Things My Gallbladder Likes

So after months of unexplained bouts of pain (thought it was a food intolerance) was recently diagnosed with Gallbladder Disease. No stones, no sludge...just a sad gallbladder. So. To avoid pain, eating is a bit of a pain. I'm an awesome cook but always believed in plenty of healthy fats (and some of the bad ones!) so it's been a learning curve. You can only survive for so long on applesauce and bananas!

[eatfittrainhard]

[loveyourgall-blog]

I haven't had dragon fruit in entirely too long!!!

[lazyyogi]

[loveyourgall-blog]

While I'm not the yoga-lifestyle type, I do enjoy the practice and have felt great benefits since I started learning a couple of years ago. It's such a self and body positive experience. You're in a room with all sorts of people at various levels all there to work on themselves.

It can feel pretty powerful if you let it.

On a purely physical level, it has helped me build strength and increase flexibility. I always feel amazing after a class - warm, relaxed. Aches and pains often worked away and soothed.

[veganrecipecollection]

(via Mango Ceviche | The Everyday Vegetarian)

[exploreunknownplaces]

Reblog if you are a yoga, health, vegan, fitness, runner, personal, self-love or a food blog!!

I need to follow more blogs!

[loveyourgall-blog]

Chunky Arabiatta Sauce (Fat Free)

1 large Onion, diced

1/2 bulb garlic, minced

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp Dried Basil

1 tsp Chili Flakes, or to taste

2 Bay Leaves

1 Zucchini, cubed

1/2 pint Mushrooms, coarsely chopped

1 Red Capsicum, roasted, peeled, diced

1 28 oz. can Diced Tomatoes

1 5.5 oz. can Tomato Paste

Salt, Sugar, Pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in water until soft. Add dried spices, and remaining vegetables, cook for a few minutes. Add diced tomato and tomato paste. Cook until vegetables reach preferred state of 'done-ness'. Season.

I use literally 1 drop of oil rubbed onto the skin of the red pepper when I roast it. Since you're supposed to peel off the skin after, I'm assuming it's PRACTICALLY fat free. Of course if you're cooking this because it's delicious and not just because it's fat free, feel free to use more OR the store-bought jar stuff.

This is a spicy recipe that's really really satisfying. I like a small dollop of fat free cream cheese on it.

Sometimes I put a carrot, cut into small cubes for fast cooking. I think you could put in whatever veggies you feel like. Eggplant, celery?

[dayflight]

[loveyourgall-blog]

This was something my mom, a Chemist, always told me - eat as much a variety of colours as possible. Each colour is made by different compounds and the better a range the more important nutrients we get.

Two foods that were highly recommended (anecdotal exidence) were grape juice and beets. Maybe other purple foods could be good too? Hmmm.

[aussibelle-blog]

Chili roasted tofu with minted pomegranate relish

via Sprouted Kitchen

This for supper.

[loveyourgall-blog]

This looks incredible. It's going on the to try list.

[veganinspo]

Steamed Tofu & Kale Dumplings

These were amazing..

[loveyourgall-blog]

These look fantastic. I bet I could grill the tofu with a touch of cooking spray and still have it turn out.

[loveyourgall-blog]

Salmon "Burger"

(This was basically a lazy answer to wanting my Rosemary Maple Turkey Burgers...another awesome recipe I'll share another day)

4 oz Salmon Fillet (I used a pre-cut frozen fillet, thawed)

1 clove Garlic, minced

1 tbsp Onion, minced

1 tbsp Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary

Worcestershire Sauce, to taste (I use a couple of dashes)

Ground Pepper, to taste

Mix ingredients together, marinate the fillet for a couple of minutes. Place all ingredients in hot pan with a tiny amount of water. Cover, allow to steam. Cook on the other side, add a little more water if necessary. When nearly done, remove lid and baste with liquids. Cook a little longer until the liquid dries up and the fish browns. Flip. Voila! No-fat-added "grilling".

Serve on your preferred bun with your preferred garnishes and condiments. I used a whole wheat bun (1g fat per serving) and jalapeno jelly, some dijon mustard, boston lettuce, tomato, onion.

This went from the freezer to my tummy in under 30 mins!

[loveyourgall-blog]

Seriously. Click on the link ;).

[lauratheexplorrerr]

[loveyourgall-blog]

Yay, us healthy eaters (or those of us trying to be)!! The above are all grocery staples in my house...especially the chilies.

[theinkedvegan-deactivated201901]

Oven Baked Onion Blossom & Baked Beans Vegan and low fat

[loveyourgall-blog]

One thing I miss sooooooo much about not being able to eat fatty food is having fried things. It wasn't a big part of my diet before but I would definitely have the occasional french fries or chicken wings. Or spring roll. You know.

So, this looks amazing!!! I have to try it. Next time I have the girls over I think. I bet it would be tasty with some thai chili sauce too.

[loveyourgall-blog]

Sweet Potato and Bean Burritos (Low Fat).

2 medium Onions, chopped

Ground Cumin

Paprika

Chili Flakes

Tumeric

1 tbsp Brown Sugar

Salt and Pepper

1 16 oz. can Kidney Beans

1 16 oz. can Mixed Beans

Sautee onions in water. When soft, add cumin, paprika, tumeric (I adjust to taste, but start with about 1/2 tsp. each - the cumin should be the predominant flavour). Add sugar. Add beans and mash to desired texture (I like it half mashed). Season with salt and pepper. It should be quite salty to contrast with the sweet potato. I use at least 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

2 medium Sweet Potatoes, cubed

1 tbsp Brown Sugar

1/4 cup fat free vanilla yoghurt (if desired)

Boil potatoes and coarsely mash with other ingredients. Don't over mash the potatoes. They become gummy.

Serve on a flour tortilla and garnish with coriander.

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Beans are a grrrrrrreat source of protein and fiber. This meal is full of good stuff AND it sticks to your ribs. I feel so so satisfied after eating this. The savoury flavour of the beans and the creamy sweetness of the potato is great. It's low on veggies for my taste but I prefer serving a salad with it as opposed to adding veggies to it. Though grilled veggies could be good.

There's no added fat to this recipe but there IS fat (very little) in beans. I find my tummy handles it very well.

[alinasab24-deactivated20161123]

[loveyourgall-blog]

Journal (1)

It's been about 4 weeks since my first ER visit. I've been tinkering with my diet since then. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm trying to eat SOME fats but I'm still discovering how much works.

I've lost a fair bit of weight. A good thing, in abstract, but I'm sure some of it is hard earned muscle mass. Sigh. Still. A good weight for me is a good 20 lbs lighter than this. We shall see.

I haven't done much exercise since a 30k bike ride I did two weeks ago. That was the day before another ER visit. That visit was followed by 6 days of constant pain. The most severe part of the attack was taken care of by 2 pain shots but I was out of commission almost entirely for two days and after just in a rather nagging state of pain.

I've been very careful with my diet since. I get 'twinges' some days if I eat  a little more fat but the anti inflammatory medication helps I think. I RARELY need a painkiller. I appreciate knowing the percocet is there if I need it though.

Tired of not functioning at 100%.

Leaving on Thursday to spend 10 days at my sister's. It will be harder to control in someone else's house. A little nervous. But I can't have the surgery for at least another month so...might as well go on this long planned trip. Excited to see her and the family.

[loveyourgall-blog]

Spring Rolls (Fat Free or Low Fat)

Rice paper wrappers

Sprigs Coriander

Julienned Veggies: carrot, red pepper, lettuce, cucumber, spring onion.

Enoki mushrooms

Cooked shrimp (if desired - this addition makes it low fat)

Cooked vermicelli (if desired - makes it more substantial a meal)

Assemble as shown above. The rice papers just need to be briefly dipped in warm water. They'll continue softening while you assemble.

I serve these with Thai Chili Sauce (fat free) or Peanut Sauce (some fat, amount depending on the recipe or brand).

[loveyourgall-blog]

Carrot and Ginger Puree Soup (Fat Free)

1 large Onion, diced

3 cloves Garlic, crushed

2 lbs Carrots, coarsely chopped (and peeled, if you prefer)

1 1/2 inches Ginger, peeled and cut into 3-4 pieces

6 cups water or (fat free) broth

Salt and fresh ground Pepper

Sautee onion and garlic in water until soft. Add water/broth, carrots and ginger. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer until carrots are tender. Allow to cool and puree in batches OR use an immersion blender. Season.

This is a delicious, oh SO simple recipe. I've been making it for years and just modified it slightly to make it fat free (I used to use a little butter).

I find ginger is comforting when I have an unhappy tummy. The soup is also comforting and easy on the stomach during/after an attack. It's filling without overloading your system.

Ginger is also supposed to help with nausea, bloating and gas. It's said to help with digestion and nutrient absorption. It ALSO has anti-inflammatory properties!! ALL good things when you have gallbladder issues (or many other issues).

I need to learn to take prettier pictures.