Gallbladder diet. Watch Out for Super Tricky Gallbladder Friendly Foods With This!

Watch out for gallbladder friendly foods with sugar in them!

Gallbladder diet.  Make sure Matcha contains no sugar.

I've been so guilty and over the weekend realized just how wrong I've been about sweet treats!

So today is day three of the "I Quit Sugar" lifestyle change for gallbladder health.

My very last post highlighted a Starbucks drink I was guzzling that actually was loaded with sugar!  According to the Starbucks nutrition webpage a green tea latte can have up to 30g sugar!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic green tea is the only ingredient in Teavana matcha.  My gallbladder is much happier.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) women should limit their sugar intake to less than 24 grams per day while men should limit their sugar intake to less than 36 grams per day.

That means one Starbucks green tea latte can have more sugar in the drink than the AHA recommends women ingest in an entire day!

Oh oh.  I've been headed in the wrong direction.  But you know, I think it was ok for a while because the many recipes I posted here with sugar as an ingredient really helped me cope with making the dietary transition to gallbladder friendly foods.

My restored confidence that I can eat heartily without incurring a gallbladder attack is important.

But now its time to move on.  So "I Quit Sugar".

There is a really good book on the topic with the same name available in most public libraries, in Barnes and Noble bookstores and on the web through Amazon in both Kindle edition and paperback.

Gallbladder diet.  Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' is a great book that ultimately will help with gallbladder issues.

Sarah Wilson's book really inspired me.  Her blog is an excellent resource for information on sugar and the human body and for sugar free recipes.

However the real reason I am quitting sugar is that through gallbladder friendly recipe research I have come across more and more medical evidence that sugar is truly NOT gallbladder friendly.

One study in particular ranked refined sugars right up there along with fats as a primary culprit responsible for gallstone formation.

While sugar may not trigger an immediate gallbladder contraction of pain, sugar can encourage gallstone formation and even cause existing stones to grow larger in size.

Ugh.

So I am quitting sugar.  Today is Day 3 of my new lifestyle and from here on out most posted recipes will be low sugar content to no sugar content.  Good for our hearts too.  Some may include Stevia as I still like my sweets.

So what about my Starbucks Iced Matcha Water?

One maxim I've learned in life that truly helps me is "its OK to disappoint as long as one is not disappointing ones self" or clearly put, "who can I disappoint today?"

Starbucks probably is not disappointed with my decision to ditch their matcha drinks after so glowingly talking them up last week.  However I've found a new, healthier love.

Matcha powder without sugar from Teavana!

I've heard Starbucks uses the same in their matcha drinks only theirs is mixed with sugar.

And I love Matcha powder from Teavana in hot water over ice with cold water.

Consider keeping your green tea latte habit going for gallbladder support but switch to unsweetened matcha (or add Stevia).  I like mine in water but one could also use non-fat milk and Teavana matcha too.

Gallbladder diet.  If Iced Matcha Water is too 'watery' for you, consider using fat-free milk and Teavana matcha.

Long term we may form fewer stones and reduce the number of big stones growing in our finicky little grief causing organ.

So bye-bye sugar, bye-bye belly and bye-bye future gallbladder problems.

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder life. Saved From Surgery by Starbucks Speciality Drink.

Crushed is a word not fitting to express disappointment in giving up Starbucks speciality drinks after my gallbladder attacks began.

Gallbladder diet.  Iced Green Matcha is my fav new gallbladder friendly Starbucks Speciality Drink

Green tea latte, iced coconut mocha, caramel macchiato, cappuccino make my soul sing with ecstasy and my tongue dance with joy.

So crushed like the ice in a Starbucks smoothie was I.  And I tried smoothies for a while but they never lived up to the speciality tea and coffee drinks.  However the smoothie bananas are high in potassium (two points for health).

But then someone (my university student daughter) told me of Iced Matcha Water.  Of course Iced Matcha Water is not on the Starbucks menu and some barristers won't be sure how to make Iced Matcha Water.

Remind them it is the same price as a speciality tea and ask for five or six scoops (I like six) Starbucks Matcha powder shaken in water and poured over ice.  Tall is good.  Grande is nice and Venti will wake you up and turn your otherwise slow day into eye-opening bliss.

Gallbladder diet. Iced Matcha Water contains no fat.  Green tea has been shown to be good for the gallbladder.

Caffeine as found in green tea can lower the chance of women experiencing a gallbladder attack by up to twenty five percent according to Dr. Andrew Weil.

And livestrong.com tells us because of polyphenols and caffeine content, green tea improves bile flow and is one of the best substances for alleviating gallbladder pain.

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends drinking green tea for gallbladder issues due to high amounts of anti-oxidants in the drink.  Penn State's Hershey Medical Center recommends green tea for gallbladder issues too!

Finally, there are many resource pages recommending green tea as support for gallbladder health.  Do your research!

My gallbladder loves Starbucks Iced Matcha Water.  So does my mouth, tongue and brain.

I've never found matcha powder tasting anywhere close to Starbucks brand.  The drink is not too sweet -  yet Iced Matcha Water is exotic enough to satisfy my longing for a speciality drink I can't duplicate in my home blender.

Slowly but surely I'm learning about a gallbladder life full of choices and options, never dull and boring but limited only by boundaries of creativity and imagination.

Next time you are in the mood for a gallbladder friendly Starbucks speciality drink (and there are plenty of others too) try an Iced Matcha Water from your neighborhood Starbucks.

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Tuna Balls So Gallbladder Friendly, Filling and Flavorful.

In all honesty the food choices for a gallbladder friendly meal are limited compared to a normal diet.

Gallbladder diet.  Beautiful, scrumptious tuna balls, tasty and gallbladder friendly.

For what our gallbladder diets lack in diversity though we more than make up for with respect to creativity and interesting preparations.

Tuna balls will fill you up.  I mean they are super hearty in a tasty way.

Of course I try and avoid sugars for we all know sugar promotes inflammation and inflammation in our bodies is one of the last things we want with an irritated gallbladder.  Regardless, I like ketchup with my tuna balls.

Best to buy ketchup with real sugar rather than insulin spiking high fructose corn sweetners though.

So here is my recipe for...

Gallbladder Friendly Tuna Balls

Ingredients:

• Two cans of tuna (with very, very low or no fat!)
• 1 tablespoon celery seed
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• two stems of organic celery, finely chopped
• one large onion, finely diced
• 1 cup Panco bread crumbs (no fat variety)
• 1/2 cup egg whites (egg whites contain no fat and no cholesterol!)
• dash turmeric

Preheat oven to 350F.

Dice two celery stalks.

Finely chop a large onion, trying Not to let your eyes water and water and water....  

Gallbladder diet.  Finely chop a large onion.  Onions are an important part of a gallbladder diet.

In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and stir well with a fork.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden.

Gallbladder diet.  Bake tuna balls at 350 F.  Baking beats frying any day for gallbladder friendly meals.

Serve with honey mustard, cocktail sauce or ketchup.

Store leftover tuna balls in the refrigerator for fabulous snacks the next day.

Cheers!  Kevin  #Gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Yummy, Hearty No-Fat Cholesterol Removing Black Bean Burgers

Of course I've given up and said goodbye to beefy hamburgers on my gallbladder diet.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy, gallbladder friendly but tasty, juicy and hearty black bean burger

But I still remember just how delicious those Five Guys double bacon burgers taste!

My pescetarian diet keeps me full and satisfied, but even so - I still would like to chow down on a fat, juicy and tasty burger occasionally.

Enter the no-fat, cholesterol removing black bean burger friendly for any gall bladder diet.

It is no secret that beans help with gallstone issues and support a healthy gallbladder.

There are plenty of studies and websites showing how the fiber in beans actually binds cholesterol in the digestive tract and swiftly swishes the waxy compound down the dark annals of digestive corridors.

Here is my recipe for the juiciest, tastiest gallbladder friendly black bean burger packed full of protein and complex carbs.

No-Fat Black Bean Burger

• 1 can organic cooked black beans of the equivalent (1 cup) cooked at home black beans
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 roasted red pepper, diced ( chipotles work nicely too)
• dash garlic powder
• dash cumin
• dash turmeric
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• sprig fresh parsley
• sprig fresh mint
• sprig fresh sage
• 1/3 cup egg whites
• 1/2 cup Panco bread crumbs (no fat)

Drain half the liquid from the black bean can.

Gallbladder diet.  Drain half liquid off can of black beans (or cook your own)

Peel and dice one large red onion.

Gallbladder diet.  Dice one large red onion

Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint.

Gallbladder diet.  Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Transfer to a food processor or blender and chop for a few seconds until the mixture forms a thick consistency.  

Gallbladder diet.  Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Add bread crumbs to thicken or a spoonful of water to thin.

Gallbladder diet.  I keep no-fat Panco Bread Crumbs in the pantry for gallbladder diet cooking

Remove blended mixture and form the black bean burger patties, placing them on a cooking sheet (Parchment paper works great but I was out tonight).

Bake at 350F for twenty minutes, remove the tray and flip the burgers and bake for another twenty minutes or until golden brown and firm.

Serve hot with your favorite no-fat sauces or atop a fresh spinach salad.

Your gallbladder will be happy and your tummy full!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Gallbladder Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Hearty was what I dreaded missing when my M.D. instructed me to go on a two week clear liquid diet after my third bad attack.  Those two weeks were miserable.

But time passes on and now I am learning about hearty gallbladder friendly meals!

A gallbladder friendly diet does not have to be bland and boring whatsoever.

Today's hearty meal is Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly tempura broccoli and blueberry baked shrimp.

Goodbye tempura I thought after my first gallbladder attack.  Not anymore.

In fact, this recipe will leave your tempura crispy and tasty, even after the food has cooled or sat in the refrigerator overnight.  One of the downsides of fried tempura is that it becomes soggy after sitting and cooling.  Not this recipe!

Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 2 heads organic broccoli
• 1 pound wild caught large shrimp
• 1/2 cup flour for dusting broccoli (optional)
• 1 cup no-fat Panco bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup egg-whites
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• dash turmeric
• dash ginger
• 1 cup organic blueberries

Lightly boil and peel shrimp.  Preheat oven to 350F.

Gallbladder diet.  Shrimp is low-no fat and can be purchased already deveined and peeled.

Wash and slice broccoli into eatable size florets, place on a plate.

Gallbladder diet.  Using organic vegetables helps keep gallbladder irritating pesticides out of your body.

Dust the broccoli and shrimp with 1/4 cup flour each by placing flour in a plastic bag then dropping broccoli into the bag.  Repeat for shrimp in a separate bag.  Shake well.  NOTE:  The flour creates a thicker base for the Panco bread crumbs and egg whites to adhere to.  If you like a thick tempura coating use flour.  If you like a lightly breaded tempura style then skip this step and instead coat the broccoli or shrimp with egg whites and Panco bread crumbs only.

Gallbladder diet.  Cut and washed broccoli florets ready for coating then baking.

Add 1/2 of the egg whites to each bag and shake once more.

Add 1/2 cup of no-fat Panco bread crumbs to each bag and shake gently, making sure each floret or shrimp is well coated.

Gallbladder diet.  Broccoli coated in tempura mix ready for the baking tray.

Place Panco coated broccoli on a cooking rack and into the oven.  Do the same for the coated shrimp. Dust with garlic powder, black pepper and turmeric.  Add other spices like ginger if you like.

Cooking time is approximately twenty minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Coated shrimp ready in the oven.

After the shrimp has cooked for fifteen minutes, remove from oven and spread blueberries across top of shrimp.  Return to oven and allow to cook for another five minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Add blueberries to partially baked shrimp then return to the oven until tempura is golden brown.

Serve broccoli with teriyaki or other dipping sauce (no fat).  Serve shrimp with a horseradish based cocktail sauce (no fat).

This meal is so filling.  The broccoli is really filling, full of nutrients, soluble fiber and vitamins.

Blueberry baked shrimp will melt in your mouth.  OMG.

Gallbladder friendly meals do not have to be boring!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder life. Gallbladder Friendly Snacks On The Go!

We embarked on a road trip this weekend.

Gallbladder friendly treats are a necessity carryon for road trips.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly snacks like tuna are full of protein and contain no fat.

Road trips can be difficult on my gallbladder life primarily because of change in routine, and the fact I am away from all the gallbladder friendly food in my refrigerator.

This weekend was no different.  I soon ran out or just became tired of my non-refrigerated packed  up gallbladder friendly fresh and dried fruit, seaweed and water.

After the third gasoline station stop I purchased a pack of SourPatch Kids Soft & Chewy candy, and a box of fat-free Fig Newtons.  I also began raiding the cinnamon Altoids tin.

Gallbladder diet.  Fat free Fig Newtons were gallbladder friendly but did spike my insulin response!

My body was seeking fuel.  Normally I'd eat a healthy and gallbladder friendly spinach salad loaded with chopped fresh or water sautéed vegetables.  A meal of leafy greens, roots, berries and fish would provide complex carbohydrates, protein and nutrients that slowed my insulin response rather than spiking it.

But I had no salad fixings.  I just had sugary items.  And I gave in and ate them, downing a whole pack of fat-free Fig Newtons while driving.

Gallbladder diet.  I always look for 'no fat' snacks.  But look at the Fig Newton calories - 900 per box!

My excuse was 'driving is stressful therefore I should comfort my cravings'.  Ha.  Big mistake.

Of course I felt absolutely great for a minute or two afterwards but within five minutes the sugar low hit.

I felt worse after the sugary junk food than I'd felt before when I was starving.

On the second day in an attempt to avoid the sugary crash damage we made a stop at the local grocer, Publix.

Finding gallbladder friendly food is sometimes a challenge even in the most well stocked of food stores.

I did come across two types of pre-packaged tuna, marinated with both lemon pepper and basil with lemon.

Gallbladder diet. Gallbladder friendly tuna makes a perfect road trip snack.

So a bag full of easy tear open, delicious tuna left the store with me.

For the rest of the day my hunger was satiated with solid protein, no-fat protein.

Gallbladder diet.  Each pack contains 13 grams protein, only 1 gram sugar and just 60 calories!

No more blood sugar spikes and bye-bye hunger and hello happy gallbladder.

Tuna is very filling.  Each tear open pack contains only 1 gram of sugar, 60 calories but packs a whopping 13 grams protein!

Gallbladder life is a challenge.

But we can always find an answer to life's challenges with a little creativity.

So next time you make a road trip, consider packing a bag full of cooked, marinated tuna.

Not my preferred 'whole, non-processed food' type, but much better for my body and my gallbladder than SourPatch Kids.

Cheers!  Kevin  #Gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Acai and Apple Cider Vinegar, Papaya and Smoked Salmon Heartiness

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) was one of the first gallbladder attack and gallstone cures I read about.

Gallbladder diet.  I mix ACV with water or Acai juice with a 1:8 or 2:8 ratio.

First I doubted, waiting six months before adding ACV to my diet.

You see, I am a skeptic, especially with respect to 'home remedies'.

Now I am a believer in ACV, not only for the capabilities of ACV to potentially emulsify or dissolve and help remove gallbladder sludge, but also for the healthy positive effect of slowing insulin spikes after eating.

I drink my ACV twice daily, once in the morning and once in evening.

Gallbladder diet.  ACV drinks are slightly acidic, so be sure to brush your teeth afterwards.

Most ACV centered websites recommend one or two ounces of a non-filtered organic ACV, one filled with the probiotic rich particulate 'mother' mixed into a drink.

Gallbladder diet.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a must have for any gallbladder diet.  Always choose organic.

Acai juice is one of my favorite mixers.  Water does just fine too.  Blend the ACV to water or mixer juice at a 1:8 or 2:8 ACV:water ratio.

Sometimes I'll stir in a tablespoon of ACV into my morning ginger tea while participating in  stretching and yoga exercises.

ACV will be my go to relief drink also, along with plenty of water if ever I have another gallstone attack.

Papaya and Smoked Salmon Lunch.

There is something healthy sounding about an all orange-pinkish lunch.

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya and smoked salmon make a hearty, scrumptious meal.

Cold, sweet papaya and thin sliced smoke salmon go great together, creating a sweet and salty taste sensation that is irresistible to my taste buds.

I cut the papaya the night before and chill in the refrigerator for the next day.

As a side note, papayas are full of seeds.  It is fun to toss the seeds into the garden bed after cutting the papaya and watch them sprout.  Papaya trees usually produce massive amounts of fruit each year. If you live in a colder climate, try growing them indoors.

Gallbladder diet.  Sprouting papaya seeds

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya tree outside our patio.

Papayas are also an excellent source of Vitamins A, B's, and C, as well as fiber and folate according to many health sources.

Costco is my favorite place to purchase smoked salmon.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly smoked salmon should contain zero nitrites!

Always look for smoked salmon with the lowest total fat content.  Salmon contains a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids and will help you maintain the proper good to bad cholesterol/lipid ratio.

Just as important as the total fat content is finding smoked salmon with no added sodium nitrites.  Nitrites have been shown through research to possible cause or encourage some types of cancers.  The Costco brand I purchase contains no nitrites according to the label.

Gallbladder diets can be hearty and delicious!

There are so many non-processed fresh foods low in fat and rich in nutrients that you can combine to create a new and exciting, gallbladder friendly meal each day!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladder life

Gallbladder Diet, 07/26/16, Crock Pots, Organic White Sweet Potatoes and a Healthy, Gallbladder Friendly Breakfast

Gallbladder diet is much more than preparing and eating low fat gallbladder friendly foods.

Gallbladder diet.  Creating a multidimensional culinary experience is an important component of a gallbladder friendly diet.  Crackpots are a vital appliance component!

A well rounded gallbladder diet will also include portion control support, an inviting and clean kitchen as well as fantastic cooking aromas coming from the stove, oven or crockpot.

Too often our gallbladder friendly diet fails us because we tend only too food choices.

Failing to neglect enticing kitchen aromas and a easy to work in, convenient kitchen setup negates two thirds of the pleasure we find in our ultimate mealtime experience.

Crockpots

Crockpots are a gallbladder friendly easy way to add both convenience and the aroma of anticipation to our homes and kitchens.

Day before yesterday I soaked a half bag of black beans overnight.  Yesterday the beans were tripled rinsed and covered with water.  Two super large Vidalia onions were quartered and placed in the beans along with a heaping spoonful of vegetable bullion.  Crockpot covered and turned on high, the rest involved waiting with the promise of hearty, flavorful food.

That was easy.

All day long the cooking beans and onions filled the house with a savory scent.

If you let the beans cook overnight I would almost guarantee you that your family will be wanting them for breakfast.

Sometimes beans alone are hard to try and convince the kids to eat.  However, create an air of anticipation with the convenience and aroma of the almighty crockpot and the others will be drooingly ready for a well seasoned savory bowl.

Beans are not the only gallbladder friendly food one can cook in the crockpot.  Your imagination is the limit to tasty, low fat, complex carbohydrate based vegetable centered meals.

Its time we enlist our crockpots to stand with us in our fight against gallbladder inflammation.

Organic White Sweet Potatoes

Back in the early days of learning gallbladder friendly diet habits I relied heavily on regular potatoes.

Next I added the (for me) slightly more tasty sweet potatoes.

Don't get me wrong as any potato, though basically bland in taste would fill me up and chase away the nagging sense of unfulfilled hunger.

Potatoes add fiber and bulk too.  And there are many different gallbladder friendly ways to eat a potato; potatoes with ketchup, potatoes with soy sauce, potatoes with no fat yogurt, potatoes with salt and pepper and potatoes without butter or sour cream.

Yet a potato is a potato so I thought.

Until I discovered Organic White Sweet Potatoes from Public.  O.M.G!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic white sweet potatoes are a cross between white and sweet potatoes.

 Organic White Sweet Potatoes are the one type of potato I will always keep in my kitchen from now on.

Whether for a scrumptious snack or a stand alone hearty meal, these root vegetables combine the creamy texture of white potatoes with the savory flavor of sweet potatoes!

Gallbladder diet.  Baked (or for convenience sakes in microwave 12 minutes for two) these make a great meal.

I like mine with a dash of soy or teriyaki sauce.  Yum.

How can a food that tastes so good be so gallbladder friendly?  You've got to try them.

Gallbladder diet.  I add a touch of teriyaki or soy sauce to mine after cooking.

Remember, creating a well rounded culinary experience involving a clean, inviting kitchen, filled with alluring aromas can super-charge the taste and desirability of foods.

A successful gallbladder, friendly diet will take advantage of multidimensional food experiences to help keep us satisfied and on track to a long life free from inflamed digestive organs.

Crank up the crockpot!

Cheers.  Kevin #gallbladder life

Gallbladder Diet, 07/21/16, Gallbladder Friendly Creamy Ranch Dressing & Arugula Beet Chayote Portobello Roasted Red Pepper Salad w Baked Salmon

I am a big man. 6'3"+ and it takes a lot of hearty food to satisfy me.

After the last gallbladder attack in 2015 I was extremely concerned I'd not ever again enjoy a hearty meal.

Oh, this salad and creamy ranch dressing is so filling.  But not too filling.  I'm still satisfied an hour after eating tonight, yet not over-stuffed.

And the creamy ranch was so tasty.

Lately the meals have been one half vegan and the other half vegetarian or pescatarian.

Gallbladder diet.  Arugula, Chayote, Beet, Portobello, Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Tonight salad was vegan except for the small amount of baked salmon topping and the cup of non-fat yogurt used in the creamy ranch dressing recipe.

Gallbladder diet.  Wild non-farmed salmon with portobellos ready for the oven

First I baked the portobellos and wild caught salmon in the over at 350F for twenty minutes after marinating the shrooms in soy sauce for ten minutes. Feel free to add garlic powder, pepper, ginger or turmeric if you desire (I did).

Gallbladder diet.  Boil Chayote with their skins unit tender

While the salmon and portobellos are baking, place two whole chayote in a sauce pan and cover with water.  Add a dash of sea salt and bring to a boil.  Cover, turn to low-medium heat and allow the chayote to gently boil for fifteen minutes or so.  The chayote will be cooked when a fork or knife can easily be inserted all the way into the vegetable/fruit.

Gallbladder diet.  Slice chayote into wedge sections, cover and allow to cool in the refrigerator

 My first chayote squash came from a vine in Grandpa's Miami backyard.  As a young boy I loved to watch the chayote vines climb up the sprawling live oaks in Grandpa Morrow's landscape.

Chayote possesses a unique, earthy flavor and soft pear like texture when cooked.  Many like to eat chayote with butter.  Not me.  My gallbladder would erupt.  Chayote with salt and pepper is scrumptious tasting to me.

You should be able to find chayote in any large grocery store's vegetable section.  I purchased these two this week from Costco.

No need to peel chayote but I do remove the seed before slicing into wedges.  Chayote makes a great snack cooked and served hot or cooked, chilled and served with a gallbladder friendly dip (teriyaki or soy sauce works well).

Gallbladder diet.  Slice cooked beets into wedges and chill

While the chayote are cooking, wedge cut three of four cooked organic beets.  Again, I purchase mine from the produce section at Costco.  Beets are also available from most Farmer's Markets or grocery stores.  Place the beet wedges in a bowl and chill along with the chayote.

Gallbladder diet.  These roasted red peppers contain no fat except for the natural oils in the peppers

The delicious roasted red peppers came from Publix in a glass jar.  These particular peppers possessed a slight hint of fire from the roasting process, were sweet but not too sweet and were bottled with water.  Zero grams of total fat usually translates into a happy gallbladder for me.

Gallbladder diet.  Slicing the roasted red peppers for the salad

Slicing then placing the red peppers in the bowl of beet wedges, the salad toppings were chilled in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Beet wedges and roasted red peppers

Beet wedges and roasted red pepper slices, chilled make a great happy gallbladder snack on their own.  Sometimes its hard to keep hungry fingers out of the bowl while the beets and peppers chill in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Roasted portobellos ready for quartering

Quarter the roasted portobellos and set aside for use as a topping on the salad.

Gallbladder diet.  Salad is starting to come together

Wash then place the organic baby arugula leaves on the serving plate.  Arrange the wedges of chilled chayote, beets, sliced peppers and portobellos as desired over the arugula.

I added about one half cup of the baked salmon on top of all the garnishments for a super hearty and delicious evening meal.  The plate shown should be enough for two hungry adults to share.

Both the adults gallbladders should be very happy with this super low fat meal.

Creamy Yummy Ranch No-Fat Dressing

Gallbladder diet.  Ingredients for the super yummy creamy no-fat, gallbladder pleasing 'ranch' dressing

Back in time before my gallbladder revolted I loved creamy dressings, especially the kind that was full of artery-clogging oils, inflammatory high fructose corn sweetness and mysterious MSG.

For the first six months on my gallbladder diet I avoided creamy dressings.  In fact the only dressings I used were straight up balsamic vinegar or glaze, soy sauce or lemon/lime juice.

Eventually I tried fat free dressings made from corn or potato starch.  These starch dressings did not hurt my gallbladder but they tasted like blah barf times two.

Finally I figured out no-fat yogurt did not hurt my gallbladder either, though it did come in a plastic container.

After experimenting with several recipes I stumbled upon this fab creamy, tasty dressing mix and wow, it is so easy to make!

Gallbladder diet. Creamy ranch dressing is easy to make.  Herbs, spices, yogurt, lime juice and vegetable bullion.

Mix together one cup non-fat yogurt (I use Fage from Costco but any organic, non-fat yogurt would work fine), two tablespoons of lime juice (preferably key lime juice if available), fresh chopped herbs from your garden (basil and sage are shown here) and two heaping tablespoons of vegetable bullion.

Stir until consistency is creamy smooth.

Note: My vegetable bullion has a minuscule, almost negligible amount of oil but this has never bothered my gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh herbs from the garden, basil & sage

Gallbladder diet.  Finished no-fat, creamy, tasty 'ranch' gallbladder friendly dressing.

Chill dressing mixture and serve either on the side or over the salad.

Cheers!  Kevin #Gallbladder life is never boring.