Healthy Restaurant Food. Keeping Gallbladders and Aortas Happy!

Eating out can be so difficult to those of us with aorta and/or gallbladder issues.

Eating Healthy While Eating Out Can Be A Challenge! #Aorta #gallbladder

Restaurants tend to use the most inflammatory (i.e. cheapest) oils to cook in.

Oils rich in omega 6 fatty acids such as sunflower or canola oil can directly initiate inflammation of the gallbladder, pancreas and aorta.

No one wants an inflamed gallbladder (think horrible pain in the side and back).

No one want an inflamed aorta (think scary dissection).

And for some of us on many days any dietary oil, including good oils, may not be helpful.

So what do we do when eating out?  At times we will invariably find ourselves in a restaurant with family or friends.

Fortunately there are more ways than a cold salad to enjoy healthy restaurant food.

I almost always order steamed mixed vegetables with a side of rice (whole grain rice if they have it).

And you don't have to be in an Asian restaurant to order steamed mixed vegetables either.  Almost any restaurant will have frozen vegetables and a steamer.

Be sure to ask for the hot sauces and soy sauce to liven up the food combo and you have a healthier than most meal while eating out (though keep an eye on the sodium).

Avoiding inflammatory oils in restaurants needn't be hard.

Always remember the 'steamed' option and enjoy good food out, without the worry of pain or aortic inflammation!

Somedays I Just Need A Burger (Ask My Gallbladder and Aorta About it Firs!)

Sometimes I just have to have a burger.  But my gallbladder and torn aorta warn me about the fats!

Gallbladder and aorta diet.  Somedays I just have to have a burger.

So I've found the lowest fat veggie burgers and veggie chick patties in the grocery store.  I cook them in the skillet with just a light brushing of coconut oil or even lighter spray of olive oil.

Aorta and Gallbladder diet.  Hummus, veggie burger, steamed cabbage & cauliflower and bbq sauce.

And combine them with steamed cabbage, cauliflower, onions and mushrooms.

Gallbladder and aorta diet.  Veggie burger with steamed cabbage and cauliflower.

The fresh Italian bread type rolls (similar to Chicago rolls) can be found at our local Publix with no added oil.

Mustard too is free of gallbladder inflaming and artery clogging oils, and accentuates the burger flavor!

Baked corn chips and hummus finish out the meal and presto!

I've got a burger my appetite, my gallbladder and my aorta are all happy about.

Roasting Vegetables for Aortic and Digestive Health

Vegetables roasting in the oven always fill thetownhouse with the best of food aromas.

Gallbladder and Cardiovascular Diet - Healthy, Hearty Veggies a Roasting

The vegetables we roast are handpicked from our Lakes Park Farmers Market every Wednesday morning where we usually purchase enough onions, potatoes (various types), zucchini, squash, mushrooms, beets, broccoli, cauliflowers, cabbage, carrots, Brussel sprouts, ginger, eggplant (for baba ganoush) grapefruit, oranges, apples, papaya, mango and pineapple for the week.

Gallbladder and aorta diet - Sliced Brussel Sprouts ready for roasting

Gallbladder friendly Brussel Sprouts ready for eating!

Farmers Market fresh foods are so affordable too.  We can purchase what we need of the above for just a little over fifty dollars.

I like to slice my veggies nice and thin, place them on a tray lightly coated with coconut or avocado oil, add a little salt, pepper and paprika and bake until cooked to my taste (I like a little on the browned-caramelized side) at about 400F.

Somedays I'll finish the tray of roasted veggies with a light broiling touch.

Gallbladder & Aorta Diet - I like to add coconut oil and smoky paprika to the veggies before roasting.

Healthy, hearty and aorta/gallbladder friendly foods are as close as the farmer's market and home oven!

Chickpea & Rice Super-burgers for Gallbladder & Aorta Health

Sometimes I just want a really hearty, mouthwatering burger.  Or two.  Or three.

Gallbladder diet.  Baked Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

But I have to say no to real hamburgers.  They just are not right for my cardiovascular system, aorta and especially not right for my touchy gallbladder.

So what do I do?

Salmon burgers make a good substitute but still taste like 'fish' burgers.  Which is good but maybe not what I am looking for all the time.  Some days I just want a 'real' burger.

The closest faux-burger burger I've made to the real thing burger is my chickpea (garbanzo bean) and rice burger.

They are super good.  And filling and don't crumble apart like many vegetarian burgers may do.

Gallbladder diet.  Foods good for aorta and gallbladder - Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

These chickpea and rice super-burgers are easy to prepare and cook.  Super easy.  And they are packed full of nutrients, vitamins, protein and phytochemicals.

Chickpeas contain on average about 15 grams of protein per cup and there is about a half a cup in each large burger!  Chickpeas also provide manganese and folate for a strong healthy body.  Of course chickpeas are famous for their fiber content (I like to soak my chickpeas/garbanzo beans overnight to remove phytic acid, a substance which can bind zinc in our bodies).

Heres how to make them.

Cook two cups basmati rice and two cups chick peas.  Make sure both the rice and chickpeas are soft.

I like to steam a couple peppers (red, green, banana or poblano) and onions, then dice them quite fine in size.

Chop several cloves of garlic and a thumb size chunk of fresh ginger root.  Sometimes I'll add a little turmeric too.

Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl along with a cup of organic masa harina.  Mix well.

If you are a vegan then add salt and pepper to taste and form the mixture into large patties.

If you are a vegetarian looking for a little more protein and binder then add three egg whites, mix and form into large burger-size patties.

Gallbladder diet.  Foods good for aorta and gallbladder - Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

Place on a lightly oiled baking tray and bake at 385 F until golden brown, turning the burgers occasionally.  Sometimes I'll broil them for a minute or so to allow the onions and peppers to 'crispy caramelize' just a bit.

Serve hot with home made salsa!

Yum.

Chickpea and rice burgers will leave you satisfied every time (and aorta-gallbladder healthy too).

Whole Foods Diet and Aorta-Gallbladder Health, Hearty Dinners

Hearty, healthy gallbladder and aorta meals can be quick and easy to prepare.

Whole foods diet for gallbladder and aorta! #Phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins, fiber, anti-inflammation

Tonight's meal filled me up with 'good for me' whole foods.  As all the foods were homemade from fresh ingredients the meal contained no 'processed foods' except for the organic tahini.

My gallbladder is no longer angry at me when I eat.

My hunger cravings are always satisfied.

I really wish I had started eating whole, non-processed foods (or slow foods as some may describe) when I was younger.

But today I know my cardiovascular system is holding its own, even with the enormous tear in my aorta's inner lining.  And I know my digestive system is working smoothly.  No more painful and debilitating 'hiccups' from my gallbladder or pancreas.

Tonights meal included: a homemade salad with spring greens, peppers, ginger, onions and more; homemade garbanzo bean hummus, split pea soup with new potatoes and onions; and homemade salsa.

#gallbladderlife #dissectionlife

Eating Out - Choosing Healthy Fast Foods for Heart, Aorta & Gallbladder

Quick simple tip of the day for those of us with touchy gallbladders and-or form aortas.

Healthy Eating Out - Aorta & Gallbladder Diet

When eating out try to find a restaurant serving 'steamed' foods.

I prefer steamed vegetables, sometimes with tofu but usually just alone!

For the meat eaters in the world, steam fish works very well as does broiled or grilled fish so long as no omega 6-rich inflammatory oils are brushed onto the meat.

Asian restaurants are one of my favorite eating out destinations. Here in South Florida there are a number or Asian restaurants serving high quality, fresh steamed vegetables.  You can even find organic, gluten-free and organic dishes too.

Eating out can be difficult when challenged with cardiovascular or gallbladder issues.

Steamed foods can be a simple, safe and delicious answer!