Bariatric (Obesity) Services
Diet After Surgery
The diet after weight loss surgery typically advances in several stages. At all stages of the diet, it is recommended to avoid foods high in sugar and fat. It is also important to remember that diet progression and tolerance is very individualized.
Stage 1 - Clear Liquid Diet
Examples: Clear Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/ Sugar Free)
- Clear fruit juices without added sugar and diluted by half with water: apple or grape juice. (avoid citrus for the first few weeks)
- Sugar-free powdered drink mixes made with sugar-substitute.
- Coffee, tea, flat soda (limit caffeine)
- Sugar-free gelatin
- Sugar-free Popsicles
- Broth
- Water
Stage 2 - Full Liquid Diet
Examples: Full Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar Free, Low Fat/Non-Fat)
- Skim milk
- Low fat, strained cream soup
- Sugar-free, low fat pudding
- Sugar-fee, non-fat custard-style yogurt
- Sugar-free instant breakfast
- Thinned hot cereal such as oatmeal, cream of wheat or grits
- Protein drinks
Stage 3 - Pureed Diet
Examples of the Pureed (Sugar Free/No Sugar Added, Low Fat/Non-Fat)
- Custard-style yogurt
- Small curd cottage cheese
- Pureed meat or baby meat
- Pureed vegetables or baby vegetables
- Smooth applesauce
- Baby fruit or pureed fruit
- Stage 1 or 2 baby foods
- Strained cream soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Pureed tuna or egg salad
*If You Can Chew It, Don't Do It
Stage 4 - Soft Diet
Examples: Soft Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar Free, Low Fat/Non-Fat)
- baked white fish (no bones)
- imitation crab meat
- bananas
- canned fruit in water or its own juice
- well cooked vegetables without seeds or skins (no corn)
- scrambled, poached or hard boiled eggs
- tuna or egg salad
- low fat or nonfat cheese.
* Moist foods will be better tolerated.
- Try to moisten meats with broth, low fat mayonnaise or low fat gravy.
Avoid
- tough meats such as steak or roast beef
- Nuts and seeds
- High fiber cereals
- Raw vegetables and hard fresh fruits
Stage 5 - Regular Diet
The last diet stage is the trial of the Regular Diet. It is best to add one new food a day in order to help determine what foods are tolerated. Remember that each person will have individual food tolerances. Go slowly. Be sure to slowly ease fiber-containing foods back into the diet. If you do not tolerate a food the first time, try it again in a few weeks. Continue to avoid high sugar and high fat foods.
IMPORTANT DIET GUIDELINES
1. Eat five to six small meals per day. Avoid continual snacking.
2. Eat small amounts.
3. Eat protein foods first.
4. Do not try to eat food and liquids together.
- Consume liquid 30 minutes to one hour before and 30 minutes to one hour after eating meals.
5. Vitamin/mineral supplements are required for life.
6. Eat slowly and chew well!
- Each meal should last 30-45 minutes.
- All foods must be well chewed to a paste consistency.
- Using a small fork or spoon (i.e. baby utensils) can help control portion sizes.
- Put your utensil down between bites and wait one minute between bites.
7. Drink plenty of fluids between meals.
- Drink slowly - never gulp or use straws.
- Calorie containing beverages should be limited
- Consume zero calorie beverages throughout the day.
8. Avoid foods in which sugar is listed as one of the first three ingredients.
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