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POST-SURGERY HEALTHY MENU  BARIATRIC

 

Post-Operative Diet

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This diet is designed for people recovering from weight loss surgery to help heal and change their eating habits. The diet specifies the type and amount of food you can eat at each meal. Closely following your diet can help you lose weight safely.

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PURPOSE

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• Allowing the staple line in your stomach to heal without being stretched by the food you eat.

• So that you get used to eating small amounts of food that can be digested comfortably and safely in the new small stomach.

• Avoid side effects and complications.

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THE DIET

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The diet consists of four phases to help relieve and return to eating solid foods. How quickly you move from one stage to the next depends on how quickly your body heals and adjusts to changes in eating patterns. You can usually start eating regular foods with a firmer texture about three months after surgery.

After weight reduction surgery, special attention should be paid to signs of feeling hungry or full. You may develop some food intolerances or aversions

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Phase 1: Liquid diet (week 1-3)

 

While you are still in the hospital, you will start a liquid diet to see how you tolerate food after surgery. Phase 1 consists of a 3-week period:

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Liquids that you can drink in the first week of phase 1 of the diet include:

• Water

• Tea

• Gatorade

• sugar free gelatin

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Liquids that you can drink in the second week of this phase of the diet include:

• Water

• Tea

• Natural fruit juice (orange or apple)

• Gatorade

• sugar free gelatin

• Chicken soup

• fish broth

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Liquids that you can drink in the third week of this phase of the diet include:

• Water

• Tea

• Natural fruit juice (orange or apple)

• Gatorade

• sugar free gelatin

• Chicken soup

• fish broth

• Any type of fat-free bouillon or soup (avoid spicy substances that can cause irritation)

 

During phase 1 we should sip fluids slowly and drink only 2 to 3 ounces (59 to 89 milliliters) at a time. Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks.

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Phase 2: Purees (week 4)

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Once you are able to tolerate liquid foods for three weeks, you can start eating pureed (pounded) foods. During this week, you will only be able to eat foods that have the consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid, without any solid pieces of food in the

mixture.

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To puree foods, choose solid foods that mix well, such as:

• Lean ground beef

• Lentils

• Fish

• egg whites

• Yogurt

• soft fruits and vegetables

 

Mixing solid food with a liquid, such as:

• Water

• fat free milk

• juice without sugar

• chicken soup

 

Keep in mind that your digestive system could still be sensitive to spicy foods or products

dairy products.

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Phase 3: Soft solid foods (week 5)

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After the week of pureed foods you will be able to add soft, solid foods to your diet. If you can mash the food with a fork and it is soft enough, you can include it in this phase of your diet.

 

During this phase your diet may include:

• Ground or finely chopped meat

• Soft canned or fresh fruit

• Cooked vegetables

• Toasted bread

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Soft foods are usually eaten for eight weeks before eating regular-consistency foods with a firmer texture, as recommended by the doctor

 

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Phase 4: Solid foods (week 6)

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After 5 weeks on the diet, you will gradually be able to return to firmer foods. You may find that you still have difficulty eating spicy foods or foods with crunchy textures. Start small with regular foods to see what foods you can tolerate.

Please be sure to chew your food very well before swallowing.

It is very important that the amount of food and liquid is kept to a minimum (compared to the habits of the past), otherwise it can cause spasms of the esophagus with symptoms such as pain in the chest area, nausea or vomiting.

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back to normal

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Three to four months after weight loss surgery, depending on your situation and any foods you may or may not be able to tolerate, you can return to a normal, healthy diet. It is possible that the foods that initially irritated your stomach after surgery may become more tolerable during the healing process of your stomach.

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To ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals and stay focused on losing weight, consider the following at each phase of the diet:

• Keep food portions small. During the progression of the diet, you will need to eat several times a day in small portions and drink fluids slowly throughout the day (not with meals). You may start with six small meals a day first, then move to four meals, and finally, when following a regular diet, decrease to three meals a day. Each meal should consist of; about half a cup to a cup of food. Be sure to eat only the recommended amount and stop eating before you feel full.

 

• Take vitamin and mineral supplements. You will likely need to take a multivitamin, so talk to your doctor about what type of multivitamin might be right for you, and whether you may need to take additional supplements, such as calcium.

 

• Drink fluids between meals. Drinking liquids with meals can cause pain, nausea and vomiting, as well as dumping syndrome. Also, drinking too much fluid at or near mealtimes can make you feel overly full and prevent you from eating enough nutrient-dense foods. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses (48-64 ounces or 1.4 to 1.9 liters) of fluids a day to prevent dehydration.

 

• Eat and drink slowly. Eating or drinking too quickly can cause Dumping Syndrome - when food and liquid enter your small intestine quickly and in larger amounts than normal, causing nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and eventually diarrhea. To prevent Dumping Syndrome, choose foods and fluids that are low in fat and sugar, eat and drink slowly, and wait 30 to 45 minutes before or after each meal to drink fluids. Allow at least 30 minutes to eat your meals and 30 to 60 minutes to drink 1 cup (237 milliliters) of liquid. Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, such as regular or diet soda, candy, chocolate bars, or ice cream.

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• Chew your food well. Take small bites of food and chew them to a pureed consistency before swallowing. If you cannot chew food well, do not swallow it.

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• Try new foods one at a time. After surgery, certain foods can cause nausea, pain, and vomiting. Your ability to tolerate food varies from person to person. Try one new food at a time and chew it well before swallowing. If a food causes you discomfort, don't eat it. As time passes, you may be able to eat this food. Foods and liquids that commonly cause discomfort are meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, milk, and carbonated drinks. Foods with dry, sticky or stringy textures will also not be tolerated from the start.

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•  Focus on protein-rich foods. Eating protein-rich foods can help heal your wounds, regenerate muscle and skin, and prevent hair loss. High protein, low fat options remain a good long-term diet option after surgery, too. Try adding lean cuts of beef, chicken, pork, fish, or beans to your diet. Low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are also good sources of protein.

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• Avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. After surgery, it can be hard for your digestive system to tolerate foods that are high in fat or added sugars. Avoid fried foods and look for sugar-free options from soft drinks and dairy products.

 

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HEALTHY MENU

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You can substitute foods for others with the same nutritional properties.

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