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Low-Fat Cookbook for Patients with FCS

INTRODUCTION

This cookbook was created for those with Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS), a rare, genetic lipid disorder. People with FCS are not able to break down long chain fats from foods correctly. This leads to the person having very high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). Very high triglycerides can cause other medical issues such as pancreatitis.

To control their triglyceride levels, people with FCS must follow a very low-fat diet, usually with total fat intake of less than 10-15 grams per day. This can make cooking and eating out hard and

Turkey Chili overwhelming.

As one of the co-creators of the original cookbook, Naomi Hastings, said:

"This collection of recipes began when my husband was finally diagnosed with FCS after years of unexplained hypertriglyceridemia and multiple episodes of pancreatitis. Each of these recipes is a true labor of love, and we hope it provides that same sense of comfort for you and your loved ones.”

Each recipe in this book has been created to give variety and flavor, while still meeting the low-fat needs of FCS.

We hope this cookbook will be a helpful tool for individuals and families living with FCS, as well as healthcare professionals seeking to give food ideas and recommendations. With the right tools and information, a very-low-fat lifestyle can be achievable — and delicious!

Pictured:

From coast to coast, this cookbook was shaped by the hands and expertise of clinicians across the country — each bringing their own perspective, flavor, and passion to the kitchen.

Lauren Williams, MCN, RDN, LD creating our Low-Fat Ranch.

Anna Biggins, MPH, RDN, LD cooking our Air Fryer Chicken & Potatoes

Cookbook contributors Lauren Williams, MCN, RDN, LD (left) and Shannon Christen RD, CDCES, CCHP (right) in Scottsdale, Arizona for filming

HISTORY

Every cookbook has an origin story. Ours begins in 2020.

We wouldn't be here without the vision and dedication of Naomi Hastings, whose personal journey with FCS inspired this resource from the very beginning. Here is her original introduction:

The story of this cookbook begins 15 years ago, when my husband – then 18 – discovered that his triglycerides were 10 times what is considered “normal levels.” Since that time, we have tried every cholesterol medicine and every diet imaginable to try and temper his symptoms. It wasn’t until his 13th bout with pancreatitis that I finally decided to take matters into my own hands. As I was extensively doing research online, I discovered a condition called Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome – a very rare hereditary condition where individuals lack properly functioning lipoprotein lipase (LPL). In other words, because this condition requires patients consume as little fat as possible, my husband could not eat more than 10 grams of fat a day if he wanted to minimize his daily symptoms. I had to find a way to recreate all of his favorite recipes with less fat, just as much flavor, and on a one-income family budget. A tall task in today’s food-crazed society, but I was up for the challenge.

Over the course of the next year, I spent countless hours researching, finding ways to get creative and perfect each recipe with the necessary modifications and ingredient substitutes. What I found was flavor is the key to making something low fat yummy. And in many instances, the fat was simply not needed. Each of these recipes is taste-tested and approved by my husband and our three daughters. And ultimately, it provides him the sense of control he needs to resist the temptation “easy” foods can often create. He knows that when he’s home, he can freely eat what he loves and leave his condition at the door. Each of these recipes is a true labor of love, and we hope it provides that same sense of comfort for you and your loved ones that it’s afforded my husband and our family.

Alongside Naomi was a dedicated team of clinicians who helped bring this cookbook to life. Thank you to:

Julie Bolick, MS, RDN, LDN, CLS, FNLA

Tara Condell, MS, RDN, CDN

Brenda Allison Fay, RDN

Mary Felando, MS, RD

Deborah Krivitsky, MS, RD, LDN

Kristin Neusel, MS RD LD CDE

Juliet O’Connor, MS, RD, LDN, CDE

Heather Rasmussen, PhD, RDN, LDN

Kathy Rhodes, PhD, RD

Ann Sims, RD, LD, CLS, CDE

One of the original recipes, created by Mary Felando, MS, RD

PRESENT DAY

In 2025, in collaboration with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., we took the next step in making the Low-Fat Cookbook more accessible than ever.

We filmed existing and new recipes in both short- and long-form video formats, now available across Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Those looking for a quick guide and those who want a detailed tutorial will both find what they need.

A heartfelt thank you to the clinicians who made this chapter possible: