sprinkling of cheese to change it up. Diabetes is a contrary beast and needs continuous adjustment. Hopefully you will find this helpful and tasty.
Type 1 diabetic for years who because health issues in my family have had to adapt to cooking gluten free, low salt and (for a thankfully brief time) NO fat. I used to love cooking and the dietary restrictions have made it so much more stressful!
Like others have said, you will need to figure out what works for you over time. Rice and oatmeal make my blood sugars spike less than potatoes which are still way better for me than bread.
For me, whole fruit like apples, oranges, and berries are generally OK. Bananas, mangos, watermelon fine in moderation. Fruit juices are bad.
Because you already feel bad, I am focusing on breakfast items that are really easy or that I can either prep ahead.
The oatmeal zucchini muffin recipe below has been a lifesaver – easy and good with ingredients I have at home. I make a batch over the weekend and grab one or two during the week. I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to substitute applesauce for the 1/4 cup oil to make it lower fat.
https://www.acouplecooks.com/apple-zucchini-muffins/
I cheat and buy frozen bags of mixed fruit for ‘super Smoothies’ from at Costo. Add a container of low sugar yogurt and enough of your favorite milk to let the blender work.
A handful of regular cheerios make a great snack when looking for something crunchy to replace chips.
Rice cakes with nut butter may be too high fat for now but work well to keep my blood sugar steady and keep me full for a while..
my go to breakfast is as follows:
plain nonfat Greek yogurt (2-3 servings)
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp seven Sundays muesli for flavor (I like the wild and free blueberry best but the chocolate is also good
1 kiwi cut up into small pieces
1-2 oz of fresh or frozen berries.
super filling, high protein, high fiber, very low carb and low on sugar (cut the fruit down a bit if needed).
Dear Ilona,
I have had my gallbladder removed and I eat lots of salmon and have no problems with it. In fact I have it almost every night for dinner.
I limit carbs because of diabetes.
I take pepcid daily.
I find scrambled eggs to be perfect for breakfast.
Lunch is a couple all beef hot dogs (no bun) or chicken salad.
Dinner is usually fish, mostly salmon but Also catfish, and some other whitefish. Meatloaf or rotisserie chicken is also very good.
I have also discover a low carb ice cream bar that is quite tasty and doesn’t bother my blood sugar levels.
Please feel free to message me privately if you wish.
Not sure if Turkey bacon is off the table, but try that wrapped around a piece of celery or a spear of asparagus. If the turkey bacon is a no go, maybe some Canadian bacon or a thin sliced, low sodium ham.
I’m now 5 weeks post op. The first few weeks I did use a lot of oatmeal, but garnished it with a variety of fruits to keep it from becoming boring. But to be honest, my meals are still not varied by time of day… for example, I eat a lot of healthy choice vegetable soup, sometimes with a slice of bread.
The key to post cholesestectomy eating is zero meats, zero dairy, zero nuts, zero peanut butter… keep fat to near zero. And careful with gas producer veggies.
I use small amounts of almond milk.
Check out the gallbladder subreddit- lots of people sharing food ideas.
Good luck!!
Breakfast is the worse for figuring out what to have on a low carb diet. I’m insulin resistant and headed towards pre-diabetes also so have to watch carbs. Too many carbs and I get gassy. Aging also makes some foods more problematic. And I’m tired of eggs most days. *sigh*
I take ginger tincture to help digestion and also helps lessen gas. If you can’t find the tincture thru a health food outlet or co-op, you can make it very easily: 2 parts alcohol to 1 part plant, store in a dark spot (cupboard), shake twice a day for two weeks, strain and use. Use vodka to reduce any flavor from the alcohol, though it must be 100 proof. Mix a couple of full sm droppers in 1/3-1/2c water. I finally chop the ginger before measuring and adding to the vodka. Hope you continue to feel better!
Feel for you, had my gallbladder out in the end of 2021, it’s still problematic. But I don’t have the Diabetic dietary constraints you have (*knocks on wood*). Your diet sounds much better than mine. I avoid fat except for the necessary when having protein with meals and go for low fat proteins. So egg whites, chicken, etc. In the first year or so I ate A LOT of rice cakes. They’re much better than they were back in the 90s. But then I suspected they were slowing my digestive system, so I don’t eat them much anymore. Yasso makes a great chocolate pop that is fat free and I don’t think it’s high in sugar. Chloe Pops – if you have them are great and fat free too, love the chocolate. I love oatmeal too and opt for the high protein version. For snacking – oyster crackers. But my biggest trick, that might be helpful to you is…Baby Food. It’s embarrassing, but they don’t make anything similar for adults. Fat free, low sugar. I like the Gerber Puffs Vanilla and the Gerber Yogurt Melts. Hope you feel better soon!
it’s the low FODMAP diet. it’s like 10g of onion and garlic a day, cause more will cause gas. it’s a ridiculous diet, which allows unripe banana, but not ripe. and forget apples and pears. but essentially, some sugars break down into gas REALLY easily, so the less you have of those, the better. Plus, without the gallbladder, spicy(including chocolate) and fat are harder to digest and may go right through you. (yeah, I don’t have my gallbladder either)
Some people find if they only do the diet every other day or so, it has the desired result.
I am also gluten-and-dairy-free. I make a breakfast sandwich with gluten free bread, eggs, and fake cheese when I’m not eating oatmeal.
Maybe you can also add Skir – Icelandic cultured dairy product. It is like yogurt, but minimum fat and lots of protein. Same goes to Handkasse, germen type of cheese full of protein and with minimum fat.
And as all other said – eggs, they are versatile and can be prepared to many “eggcelent” meals : scramble, omelet, pouched, steamed, stir-fried with vegies, chaffled, baked, egg bites, fermented,….
Cooked quinoa flakes with blueberries. (Similar to oatmeal, but packed with protein). Also, peanut butter toast or sunflower butter if allergic to nuts.
gallbladder-less here too with added dr stuff except diabetes. all my drs pointed me at the mediterran diet stuff. i looked into it more & expanded to indian, middle eastern, & asian (NOT chinese takeout).
until they let you start experimenting tho, eggs are pretty safe for breakfast. just keep any omelets really simple for now.
I’ve seen a lot of mentions of hard boiled eggs, but none about hard cooked eggs in the oven. I found it easier than boiling a big pot of water.
Put the eggs in a lined muffin pan (so they don’t scorch). Put the pan in a pre-heated ~325° oven for ~25-30 minutes. Dump into a bowl of ice water and peel. Store in a sealed plastic (or silicone) bag in the fridge for about 3 days.
Chicken breasts, poached in broth with sage vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans, spinach).
Wild caught Alaskan salmon is much lower in fat than Atlantic salmon. If local stores don’t carry it, there are companies that ship it. You need to cook it with some liquid and for a much shorter time, or it will dry out.
*safe vegetables
chia turned to powder makes amazing puddings and is full of protein and fibers. put it in any milk, dairy or otherwise, if it’s ok, you could had a bit of vanilla or caco power to give some taste.
i make smoothies bowl often myself, with flax seed, chia, nice nuts and frozen veggies fruits, and then I had fresh fruits on top. be carefull of how much fruit for the suggar counting, but it taste great. you could also mix that with grain cereals. some cqn be really tasty in the “natural” alley of your grocerie store. mixt with yogourt and or cottage cheese it’s great.
I used to make myself whoffles with whole grain, and no suggars. with fruit and yogourt still taste great. again, can add some cacao powder an nuts for the taste, or even bluberries or other fruits inside.
I also fount this website with many interesting recepies. don’t know if it’s accurate though.
https://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/recipes/remedies/Liver-Gallbladder/time/Breakfast
smoothie mixes for breakfast that balance fruit /greens. blanch the greens or fruit with skin first
hi fiber means slow gut transit which makes your gut happy and slows delivery of sugar to your blood stream: banana pancakes, biscuits made with half flour, half ground oatmeal, omelette with vegetables, homemade egg foo young. (egg whites or whole egg depending on your LDL)
GREEN onions are ok. garlic yea. balance with other vegetables. water (your BFF) with your meal. YOU CAN DO THIS
hi fiber means slow gut transit which makes your gut happy and slows delivery of sugar to your blood stream: banana pancakes, biscuits made with half flour, half ground oatmeal, omelette with vegetables, homemade egg foo young. (egg whites or whole egg depending on your LDL)
GREEN onions are ok. garlic yea. balance with other vegetables. water (your BFF) with your meal. YOU CAN DO THIS
I would like to suggest Shrimp and Grits.
It can be prepared with as much or a little vegetable components as you want or need. Shrimp are not No Fat, but are Low Fat. The spice level is also adjustable. Leaving the sausage out is not a terminal detriment. The use of file’ (powdered sassafras) as a thickener vs corn starch or rice flour for that purpose helps to hold down the carbohydrate content and offers a bit of flavor boost. Using dehydrated or green onion will reduce the creation of intestinal gas. And it tastes really good!
I began with the America’s Test Kitchen recipe and played with it until I found a format that the diabetic spouse enjoyed too.
Hummus & whole wheat bread.
Anything you would eat for lunch or dinner – because who ever said you only had to eat breakfast food at breakfast.
Your Diet
I speak from experience – my gallbladder was so large that after attempting laparoscopy, I had to have it removed with full surgery. (Another story, Another time.)
Keeping in mind your diabetic diet, which you clearly do, eat anything you like in very small portions. If they don’t bother you – gradually increase the amount.
I never had trouble with any kind of vegetables. But even now a couple of decades later fatty food and very rich sauces continue to bother me. I am always asking servers to bring me extra napkins. I smash my bacon, sausage, etc. in them. Sometimes after an initial small bit, that even is not enough and it goes to my husband’s plate. Also I have been know to cover the top of my pizza with napkins!
I am a little less careful at home, the bathroom is much closer.
Also I do much better if I have a good breakfast, the effects are multiplied if I have an empty stomach.
Wishes for an uncomplicated recovery and good health
I see lots of recommendations for Greek yogurt and fruit. That’s also my go to cold breakfast, but I like to add a couple tablespoons of grain free granola or sliced almonds for crunch.
Hot breakfast is a breakfast burrito…low carb tortilla, filled with a couple of scrambled eggs, spinach (raw or cooked) a tablespoon of cheese and salsa.
Best to you on finding the right meal for your diet. Dietary restrictions suck! But I feel great when I follow.
Breakfast – eggs with a salad on the side. And apple butter for bread. It’s really good. I was introduced to it at a restaurant called the Flying Biscuit in Atlanta. If you do a bread do sourdough as it won’t spike your blood sugar like other bread. (I found a really good recipe for crackers made with sourdough discard – super easy to make. It’s on the King Arthur Flour website – really good with humus – which I’m not normally a fan of)You can make the eggs various ways – and season with herbs instead of onions and the other offenders. Husband had your surgery 3 years ago. He’s also diabetic. I feel you on the search for meal ideas.
I would try clear soups, with ground or shredded chicken or turkey and small pieces of-well cooked vegetables.
Ground chicken or ground turkey and rice is also an option.
Your system will adjust, it just takes its time learning to function without a gall bladder.
How about egg whites scrambled with veggies that your system accepts? Red bell peppers, green bell peppers, mushrooms, are some of my favorites, but the options are almost unlimited.
Also, ricotta and cottage cheese are both high in protein. I’m lactose intolerant so I have started making my own cream cheese and ricotta, and it is both easy and healthier. But it still has fat.
Fairlife ultra filtered non-fat milk is lactose free, and fat free. In an 8 oz serving, there is only 6g sugar & 13g protein. I have cocoa using this milk and baking cocoa. Also, chocolate pudding has been a mainstay for me on chemo. Milk, cocoa, a little sugar, vanilla, and optional butter. I like it fine without butter, so practically no fat, great protein, and it is an entirely different dish from anything you can buy in the store. I can post recipe if anyone is interested…as soon as I can find it, lol. I just realized I am in the middle of moving and I can’t find much of anything. From memory, mix 2 Tablespoons (might be 1/4 cup) cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (plain, no sugar), and 1/4 cup sugar. Slowly add 2 3/4 cups milk. Stir constantly and bring to a boil. Once thickened and boiling, boil for 1 minute. Turn off heat and add… 1/4 tsp vanilla and 1-2 Tablespoons butter (optional in our household). That’s all. Super easy, nutritious, and yummy. The sugar dilutes down in that volume of milk. Once I find recipe I will try to come back and edit this post. I realized when trying to find food supplements I could handle that they ones the sell are nearly always milk based, which I can’t handle due to lactose intolerance. Nutrition wise, they weren’t any better than my pudding or cocoa and a multivitamin. Anyway, enjoy.
There is no law saying you have to eat only traditional breakfast foods. Research Japanese breakfasts , often Miso soup and a salad or fish.
Tofu – compress it, bake it with a little soy sauce and have it as is, or in a sandwich
Make home made chicken or veggie soup with all the goodies you CAN eat. Have it with some toast.
I sometimes grab a vegetable Sushi wrap for breakfast.
Double check , but, maybe poached eggs on a lightly toasted whole wheat English muffin. Yolks have non-saturated fats which should be OK.
Highly recommend meeting with a Registered Dietitian (RD). They specialize in Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). You are trying to manage multiple comorbidities with dietary factors that are likely to change overtime as your health status evolves. Meeting with an RD can spare you a lot of frustration and confusion. Assuming you have a current prediabetes or diabetes diagnosis it should be covered by insurance, may or may not require a referral from a doctor depending on the insurance company.
The onions are likely restricted because they are a good source for naturally occurring prebiotics, great most of the time but not so great when you are trying to limit gas production in your gut. The Glucerna protein shakes would fit your criteria for restricted fat, sugar, and simple carbs.
Hope that was helpful. Good luck!
As others have said, the diet restrictions after gallbladder surgery is temporary. I had mine out almost 32 years ago. It no longer affects me. The prediabetes potentially can be also. After dropping weight, I am off of my medication. Check out skinnytaste.com. Lots of healthy recipes.
Yeah.. diet changes can be challenging for sure. My carb addiction is still a battle.
I rely heavily on non-salt spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, southwestern seasoning (love Mesa Rosa from urban accents-has some salt), Penzy’s has a great variety too.
Egg whites with allowed veggies, zucchini and non-salt spices are usually safe. Garlic helps a lot if it’s allowed. I also eat a lot of wilted salads for breakfast. You can add berries for antioxidants. I also like to add berries, cacao and cinnamon to my non-sugared oatmeal. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of protein and other nutrients. Great on salads or in oatmeal (Bob’s Red Mill has a high protein one).
Try searching vitacost.com for items. When you use the sales codes under the menu there can be good sales.
For a treat I blend frozen chunks of zucchini with a little plant based milk and berries. It’s definitely not ice cream, but it feels like I’m eating dessert. Good luck! You’ll find your way!
I ended up taking digestive enzymes (not pro or pre-biotics) to help breakdown food.
Many wonderful suggestions! But if your body wants to punish you for the insult of subjecting it to surgery, regardless of how necessary, solid food may be a problem for a month or two. Some of us are weird that way!
As a Type 2 diabetic who had to undergo abdominal surgery last year, I know a lot of these great-sounding suggestions just may not be possible right away. If so, broths, consommes,(yes, sodium?) and protein waters [Protein20 available at Walmart], supplemented with SMALL portions of banana, kiwis, sourdough toast, oatmeal, and other low glycemic index foods may be your friends until your body is less vengeful. The Protein20 has a couple of pretty decent flavors and respectable protein–20 grams– with only 6 grams of carbs per half liter.
Glad the surgery was successful, and hope the recovery goes as swiftly as the BDH devouring your books.
Have you tried poached eggs on toast(of your choice)? Also we make Tomatoes on Toast. Canned diced tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes or a combination of the two with a 1/4 t. of Worscestershire Sauce-heated and served over toast. You can add more of the sauce to your taste although the flavor is concentrated.
Very late to comment, I like to have a platter of fruit and veg (carrots sticks, radishes, tomatoes sugar snaps etc. and some kind of berry like blueberries or raspberries or some fruit and supplement that with some kind of cured meat, maybe cheese and perhaps an egg if I can be bothered to cook it. And some kind of nut or almonds.
It is interesting that you got dietary guidelines though. I am in a completely different country and when I had my gallbladder out some years ago I asked the surgeon in the pre operation meeting about the dietary restrictions or recommendations. I expected restrictions after talking to other people who after gall bladder removal got into some trouble with different kinds of foods. And sort of expected to get a folder with the “rules” for what not to eat after.
And the response was: “we’ve stopped issuing guidelines and restrictions for this because peoples reactions are so different and individual. You will just have to try things and see what works for you.”
I am fascinated that the guidelines are so different. Perhaps the medical knowledge has changed since my operation.
Low carb cereal, Catalina Crunch cinnamon is my fav, Non-fat, higher protein yogurts are a life saver. Egg omelets with added egg whites (purchase liquid egg whites )-this adds protein which helps you feel full -then go wild with favorite veggies. Had my gall bladder removed over 10 years ago and the improvement in my life was tremendous. The discomfort & uncertainty regarding diet of the post surgery phase will pass. You’ve got this!
Make your own sourdough or ciabatta rolls as they are low glycemic index. (My starter came from my nephews prospective father in law.) I halve them and then toast and eat with a tiny touch of butter and some diabetic jam. Sometimes breakfast is fruit (usually apple and rhubarb because I have an unhealthy attachment to rhubarb) stewed with Splenda on oatmeal. Scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs are delicious with sourdough toast for when you are better. I try to eat protein of some sort with every meal as this makes blood sugar much more manageable. Apple juice that you juice yourself is full of fibre and if you pour it over a high protein muesli instead of milk, diabetic friendly and delicious. My sister makes her own muesli and takes it when she travels so she has an always has good breakfast. My diabetic educator told me not to worry if I eat something naughty every few weeks when I am out with friends as long as I hold to the diet otherwise. Remember that you have to look after you. Allow yourself a tiny treat very occasionally as long as it’s eaten after protein and vegetables. The psychological effect of tasting normal food cannot be underestimated it made life worth living for me.
I would recommend using an app like FIG (food is good) where you can check your dietary restrictions off a list, make a profile, and search for foods that match your fig. No need for subscription if you are manually searching or do less than five scans a month.
Is rice allowed? I have celiac and love cream of rice or perhaps grits? I realize these are carb heavy but not really more so than oats. As someone who is trying to adjust my eating I have been having a berry smoothie with pineapple (great for gas issues) and coconut milk. I can make it sweet or tart and add ground flaxseed and kale powder for nutrition. Psyllium husk is a great added fiber option, and the only fiber supplement I can tolerate without inflating like a balloon, but beware whatever you add it to will turn to jelly if left for longer than a few minutes because it soaks up all the liquid. (It is used extensively in GF baking for this reason.)
Not so much on “post gallbladder”as prediabetic idea. Smoothie with green beans, nopales, apple juice, ginger, cinnamon, cucumber, and an orange (remove the peel). Nopales are the cactus pads used in Mexican cooking, and I’d bet HEB has frozen ones with the stickers removed. You can switch out the applejuice for plain Greek yogurt if you want, you can use zucchini instead of cucumber, but the nopales are important–they cut blood sugar.
Half a can of beans can be an alternative protein source, and quick and easy for a meal.
Most of the surgeons I know say just stay away from anything really greasy, and if you are eating chocolate, beware it can trigger diarrhea. If you do eat chocolate, eat it after a protein rich meal.
I just bought a mini waffle maker. Found a great recipe on Weight Watchers by Chef Millie Peartree.
1 cup of uncooked old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla flavored almond milk
1 egg
1 small banana
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
Put it all in a blender until smooth, then let it sit for 5 minutes.
Then cook in a waffle maker. Makes about 5 mini waffles
1 pt per mini waffle. I’ve experimented by adding blueberries, changing up the oatmeal for multigrains or steel cut oatmeal. All have been great.
FWIW I had zero problems going back to my usual diet after cholecystectomy, though I’ve known one person who have the permanent ‘runs’ because of their bile flow. (No one told me no onions after surgery, either, so I’m at a loss at what that’s about.)
Turkey bacon is remarkably lean, and might help you out in the mornings. Soup for breakfast might be good, or something with beans?
I had my gallbladder out in 2002. Still to this day, I can only consume the smallest of amounts of olive oil, butter, avocado, etc. So fats are always going to be an issue for you. I just love it when well-meaning people tell me, “but it’s a good fat” and I have to tell them, “not if it goes through me like a rocket ship it isn’t”. Some folks just don’t get it. I guess the purpose I’m sharing this is that even as the years go on you’re going to find things will challenge you. It’s going to be hit and miss with you until you can kind of figure stuff out. What works for one will not work for another, but the general guidelines is to stay away from fats. For the time being I would stay on a bland diet, at least until you are physically healed from the surgery. Homemade chicken soup, scrambled eggs and the like are what you should probably try to consume. I know it’s boring to have oatmeal, but have you thought of trying other grains in its place? Although you can’t have something because it’s very fibrous and bulky perhaps if it’s made into a smoothie it’s more easily digestible?
oof, wish I could offer advice but I eat yogurt and granola in the morning. Although, it’s low fat, and the granola is baked so….
good luck!
Baked Japanese sweet potato diced and still warm from oven, add fresh diced apple(Macintosh is yummy) and sprinkle on some cinnamon. One of my favorite post gall bladder surgery vegan breakfasts!
One possible-since you have the concierge situation or even within your regular insurance might be to see if you can contact your surgical hospital’s dietitian and/or ask for referrals for other dieticians if they can’t help you. A *licensed* & *registered* dietitian should have some ideas of how to help you, especially if they have been practicing for 20 years or so and were around when diabetes meds were not and gallbladders were getting removed, which is kind of your situation. Source: my sister is an RD LD hospital staff dietitian. Do your due diligence though because not all dietitians are good at multiple issue considerations according to her comments about junior staff that she oversees since you don’t have a lot of room for error right now
I sympathize. I am 55 and last year was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as well as discovered some new food allergies – gluten, hazelnuts and carrots. (I know, *carrots*… WTF?).
All that is to say that I have found it very helpful to search for recipes on eatingwell.com. All of the recipes are generally healthy and it is possible to search for particulars, though I don’t recall a gallbladder filter.
Still, all recipes have nutrition info and maybe something like MIND diet or Mediterranean would be helpful.
Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.
If not mentioned yet. You might like to try Quinoa or Buckwheat as a porridge alternative. Both have higher protein and complex carbs. My parents used to make both warm with different toppings. Seeds, fruits, yogurt whatever fits with your diet. What is important do not use a lot of water. Both grains will get soggy fast. Best think of instant bulgur when making it.
There is something called bile acid diarrhea that can occur on its own but is much more common after gall bladder surgery.
Ask about it next time you see your doctor since it can be very easy to treat but sometimes it is overlooked.
Do not eat paper cellulose is one of carbs!!!
soup, whatever kinds you like, makes an excellent breakfast. if you’re going with a clear soup, like chicken or cabbage, you can poach an egg or two with it, right in the soup pot.
soba noodles that are high in buckwheat flour have a low glycemic load, and cook in 3 minutes.
speaking of buckwheat, kasha is also a delicious breakfast food.
and if you’re not leftover adverse, try eating dinner for breakfast.
shrimp is very low in fat, you could sub that in for salmon for the next 30 days. it’s also delicious. and there is excellent chemical-free frozen shrimp readily available these days.
Oof- not good. I’m hoping you’re on the mend. And it’d be Spring in Texas so here’s some themes for that.
Omelette or scrambled *real* eggs (more egg white than egg, try 50grams whites : one whole egg around 50grams) with shards of salmon (smoked or tinned), halved small grape-sized tomatoes, maybe some ricotta/cottage cheese, baby spinach on top (wilt in residual pan heat). Mods? Capsicum (ah, peppers that aren’t spicy) in any colour, bok choy/choy sum, rocket, fresh basil, or even small amounts of fresh spices like French tarragon. Garlic chives or regular chives if you’re craving oniony style flavours but can’t tolerate them.
In Australia fresh egg whites are in (milk-bottle style) cartons near the fresh eggs on our supermarket shelves. Herbs are home grown if your supermarkets or even local produce markets don’t have them.
If lazy a fresh buffalo mozzarella, (heirloom) tomato and (heirloom) basil salad with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar takes minutes to assemble and zero cooking.
Making your own pho (beef or even chicken) could be useful if you can find konjac noodles- marketed as “zero calorie” or low carb in some supermarkets- where you are. Konjac in any form (noodles) does need to be consumed with soup or adequate fluids.
Green papaya/pawpaw salad with prawns or even rare roast beef could also help as the enzymes in green papaya are great for digestion.
Chia pudding is my go to. low carb and can be flavored.
I believe the issue with onions is they can be an irritant. Just like spicy food, caffeine and a number of other things. After GB surgery, they make it more likely that you will experience diarrhea and other digestive symptoms. Try eating a small amount (cooked) and see if you have trouble if you are missing them. My husband was limited to 5 gm of lipids per day and very low fiber (eg no fresh fruit at all) after his Whipple, but he could always tolerate cooked onions in soup. I could always tolerate them in Chipotle’s corn salsa after my GB was removed. I have a friend who has never been able to tolerate onions. I was too afraid to try things for too long after my GB surgery. It could be you have to be really careful. It could be you don’t need to be. Start slow.
For a little while they want you to limit gas-producing food for your comfort but also because they don’t want too much pressure where they have just stitched you back together. As I understand it, onions are more of a comfort issue, not a safety issue.
This goes back to Sweep of the Heart. I am wondering if since Magnolia Green is now a cutting, will it affect Deena’s parents?
You have to read the next book to find out. 🙂
I am a little late to the party but my advice- predicated on 25 years as a nanny of special needs 2E kids who all had some kind of food issues and a person who has had multiple friends and family member with gall bladder issues . Start small and see what works for you. Everyone responds differently- yes Fat and certain foods like broccoli and onions – often cucumbers- set people off. You are clearly worried about the carbs keep in mind fiber helps offset carbs, cooking, chilling and then reheating complex carbs makes the starch resistant and improves the glycemic load. Eating whole fruits adds probiotic fiber and nutrients. You still need fat. Your body needs a variety of foods to meet your nutritional needs. Focus on whole real food small portions spaced out . As you asked for recipes here are a few loosely called recipes that are adaptable
Make a simple soup with the best broth you have-homemade is obviously best but low sodium box broth supplemented with some box bone broth or even plain gelatin works cook celery and carrots in broth until tender, add some roasted chicken- roast your own or commercial- to a bowl with some baked or steamed potatoes you cooked refrigerated and will now reheat, top with hot broth and vegetables. If that doesn’t bug you next time add another veg- maybe zucchini noodles, the try swapping ing parsnips or barley for the potatoes. Maybe then try a bit of parsley and sage…you get the idea start simple add what like slowly to stuff that you know works. You may do better with your veg cooked rather than raw. Quinoa pilaf with lots of diced veg of your choice, a little bit of dried fruit- high in fiber but high in sugar- chopped or whole nuts and diced or ground lean meat of choice one example : brown 1/2 pound ground chicken with a good fat pinch of saffron you bloomed in hot water— add the water later with the broth I tsp grated ginger, 1cup each diced celery and carrots, salt and pepper to taste, add 1/2 cup diced dried apricots, 1/2 cup roughly chopped almonds or pistachio add 1 and 1/2 cup quinoa and 3 cups broth follow quinoa cooking directions you can then add bell peppers or eggplant, zucchini or okra again add stuff you like if it didn’t bother you.
In the summer I love a chilled beet soup- roast 3 pounds of whole beets with a little avacado or olive oil until very tender and csrmelized season to taste. Refrigerate overnight the next day purée with some enriched chicken broth and a cup of buttermilk season with some dill if it doesn’t bother you. Warm the soup to meld the flavors, make the starch resistant and eat warm or chill- also tasty at room temperature. Later some shallots roasted with the beats take it up a notch. Nice with poached or grilled fish you can also add other veg or garnish with diced leftover meat if most types or very tasty with hard boiled eggs. I hope some of this helps! Mine or everyone else’s is a starting point but I am afraid you will probably have to figure out for yourself what your body will deal with and what it won’t. It is a pain but track your meals when and what you eat how you feel during after and later in the day. Fingers crossed ! Prayers said.
I make breakfast sandwiches with English muffin, scrambled egge whites, 1 slice Canadian bacon, sometimes I add a ultra-thin slice of cheese.
Take digestive enzymes with ox bile(I take Super Enzymes by NOW brand) and you’ll be able to eat most of the things you want in moderation. Gallbladder removal is pretty much a diagnosable digestive enzyme bile supplement for life because bile doesn’t only digest fats, it also plays a crucial role in toxin removal, cholesterol levels and the removal of hemoglobin. You’ll want to take it as a supplement to keep the burden off the liver too. The gallbladder doesn’t make bile, it only stores it so your liver will have to keep churning it out. Also the pancreas releases digestive enzymes and since you’ve got prediabetes, your pancreas is also taxed producing digestive enzymes. Supplements really help in this area.
Low fat cottage cheese can be made into high protein low fat alternatives, even breakfast items, dips, and sauces. Mix 1/2 cup it in a blender with a tablespoon(to taste and thickness) of any flavor sugar free jello pudding mix with just enough milk or milk sub to blend and you’ll have a great pudding you can turn into a multitude of desserts, but add some low glycemic berries and a sprinkle of protein granola and it’s a nice breakfast. If you have a Ninja creamy you can make ice creams too. You can even make a alternative cheesecake if you put it in a crust to set up. Add it to scrambled eggs to bulk them up. I make an incredible lunch with cottage cheese too, cottage cheese, cucumbers, flavor bomb tomatoes, a few olives and half avocado, sprinkled generously with everything but the bagel seasonings. High protein, lots of fresh fruits/veggies and it’s very filling!
Consider Brown or Forbidden/Black Rice Porridge instead of Oatmeal.