Pancreatitis meal plan, low fat and steady.
Pancreatitis means the pancreas is inflamed, and NIDDK says the usual advice is a low-fat eating plan with small, frequent meals. Here is a week of low-fat meals at about 1,850 calories a day, with fat grams shown for every day. Alma can fit it to your goal.
Built from NIDDK pancreatitis guidance.
The rules
Three habits keep the fat low
Small meals, spread out
Five or six small meals are easier on you than three large ones.
Ask for your fat number
Lean protein, nothing fried, and oil by the teaspoon. Your care team sets the target.
No alcohol, plenty of water
Alcohol is the one rule NIDDK states flatly: none at all.
Sample week
Seven days of low-fat meals
About 1,800 to 1,900 calories and 28 to 45 g of fat a day. Split each meal in two to eat 5 or 6 times. Scale portions to your needs. Find your number
Start this week only after your clinician clears you to eat normally again. Ask your care team for your own daily fat, fluid and calorie targets first, especially with chronic pancreatitis, diabetes or enzyme pills.
Day 1Monday
BreakfastOatmeal with banana and skim milk1½ cups cooked oatmeal made from ¾ cup dry oats, 1 banana, 1 cup skim milk, cinnamon
LunchLentil soup with brown rice1½ cups lentil and vegetable soup, 1 cup cooked brown rice, 1 slice whole-wheat bread, 1 tsp olive oil
SnackGraham crackers with skim milk3 graham cracker sheets, 1¼ cups skim milk
DinnerPoached tilapia with couscous4 oz poached tilapia, 1½ cups cooked couscous, 1 cup zucchini, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 slice bread, lemon
About 1,830 kcal101 g protein28 g fat
Day 2Tuesday
- BreakfastPoached egg on toast with jam1 poached egg and 2 egg whites, 3 slices whole-wheat toast, 1 tbsp jam, ½ cup orange juice
- LunchTuna pasta salad without mayo1 can tuna in water, drained, 1½ cups cooked pasta, 1 cup chopped cucumber and tomato, 2 tsp olive oil, lemon
- SnackApplesauce, yogurt and almonds1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt, 1 tbsp sliced almonds
- DinnerChicken stir-fry with rice5 oz chicken breast, 2 cups mixed vegetables, 1 cup cooked white rice, 2 tsp canola oil, 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
About 1,900 kcal138 g protein38 g fat
Day 3Wednesday
- BreakfastWhole-grain cereal with strawberries2 cups whole-grain flake cereal, 1 cup skim milk, 1 cup strawberries, 1 tbsp sliced almonds, 1 slice toast
- LunchRoast turkey sandwich with apple4 oz sliced roast turkey breast, 2 slices whole-wheat bread, lettuce and tomato, 1 tsp mustard, 1 apple, 1 cup baby carrots, 1 cup skim milk
- SnackHummus with cucumber and carrots⅓ cup hummus, 1 cup cucumber and carrot sticks, 1 small whole-wheat pita
- DinnerPasta with chicken and spinach4 oz cooked chicken breast, 1½ cups cooked pasta, 2 cups spinach and ½ cup tomatoes, 1 tbsp Parmesan, 1 tsp olive oil
About 1,810 kcal120 g protein31 g fat
Day 4Thursday
- BreakfastEgg white scramble with grapes5 egg whites scrambled in 1 tsp canola oil, 3 slices whole-wheat toast, 1 cup grapes, 1 tbsp jam
- LunchBlack bean and rice bowl¾ cup black beans, 1 cup cooked white rice, ½ cup salsa, ¼ avocado, lime
- SnackPretzels, orange and string cheese1 oz pretzels, 1 orange, 1 light string cheese
- DinnerTurkey and rice stuffed pepper4 oz 99% lean ground turkey, 1½ cups cooked rice, 1 bell pepper with tomato and onion, 1 oz part-skim mozzarella, 1 tsp olive oil
About 1,830 kcal100 g protein33 g fat
Day 5Friday
- BreakfastOat bran with applesauce⅔ cup dry oat bran cooked with water, 1 cup skim milk, ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 tbsp raisins, 1 slice toast
- LunchChicken noodle soup with crackers3 cups chicken noodle soup, 8 whole-grain crackers, 1 cup grapes
- SnackCottage cheese with pineapple¾ cup 1% cottage cheese, ¾ cup pineapple canned in juice, 2 graham cracker sheets, 1 tbsp sliced almonds
- DinnerBaked cod with rice and green beans5 oz cod baked with lemon, 1 cup cooked white rice, 1 cup green beans, 2 tsp olive oil, 1 slice whole-wheat bread
About 1,890 kcal111 g protein36 g fat
Day 6Saturday
- BreakfastNonfat yogurt with peach and toast1 cup nonfat plain yogurt, 1 peach, 2 slices whole-wheat toast with 1 tsp jam, ½ cup orange juice
- LunchShrimp and rice with peas5 oz cooked shrimp, 1½ cups cooked white rice, ¾ cup peas, 1 tsp canola oil, lemon
- SnackCottage cheese with melon and crackers¾ cup 1% cottage cheese, 2 cups cantaloupe cubes, 6 saltines
- DinnerChicken breast with sweet potato5 oz roasted skinless chicken breast, 1 large baked sweet potato, 1½ cups broccoli, 2 tsp olive oil, 1 slice bread
About 1,900 kcal148 g protein29 g fat
Day 7Sunday
- BreakfastCream of wheat with strawberries1 cup cooked cream of wheat, 1 cup skim milk, 1 cup strawberries, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 slice toast
- LunchChicken, rice and carrot bowl4 oz cooked skinless chicken breast, 1½ cups cooked white rice, 1 cup steamed carrots, 2 tsp olive oil, lemon
- SnackBanana with peanut butter1 banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 slice whole-wheat toast
- DinnerTurkey meatloaf with mashed potato5 oz 99% lean ground turkey meatloaf with oats and egg white, 2 cups mashed potato with ¼ cup skim milk, 1 cup green beans, 2 tsp olive oil
About 1,880 kcal112 g protein45 g fat
Shopping list
What to buy
Most days
Lean proteinChicken breast, cod, tilapia, shrimp, egg whites, lean turkeychicken breastegg
Low-fat dairySkim milk, nonfat yogurt, 1% cottage cheesegreek yogurtcottage cheese
Now and then
Count the oil you cook with: 1 to 2 tsp per meal is plenty.
Make it yours
This week is a sample. Alma builds yours.
- Meals fit to your goal and the foods you like
- Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds
- Every meal gets an Alma Score from 0 to 100
Questions
What people ask
What can you eat with pancreatitis?
Lean protein like chicken breast, white fish and egg whites, whole grains, fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy, in small meals across the day. NIDDK says a healthy low-fat eating plan with small, frequent meals is the usual advice once you are eating again, with plenty of fluids and no alcohol.
How many calories is this meal plan?
About 1,800 to 1,900 calories a day, with 28 to 45 g of fat, 100 to 148 g of protein and 25 to 33 g of fiber. That fits many adults, but pancreatitis changes what you tolerate, so check the numbers with your care team and scale portions to your needs.
How much fat should I eat a day with pancreatitis?
Your care team sets that number, and it differs from person to person, especially with chronic pancreatitis, enzyme pills or after surgery. NIDDK's advice is a low-fat eating plan. This week runs 28 to 45 g of fat a day, so use it as a starting point to review with them. Count oil, butter and cheese, not just meat.
Can I drink alcohol with pancreatitis?
No. NIDDK says health care professionals strongly advise people with pancreatitis not to drink any alcohol, even if the pancreatitis is mild. Ask your care team if you want help cutting back.
Is this plan safe during an acute attack?
No. Acute pancreatitis is cared for in hospital, often with IV fluids and no food for a while, then a low-fat diet when you can eat. Use this week only after your clinician clears you to eat normally.
Does pancreatitis cause diabetes?
Chronic pancreatitis can damage the cells that make insulin, and Cleveland Clinic notes that the diabetes that follows is sometimes called type 3c diabetes. If that happens, your care team sets an eating plan alongside your medicine. Do not change insulin or other doses on your own.
Do I need enzyme pills to digest this food?
Some people with chronic pancreatitis do. NIDDK says your doctor may prescribe enzyme pills to help with digestion, and vitamins A, D, E and K if you are not absorbing them well. Take them exactly as prescribed and ask your clinician before changing anything.
How can Alma help me keep the fat low?
Log a meal by photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds and Alma scores it from 0 to 100, drawing on Harvard's Alternate Healthy Eating Index. Over a week you can see which meals run high in fat and adjust the portions that matter.
Sources
Written by Alma from the sources below and reviewed October 28, 2026. Calories and protein are estimates. This is general information, not medical advice. If you manage a health condition or take medication, check changes with your clinician. Editorial standards
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Tell Alma your goal and the foods you like. It plans the meals and scores each one.