Diet after weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery)

Diet after weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) – Stage 1

Diet after weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) should provide plenty of fluids and nutrients while promoting weight loss and healing. Each stage of recovery has a different set of food and drink recommendations.

Your health care provider may recommend that you work with a diet and nutrition specialist (dietitian) to make a staged eating plan that is right for you.

Stage 1 begins right after surgery and lasts until about 2 weeks after surgery, or as long as directed by your health care provider. During this time, you will eat a liquid-only diet. You will be on clear liquids immediately after surgery. After your health care provider approves, you will move on to full liquids.

What are tips for following this plan?

Meal planning

• Eat at set times. Allow 30–45 minutes for each meal.
• Have protein with every meal. Eat protein foods first. Protein is a very important nutrient after surgery.
• You will need at least 60–80 g of protein daily, or as much as determined by your dietitian. Work with your dietitian to choose a liquid protein supplement that has:
  • At least 15 g of protein per 8 oz serving.
  • Less than 20 g total carbohydrate per 8 oz serving.
  • Less than 5 g fat per 8 oz serving.
• To get more protein, you may add 1 Tbsp non-fat dry milk powder to each ¼ cup of skim milk.
• Do noteat or drink:
  • Carbonated beverages.
  • Sweets with more than 25 g of sugar per serving.
  • High-fat foods. This includes foods with more than 5 g of fat per serving.
  • Alcohol.
  • Any foods you do not tolerate well, such as dairy or high-fiber foods.
• Move on to a soft-food diet when your health care provider approves. For most people, this happens after 2 weeks on a liquid-only diet.

General instructions

• Sip liquids. Do notuse a straw until several weeks after surgery.
• Do notdrink extra liquids with meals for 30 minutes before or after meals.
• Slowly sip 8–10 oz of clear liquid, preferably water, between each meal. Try to get at least 48–60 oz of fluid each day.
• Take a liquid or chewable multivitamin with iron each day. Discuss additional supplements with your health care provider or dietitian.
• Stop eating when you feel full.
• Your surgeon or dietitian may have specific eating guidelines for you. This may depend on:
  • The type of weight loss surgery you had.
  • Your overall health.

Clear liquids

It is important to drink clear liquids to make sure you stay hydrated. Try to drink at least 24–30 oz (about 3 cups) of clear liquids each day. Clear liquids have:

• No carbonation.
• No sugar or calories.
• No caffeine or alcohol.

Clear liquids include:

• Water and flavored water.
• Decaffeinated coffee or tea.
• “Light” powdered juice mixes, like lemonade.
• Clear broth.
• “Light” flavored gelatin.
• Sugar-free popsicles.

Full liquids

Full liquids are important for making sure you have enough calories, protein, and other nutrients. Try to get at least 24–30 oz (about 3 cups) of full liquids each day. Full liquids include:

• Low-fat or fat-free milk.
• Soy milk.
• Yogurt.
• Protein shakes or protein powder.
• “Light” meal replacement shakes.
• Sugar-free pudding.

Summary

• Stage 1 begins right after surgery and lasts until about 2 weeks after surgery, or as directed by your health care provider.
• Stage 1 diet is a liquid-only diet. You will be on clear liquids immediately after surgery. After your health care provider approves, you will move to full liquids.
• Eating enough protein and drinking plenty of fluids are important in promoting weight loss and healing after surgery.

Diet after weight loss surgery Stage 2

Stage 2 starts about 2 weeks after surgery and lasts until about 4–5 weeks after surgery. During this stage, you begin to eat solid foods. For the first week of your Stage 2 diet, you will eat soft, protein-rich foods. After the first one week of this stage, you will gradually add other soft foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

What are tips for following this plan?

Cooking

• Prepare foods with gravy, broth, or mayonnaise to moisten and soften the texture.
• Cook foods until soft and tender. Use cooking methods such as boiling or braising.
• Puree foods, as needed.

Meal planning

• Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks, or 5 small meals each day. 
• Eat at set times. Allow 30–45 minutes for each meal.
• Limit food intake to ¾–1 cup total per meal.
• Include a soft protein food at every meal and snack, and eat the protein food first. Eat 60–80 g of protein a day when possible.
• Do noteat or drink:
  • Carbonated beverages.
  • Sweets with more than 25 g of sugar per serving.
  • High-fat foods. This includes foods with more than 5 g of fat per serving.
  • Alcohol.
  • Any foods you do not tolerate well, such as dairy or high-fiber foods.

General instructions

• Eat soft foods. This includes foods that are:
  • Fork-mashed or pureed.
  • Finely minced or ground.
  • Moist.
  • Easy to chew and swallow.
• After 1 week of soft protein foods, you may start to introduce other soft foods. Introduce soft foods as told by your dietitian and as you feel comfortable.
• Avoid starchy foods, such as bread, crackers, pasta, or cereal.
• Do not eat more than you can tolerate. Stop eating when you feel full.
• Continue to drink plenty of fluids. Sip clear liquids between meals. Full liquids may be eaten in place of a meal or snack. Try to get at least 48–60 oz of fluid each day.
• Do notdrink extra liquids with meals or 30 minutes before or after meals.
• Meet with a dietitian during this stage to plan for adding other solid foods back into your diet.
• Take vitamin and mineral supplements as directed by your health care provider.

Soft protein foods

Soft protein foods include:

• Well-cooked beans and lentils. Hummus.
• Tofu, tempeh, and bean or veggie burgers.
• Low-fat or nonfat cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk.
• Eggs or egg substitutes. Fish.
• Tender, soft-cooked lean meat and poultry. Ground meats.

Other soft foods

Other soft foods that you may eat during stage 2 include:

• Soft fruit, including soft canned fruit in light syrup or natural juice, apple sauce, bananas, melons, peaches, pears, and strawberries.
• Well-cooked vegetables. 
• Hot wheat cereal. Unflavored oatmeal.
• Baby food or toddler fruits and vegetables.
• Blended fruit smoothies.

Summary

• Stage 2 diet after bariatric surgery lasts from about 2 weeks until 4–5 weeks after surgery, or as long as directed by your health care provider.
• Stage 2 diet involves eating soft solid foods. For the first week of this diet, you will eat soft, protein-rich foods. After that, you will gradually eat other soft foods as well, such as fruits and vegetables.
• Eating enough protein and drinking plenty of fluids are important for promoting weight loss and healing after surgery.

Diet After Bariatric Surgery Stage 3

You may start to transition to a stage 3 diet about 5–6 weeks after surgery. During this stage, you will be allowed to eat foods of various textures.

Continue to follow the guidelines below until your health care provider or dietitian approves eating a regular weight-maintenance diet.

What are tips for following this plan?

Cooking

• Use low-fat cooking methods, such as baking, broiling, boiling, or grilling.
• Cook using healthy fats, such as olive, sunflower, grapeseed, or canola oil.
• Cook and bake using no-calorie sweeteners.
• Avoid adding extra salt, sugar, or fat to foods when cooking.

Meal planning

• Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks, or 5 small meals each day.
• Eat at set times. Allow 30–45 minutes for each meal.
• Do notskip meals or go a long time without eating (fast). If you are having a hard time eating, talk to your health care provider or dietitian.
• Limit food intake to ¾–1 cup per meal. As you heal and advance, you may be able to eat a little more with each meal. Always listen to your body.
• Eat foods from all food groups. This includes fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, and meat and other proteins.
• Limit carbohydrate intake to no more than 30 g per meal or 130 g per day. There are about 15–20 g of carbohydrates in 1 piece of bread or a medium piece of fruit. Half of your total grains should be whole grains.
• Include a protein-rich food at every meal and snack, and eat the protein food first. Eat 60–80 g of protein a day when possible.

General instructions

• Work with your dietitian to slowly add new foods to your diet.
• Stay hydrated. Drink at least 48–64 oz of noncarbonated, zero-calorie fluid per day. Water is the best choice.
• Limit alcohol intake as directed by your health care provider.
• Avoid foods that are high in fat or have added sugar.
• Take any vitamin supplements as directed by your health care provider.
• Ask your dietitian to help you with meal planning and strategies to continue to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

Recommended foods

Grains

• Whole wheat bread, crackers, and pasta.
• Rice.
• Unsweetened hot and cold cereals.

Vegetables

• All fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables.

Fruits

• All fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.

Meats and other protein foods

• Lean meat, poultry, and fish.
• Eggs and egg substitutes.
• Beans and lentils. Smooth nut butters.
• Soy products, such as tempeh and tofu.

Dairy

• Low or nonfat milk, cheese, and yogurt.
• Sugar-free pudding.
• Cottage cheese.

Beverages

• Decaffeinated coffee and tea.
• Sugar-free, caffeine-free soft drinks.

Fats and oils

• Avocado.
• Olive, sunflower, grapeseed, or canola oil.

Sweets and desserts

• Low-fat, sugar-free desserts.

Seasoning and other foods

• Low-fat, low-sodium condiments.

Foods to avoid

• Hard-to-digest foods, including:
  • Popcorn.
  • Nuts and seeds.
  • Celery.
  • White parts of citrus fruits (pith).
• Caffeinated drinks, including:
  • Coffee and tea.
  • Energy drinks.
• Sweets and desserts with more than 25 g of sugar per serving.

Summary

• Stage 3 diet starts about 5–6 weeks after surgery. Continue to follow stage 3 guidelines until your health care provider or dietitian approves eating a regular weight-maintenance diet.
• Stage 3 diet involves eating a balanced, healthy diet with foods of various textures. This diet helps you continue to lose weight and maintain weight loss.
• Eating enough protein and drinking plenty of fluids is important for promoting weight loss and healing after surgery.