Your diaphragm has a small opening called a hiatus. Normally, the esophagus passes through the hiatus on its way to drain into the stomach. The stomach can push up through this opening, causing a hiatal hernia. Following surgery to repair a hiatal hernia, your doctor will recommend a special diet that emphasizes a slow progression of liquids and foods. This enables your body to get used to food again.
Clear Liquid Diet
Typically, during the two weeks following hiatal hernia surgery, you must follow a clear liquid diet, which is made up of only clear fluids and foods that turn to clear fluids when left at room temperature. Beginning the day after your surgery, you can start sipping small amounts, up to 1 cup of clear liquids at a time. Clear liquids include clear juice with no pulp, coffee, water, ice pops made of clear fruit juice, broth, ice and gelatin. Avoid soda and alcohol, solid foods, thick liquids and gum.
Full Liquid Diet
After the clear liquid diet, you can advance to a full liquid diet for weeks 3 and 4. In addition to everything allowed on the clear liquid diet, you can have anything that you can pour, including strained soups, pudding, ice cream, yogurt, milk, milk shakes, cooked cereal and farina. You should still avoid alcohol and carbonated beverages, as well as gum and solid foods. Also avoid using straws when drinking as they may bring air into your stomach.
Soft Diet
For weeks 5 and 6 following your hiatal surgery, you can have a soft diet, wherein you can add mushy foods that require little chewing to the list of foods that are already allowed. You can include pasta, rice, fish, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, over-cooked vegetables, soft fruits and ground chicken and beef. Avoid foods like steak, lamb or pork chops, hamburgers, sandwiches, raw vegetables and chips.
Other Recommendations
Once you are eating solid food again, have smaller, more frequent meals rather than large meals. Chew foods well and be careful with foods that may clump together like rice or bread. Also, do not eat cold foods. Do not drink alcohol if you are on pain medication. Call your doctor if you have trouble eating or drinking.
