Sandwiches

I remember back to when I first found out that I had gallstones - first I had to go learn what a gallbladder even did, and then I was horrified to eat anything with fat in it!  It was about 2 weeks after having my second baby and while I had planned a healthy diet to help me get back into shape, it was by no means low-fat enough for someone with gallstones.  What I had originally considered to be a rather healthy lunch (a sandwich wrap with low-fat mayo, ham and a sliver of cheese) could now give me a bout of excrutiating pain - pain which I would have rather traded for labour pain since that seemed more bearable! 
So what was I to do at that time?  Did I find one meal that worked for me and continue eating that three times a day for 6 months, until my cholecystectomy?  Or did I continue to look for unique and diverse ways to satisfy my food cravings and curious tastebuds?
I am very pleased, and quite relieved, to say that I did the latter.  And I'm also very pleased to say that some of my low-fat or fat-free alternatives were delicious enough to retain even after my health didn't require a fat-free lifestyle. 
Many of my yummy options were served up in sandwich form; sandwiches are convenient, quick to make and essentially provide a blank slate for creative food pairings, and when your fat intake is severly depleted, your body needs an increased level of carbs from breads and wraps to help maintain energy.
But, like I said, some old sandwich favorites were suddenly taboo!  I tried having a sandwich with half a piece of deli ham - and I had a gallstone episode that lasted for 7 hours.  I like ham and all, but that was definitely not worth the pain!  Cheese, likewise, could cause debilitating pain, and any sandwich with a mayo-base was out-of-bounds.
I quickly learned what I could and could not eat, however, and I made some pretty lucky discoveries!
First, all grocery deli's carry some type of turkey or chicken breast roast that can provide you with a lunch meat under 1 g. of fat per slice.  If you shop at Sobeys, most of their deli's also carry "fat-free" chicken breast roast - and while it isn't truly "fat-free", it has less than .5 g. of fat per slice, which means you can eat more of it without risking a reaction. 
And while salmon and all of it's healthy Omega-3s might be off limits, it is literally not the only fish in the sea!  Its less-esteemed (typically because it has less healthy fats!), somewhat cheaper cousin Tuna has only 1.4 g. of fat per can!  If you're like me and usually mix mayo in with your tuna, try mixing in relish, or a bit of plain fat-free yogurt!
Second, mayo is not the only option for a yummy sandwich spread!  If you've never been one for fancy grainy or dijon mustards, now is the time to acquire the taste - the creamy texture is one that you probably won't have experienced else where in quite some time.  Becel 64% Less margarine has a great taste compared to many other "low-fat" butter substitutes and can add that much needed moisture to products that is often lacking in low-fat dishes.  If you're eating turkey, or even chicken, deli meat, try a cranberry relish on your sandwich, even if it isn't Christmas time!  Slightly more rounded in flavor and a bit more savory than your typically can of cranberry sauce, a cranberry relish is a quick way to make a sandwich special.  Look for a great variety at Costco.  Fat-free cream cheese has a funny texture, but if you can get past that, some herb and garlic varieties are quite delicious!  And if you've never heard of ajvar before, now is the time to find some and try it!  This vegetable spread is primarily made up of eggplant, roasted red peppers and garlic, and some brands come as close to fat-free as you can get in something so yummy and spreadable!  The spread is tangy, pairs well with anything from tuna to chicken breast or even hamburgers, and while it can be tricky to make, most large grocers will carry at least one variety of it.  (*please note - some ajvar purists will inform you that 'true' ajvar does not contain eggplant, or much else other than peppers.  But hey, the eggplant varieties are delicious, and what you're most likely to find in North America, so don't let that stop you from trying a brand!)
Third, the cheese issue.  I love cheese.  I grew up believing that there were only four types of cheese in the world: orange cheddar, mozzarella (that you only used to make pizza or lasagna), processed cheese (found in jars or individually wrapped slices), and strong-smelling, disgusting cheese.  I grew up and found that there was a whole world of cheese waiting for me, and it was quite hard to separate myself from that world for my low-fat season.  However, I did not entirely abstain from cheese for the entirety of my gallstone issues.  Instead, I merely chose different types of cheese and used just enough to get a good flavor.  Sharp cheese possess more flavor in smaller quantities than you would get from milder cheeses; a bit of asiago grated on a dish will go a long way.  Likewise, smoked cheeses impart a high-level of taste and blue cheese can flavor a dish with very little effort. 
Lastly, the bread.  A typical loaf of sandwich bread has 2.5 grams of fat per 2 slices - which means that, assuming you maintain an average of 5 grams of fat per meal (this may vary greatly per case, but that was what my tolerance level was during my season with gallstones), you're halfway to your limit by the time you get the bread out!  And that's if you only want one sandwich!  As a general rule, if your bread has a soft crust, check the fat content since it will probably be high.  Sandwich breads are made with any combination of oil, lard, butter and/or milk to make the bread softer, rather than chewier.  Chewy breads with a hard crust, however, typically have a lower fat-content, or, as is the case with most rustic loaves, no fat at all!  Many traditional baked items like pretzels, bagels and baguettes are not made with fats and therefore provide a great option for foods to fill up on.  A caution, however - just because a bagel traditionally does not have any fats does not mean every bagel in the store will be fat-free.  Check individual labels to make sure that manufacturer makes them fat-free - with anything you buy! 
So whether your sandwich has ajvar and tuna, or cranberry relish and turkey, or even asiago, chicken and apple slices, they can be a great way to flex your culinary muscles and still stay within a safe and healthy low-fat range.