Upon receiving a dinner tray for a patient admitted with acute gallbladder inflammation, which item should be questioned?

• A. Mashed potatoes
• B. White rice
• C. Hot roast beef sandwich with gravy
• D. Vanilla pudding

Answer: (C)

In acute gallbladder inflammation, the foods you choose should be very low in fat to reduce gallbladder stimulation and pain. Fat triggers the gallbladder to contract and release bile, which can worsen inflammation, so a fat-restricted diet is preferred during this acute phase.

Among the tray items, a hot roast beef sandwich with gravy is most likely to be high in fat because both beef and gravy typically contain added fats and saturated fats. This could provoke more gallbladder activity and discomfort, so it should be questioned for a patient with acute cholecystitis.

The other options are generally safer in a low-fat plan: mashed potatoes and white rice are low in fat as prepared, and vanilla pudding is usually tolerated if made with skim milk or low-fat ingredients. The key is choosing meals with minimal added fats, avoiding gravies, creamy sauces, fried foods, and fatty meats.