These guidelines are designed for use after gastric bypass surgery. The stomach pouch created by surgery is the size of a large walnut. You will be on a liquid or semiliquid consistency dietfor four weeks to allowhealing of the stomach pouch. These guidelines will help keep you healthy while losing weight.
It is vital that you make healthy food choices and lifestyle choices, and that youexercise after surgery. This will help you:
Advances in your eating should be made only with the approval of your surgeon and dietitian.
Stage 1: Clear liquids — One day after surgery.
Stage 2: Puréed food— Oneto two days after surgery. Follow for four weeks.
Stage 3: Semisolid food— Begin when directed by your physician and dietitian. Usually starts fourweeks after surgery.
Stage 4: Low-fat solid food —Start when directed by your physician and dietitian. Begin gradually introducing solidfoodsabout three months after surgery.
About one day after surgery, you will be started on sips of clear liquids (apple juice, orange juice, water, flat diet soft drinks, sugar-free Jell-O, broth, etc.). If you tolerate clear liquids, the next day you will be advanced topuréed food.
All foods must be puréed in a blender and thinned to a texture that will fit through a straw. However, do not use straws as it may increase gas.
All foods must be the consistency of applesauce for four weeks. You should consume 72 grams of protein per day.
You will start with small amounts of these liquids/puréed foods because you will feel full quickly. At first, you will have to eat small amounts frequently. Begin with 2 to 4ounces at a time, and aim for six meals per day. Eventually, you will be able to eat four to six meals of 4 ounces each.
Eat slowly. It should take 30 minutes to eat and drink 4 ounces (1/2 cup).
DrinkExamples
At least 8 cups of caffeine-free, low-calorie liquids should be consumed gradually throughout the day to prevent dehydration. These liquids should be sipped in between meals. Do not drink liquids with meals, and wait 30 to 45 minutes after a meal to begin drinking fluids again.
- Water, or sugar-free or zero-calorie flavored water
- Diet fruit drinks, less than 10 calories per serving
- Decaffeinated tea (limit to 8 ounces/day)
- Decaffeinated coffee (limit to 8 ounces/day)
- Skim milk
- Sugar-free flavored drink mix
Vitamins and Minerals
A multivitamin with minerals, which includes iron and zinc, should be taken daily for the rest of your life to prevent hair loss, improve overall nutrition and prevent any nutritional deficiencies. During the first four weeks after surgery, we recommend a chewable vitamin/mineral supplementsuch asFlintstone's chewable twice a day, and then advance to a pill form of a multivitamin with minerals if you desire.
You will also be required to take a calcium supplement (example: Calcium Citrate600 milligrams, three timesper day) starting during the first month after surgery and a vitamin B12 supplement (example: sublingual B12, 1,000 micrograms, three times per week) starting immediately after surgery. Additional vitamin and mineral supplements will be recommended based on lab results and food intake/tolerance to prevent any nutritional deficiencies.
Medications may be taken in chewable or pill form four weeks after surgery.
Food and Drinks to Avoid
Concentrated sugars, high-fat foods, fried foods and alcohol can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea (dumping syndrome) so avoid:
- Candy, including chocolate
- Sweets
- Regular soft drinks
- Honey
- Flavored drink mixes
- Molasses
- Cakes
- Preserves
- Sherbet
- Ice cream
- Alcohol (including beer)
- Doughnuts
- Fried foods
Different people have different foods they can and cannot tolerate. Do not be disturbed if you find some foods do not agree with you at first. You may be able to tolerate those foods later.
Sample Gastric Bypass Liquid/Semiliquid Menu
The menu below is just an example. You will work with your dietitian to learn more about food options. At first, you may have to eat more frequent meals and consume smaller amounts at each meal. Try to take in 24 ounces (3cups) of nutritious liquids or puréed consistency food every day.
Consistency of all food during Stage 2 should be similar to applesauce.
Breakfast:6 to 8 ounces no sugar-added Carnation Breakfast Essentials®mixed with skim milk
Snack:1/2cup cottage cheese
Lunch:Blend 1/3 cup fat-free refried beans and 1 ounce of melted fat-free/reduced-fat cheese
Snack:4 ounces blended light yogurt
Supper:Blend 1/4cup meat, 1/4cup low-fatcream soup, 2 tablespoons nonfat skim milk powder
Snack:1 cup skim milk with 2 tablespoons of nonfat dry milk powder
Between meals at least 8 cups of caffeine-free, low-calorie liquids, should besipped slowly during the day.
Tips for the first four weeks:
Keep food records.This will help you monitor your intake and tolerance to foods. Look for patterns of foods tolerated well and foods that are not tolerated well. The records will also be helpful for your dietitian to provide suggestions for better tolerance or nutrient balance.
Track the following:
- Time you ate
- Type of food (e.g.,baked chicken without skin)
- Amount eaten (e.g., 1/2chicken breast or 1/2cup yogurt)
- How your food was prepared (e.g., baked with broth). Be sure to include any butter, oil, grease or margarine that was added to the food.
- Grams of protein.Look on food labels, handouts in your patient notebook, the internet or books to determine thetotal protein intake.
- Use ice cube trays.Each cube holds about 2 ounces. This will help you control portion sizes. Try preparing reduced-fat cream soups or puréed meats and vegetables and store item in the trays.
- Limit food to 2 to 4 ounces per meal.Protein comes first.
- Aim for four to six small meals per day.
- Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (48 to 64 ounces) of fluid per day.Liquids should besipped between meals. Avoid fluids with meals, and wait 30 to 45 minutes after ameal to begin your fluid intake throughout the day.
If you are having trouble tolerating puréed food:
- Try slowing the speed of your eating.
- Decrease your portion size.
How to blend food:
- Cut food into small pieces about the size of your thumbnail.
- Place food in the blender.
- Add liquid such as skim milk, broth or fat-free gravy to cover the blades.
- Blend until puréed and smooth like applesauce.
- Strain out the lumps, seeds or pieces of food.
- Use spices and seasonings (avoid spicy ones such as hot sauce and cayenne pepper) to add flavor.
Puréed baby food can be used instead of blended foods. Only meat (puréed beef, pork, chicken) baby foods contain protein.
Stage 3: Semisolid Consistency Foods
Four weeks after surgery with the approval of your surgeon, the dietitian will review guidelines on how to successfully introduce semisolid consistency foodswithout nausea and vomiting. At this point, you will advance to soft and easily tolerated foods.
Focus on protein first at meals, and avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar, and difficult to digest. You may still need to consume protein from skim milk or supplements as between meal snacks until you are able to tolerate enough semisolid foods to meet your protein needs. Remember to add one new food at a time, and observe your reaction to it.
Food Examples
- Cooked eggs, any type except fried
- Casseroles, such as macaroniand cheese, or tuna with light mayo (limited)
- Chopped lean meat (except red meat)
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Cooked vegetables (peeled)
- Beans and legumes
- Softened cold cereal (non-sugar coated)
- Hot cereals made with skim milk
- Canned fruits (in their own juices or water)
- Skim milk
- Unsweetened instant breakfast
- Canned chicken
- Soft fish
- Shredded or soft, low-fat cheese
- Light yogurt
Eating Guidelines
- Eat three small meals and two snacks per day.
- Each meal should not exceed the volume of 6ounces.
- Eat and drink slowly. Take at least 1/2 hour to eat a meal.
- Take small bites, and chew very well. Sip on liquids during meals if needed only, but don't drink large amounts during meals (limit to 1 ounce offluid per meal).
- Continue to drink low-calorie liquids between meals – at least 8 cups per day.
- Continue to take the vitamin/mineral supplement everyday and introduce a calcium and vitamin B12supplement.
- Avoid red meats.
- Avoid raw vegetables and raw fruits with skins at this stage in your diet progression.
- Avoid nuts and popcorn.
- Avoid all fibrous foods (may cause blockage).
- Avoid high-calorie beverages such as soft drinks, juices, milkshakes and protein drinks.
- Keep in mind that you are "re-educating" your stomach. When you eat too fast, too much or don't chew enough, you will feel discomfort and vomit.
Sample Semisolid Menu
Breakfast:1/2cup oatmeal made with skim milk and 2 tablespoons dry milk powder
Snack: 1 cup skim milk
Lunch:2 ounces of lean meat (such as turkey, low-fat ham), 1 slice of reduced-fat/fat-free cheese,1/2whole wheat tortilla, optional: nonfat skim milk powder can be mixed in skim milk to increase protein
Snack:1/4cup low-fat cottage cheese with canned (no sugar added) peaches
Supper:1/3 cup tuna and 1/4cup cooked vegetables
Snack:1 cup skim milk with 2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk powder (if needed)
Between meals drink at least 64 ounces (8 cups) of low-calorie liquids slowly during the day.
Stage 4: Low-Fat, Solid Food
Begin when directed by your physician and dietitian about three months after surgery. Again, add onenew food at a time, and observe your reaction to it. Add breads last because they tend to form a ball, which will not go through the pouch easily. You can experiment with red meat, raw vegetables and raw fruits with skins. Remember to chew all food very well, and sip limited amounts of liquids with meals, less than one ounce if necessary.
Select a balanced meal plan, choosing foods from all groups inMyPlate.This is the time to develop your lifelong meal plan and exercise routine. Avoid sugar, sweets and desserts. Also avoid high-fat foods such as cream soups, gravy, butter, fried foods and fast foods.
Nutrition Information
A well-balanced meal plan is very important. Eat foods from all food groups:
- Dairy products (low-fat milk and light yogurt)
- Beans and legumes
- Fruits and vegetables
- Lean meat and eggs
- Whole wheat bread and whole grain products, such as cereals, brown rice and oatmeal
Protein
Protein is important, especially to help with healing after surgery, andto help prevent hair loss and loss of lean muscle mass. As your body adjusts tothe change made during surgery and torapid weight loss, you may experience some hair loss three to six months after surgery. Hair loss may also beis related to poor protein, iron and zinc intake, andcertain medications. To improve nutrition and help avoid hair loss,focus on eating protein first at meals including:
- Skim or 1 percent milk
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Low-fat or nonfat yogurt with artificial sweeteners
- Egg whites
- Low-fat cheese
- Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat made with skim milk
- Fish
- Chicken and turkey
- Other lean meats (pork tenderloin, extra lean ground beef)
- Legumes (dried beans)
- Nonfat dry milk powder (added to casseroles, soups, hot cereals, etc.)
- Soy products
You may not be able to tolerate meat or poultry after your surgery. Until you are able to eat meat and poultry, you must get protein from the other protein sources.
It is recommended that you take avitamin/mineral supplement with iron and zinc daily. Any additional vitamin/mineral supplements will be recommended by your surgeon and dietitian based on your food intake and lab values.
Fat
To help with weight loss and lifelong weight maintenance, remember to limit your fat and calorie intake. Limit/avoid these high-fat foods and beverages, except in small amounts:
- Olives (healthy fat)
- Nuts (healthy fat)
- Avocados (healthy fat)
- Regular mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Creamcheese
- Pie crust
- Whole milk
- Butter, margarine
- Hot dogs
- Peanut butter (healthy fat)
- Granola (some are high fat)
- Muffins
- Coleslaw
- Whole milk cheese
- Potato salad, pasta salads
- Snack crackers
- Ice cream
- Shortening, lard
- Fatback
- Regular salad dressings
- Sauces
- Fried foods
- Bacon, sausage, bologna
- Potato chips
- Doughnuts
- All oils (use olive or canola oil in moderation)
- Gravy
- Regular soft drinks, high-sugar drinks
Learn to read food labels for fat content. Aim for no more than 35 grams of fat per day. If you do not understand food labels, our dietitian will teach you.
