Healthy Meals to Eat If You Have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch How to Manage EPI Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency 9 Healthy Meals You Can Eat if You Have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency If you have EPI, eating lean proteins and healthy fats can help prevent digestive problems such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Try these nutritious and delicious meals and snacks. By Beth W. OrensteinMedically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD Reviewed: May 9, 2022 Medically Reviewed Getty Images 1304 Oatmeal With Nuts Thinkstock If you have EPI, you may want to start your day with a bowl of oatmeal made with 1305 Egg White and Vegetable Omelet Shutterstock An omelet made with egg whites and chopped vegetables, served with a slice of whole-wheat toast, is another good breakfast choice when you’re on a diet for EPI. 1306 Taco Salad Treasures & Travels/Stocksy For lunch, McIntyre recommends making a taco salad with greens — including spinach, peppers, and onions — 1/4 cup of black beans, and 1/4 cup of avocado. Add some cilantro and four or five tortilla chips for crunch. You can boost the protein in your taco salad by adding grilled chicken, fish, or tofu. You can also turn this salad into a soup: Heat bone broth, and toss in cooked and shredded skinless chicken breast, brown rice, spinach, finely chopped bell peppers and carrots, 1/4 cup of black beans, and cilantro, McIntyre says. Top with a dollop of fat-free sour cream, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice, and serve with a warm corn tortilla on the side.Benefit for EPI: Avocado is an excellent food, because it provides fiber, beta-carotene, vitamins, 1307 Baked Chicken Breast iStock Preheat your oven to [suggestion: 325 or 350] degrees Fahrenheit (F). Cover a boneless, skinless chicken breast with a mixture of nonfat plain yogurt and mustard. Add some crumbled whole-wheat pretzels for crunch, and bake until a thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Pair with roasted squash or dark leafy greens, such as 1308 Fish and Wild Rice Rob Lawson/Getty Images Baked fish with wild rice is another healthy meal to include in your EPI diet. McIntyre recommends a light fish, such as cod. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Make a sauce with 1 1/2 tablespoons (tbsp) of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and 1 tbsp of fresh orange juice. Add a dash of dill, salt, and pepper. Bake until cooked, which can take 15 minutes or less, depending on the size of the fish. Serve with 1/2 cup of wild rice and a side of tender cooked vegetables, such as carrots or spinach. Benefit for EPI: This healthy meal supplies protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats in the form of omega-3s. 1309 Turkey Meatballs Shutterstock Preheat your oven to [suggestion: 375 or 400] degrees F. Mix ground turkey breast with egg whites, whole-wheat bread crumbs, low-fat grated cheese, salt, pepper, and oregano. Shape into meatballs and bake until cooked through. You can make the meatballs ahead of time, stick them in the fridge, and then warm them up when you’re ready to eat them. Serve with a salad topped with a light oil-and-vinegar dressing.Benefit for EPI: Meatballs are a good 1310 Sliced Apple With Peanut Butter iStock A healthy diet for EPI can still include fat. One idea for an easy and filling snack is to cut an apple into slices and dip them in a tbsp of peanut butter, which contains about 8 grams of fat. McIntyre recommends peeling the apple if fiber is difficult for you to digest. A banana with peanut butter is another good alternative, she says.Benefit for EPI: Peanut butter is a 1311 Yogurt and Berries Gabriela Tulian/Getty Images Nonfat Greek yogurt is a great addition to your EPI diet. Mix the yogurt with fiber-rich 1312 Fruit for Dessert Supawat Punnanon/Getty Images This diet advice is the same for people with EPI as it is for everyone: Skip the cookies and candy to avoid simple sugars and empty calories. A good alternative is fruit salad made with melon, oranges, bananas, apples, and pears. Toss in some More in Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency The Consumer s Guide to Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy PERT What Is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency How to Maintain a Healthy Weight if You Have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency 8 Fatty Foods to Include in an EPI Diet NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Digestive Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wellness inspired Wellness enabled FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYoutubeTikTok About Us Careers Editorial Policy Newsletters Meet Our Health Expert Network Privacy Policy Health News Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Contact Us Feedback Do Not Sell My Personal Information Popular Topics AdChoices NEWSLETTERS Get the best in health and wellness SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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