Bariatric surgery is a type of weight loss surgery which either restricts the amount of space that your stomach has to hold food and/or decreases your body's ability to absorb nutrients. After you undergo bariatric surgery, you will need to follow a special diet as your body heals and adjusts. There are three basic stages to meal planning after bariatric surgery, each focusing on the foods you are able to consume at different stages of your recovery. Your physician will provide the appropriate guidance for your specific situation.
Liquid Diet
Following bariatric surgery, a liquid diet will be prescribed, DukeHealth reports. After the surgical procedure, your digestive tract will not be able to handle solid foods for awhile. You should start with diluted juices, water and weak broths. Once you are discharged from the hospital, you should try to drink 2-oz. of a high-protein liquid supplement each hour. In addition, consume 2 oz. of a non-caffeinated, non-carbonated drink that is low in calories. This will help you ward off dehydration and will also supply your body with the protein that you need to recover. As you progress, you can add dairy products and foods that you have pureed in a blender.
Semi-solid Foods
Approximately three weeks after your operation, you may begin to incorporate some solid foods into your diet, the University of California San Francisco notes. You should only eat soft foods or foods that you have pureed. Introduce new foods one at a time and, when trying a new food, eat only two bites every 20 minutes to make sure your system can handle it. Foods you may add at this stage are applesauce, mashed potatoes, instant breakfast, noodles, hot cereals, eggs and cottage cheese. You can also add canned fruit and tuna as well as ground beef or turkey. During this time, you should try to consume only 500 calories each day, with this caloric intake spread into six to eight meals each day, the University of California San Francisco notes.
Solid Foods
After two months, you can begin to incorporate more foods into your diet. Focus on eating foods high in protein and low in fat, Bariatric-Surgery.info recommends. Your body will not be able to digest fat well, but you need a high protein diet to prevent hair loss and malnutrition. You should aim for a diet which contains 900 to 1,000 calories per day as well as at least 65 g of protein. You may want to keep spreading your food intake into multiple small meals to help prevent abdominal pain and poor digestion. Avoid foods such as red meats and high-fiber foods. Instead, focus on low-calorie sources of protein such as egg whites, low-fat milk and lean meats. Gradually incorporate fruits and vegetables which are easy to chew and digest.
Member Comments