1. Start With liquids
For the 3 weeks immediately following gastric-bypass surgery, you will need to limit your intake to liquids only. After a couple of days of drinking broth, teas and apple juice, you can start adding thicker liquids to your diet. Any sugar-free liquid is acceptable, including teas, skim milk, soy milk and cream soup. Solids that dissolve into water in the mouth and require no chewing (diet gelatin and custard are two good examples) are also acceptable. The liquid stage is extremely important because it helps your stomach adapt to its new size and digestive capabilities.
2. Move on to Soft Solids
Pureed food is the next step in a post-gastric-bypass-surgery diet. Protein should be the main component of your diet, and you should be careful with consuming too much fiber. Unfortunately, fiber swells up when mixed with liquid, and you will end up eating less than what you need to keep your body nourished. Good choices for the second stage (also 3 weeks long) include applesauce, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes and pureed tuna in water. Make sure all drinks you have are non-carbonated to avoid taking up extra space in your stomach.
3. Get Settled on a Solid Diet
Once you reach the third stage of your post-gastric-bypass-surgery diet, you will be able to eat most foods, although you will need to set up an eating schedule that allows for several small meals a day. Because your stomach is not able to hold more than 1 cup of food at any given time, you should also make sure that you balance your meals to include protein, fiber and carbohydrates (mainly from fruits and vegetables) in every meal. Fat content should be kept to a minimum forever, as you won't be able to digest it properly. Other foods to avoid are those that can block the entrance to the stomach, including fruit skins and tough items like nuts or meat jerky.
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