Recommended Diet After Undergoing Gastric Bypass

Before you go through a gastric bypass, your doctor will give you a heads up on your diet. For the first four weeks after surgery, you will only be allowed to take in liquids. After that, you will be on a diet that consists of soft food for the next four weeks, at which point you will slowly transition to normal eating albeit in controlled portions. Here are post-surgery meal suggestions and guidelines that you need to bear in mind.

Liquid diet: First 4 weeks after gastric bypass

• Immediately after the operation, you can only take in fluids to give your body time to heal and grow accustomed to the changes in your stomach. You are not supposed to eat solid food of any type at this point.

  
  

• To ensure that you are still supplied with your daily required dose of nutrients, it’s also advised that you take multivitamins and calcium supplements from hereon. Recommended brands include Centrum Chewable, Multibonta, Sanatogen Gold, and Sevenseas Calcium Chewable.

• Daily fluid intake should be from 2.5 to 3.5 liters. You want to spread this amount evenly throughout the day. As each individual has varied fluid requirements, you just need to make sure that you’re properly hydrated. To find out, check the color of your urine. If it is pale, then you’re drinking enough fluids. If it's dark in color, you may need to take in more.

• Recommended fluid portions for every intake is no more than 200 ml. Fluid intake should be at least an hour apart. It’s also important that you avoid carbonated drinks.

• Hunger pangs are normal during this stage and this is mainly caused by activated stretch receptors in your stomach. This is only temporary so the important thing is that you’re motivated enough to stick to your weight loss program.

• Suggested fluids:

   o   Sugar-free tea or coffee
   o   Semi-skimmed milk
   o   Bovril with water
   o   Consommé and clear soup
   o   Creamed soup without the bits
   o   Vegetable and fruit juices
   o   Low-fat hot cocoa
   o   Yoghurt

Soft food diet: 4th to 8th week after surgery

By this time, you should be ready for soft food. This refers to food that has the consistency of well-cooked cauliflower or cottage pie. Soft food can easily be mashed using a fork. You want to stay away from crunchy foods or salads for the moment.

• Maintain your increased fluid intake before your meals. After eating, you want to wait at least an hour before you drink again.

• Continue with the vitamin and mineral supplements.

• Try to stick to a balanced diet. Incorporate variety in your meals and go for low-sugar or low-fat options.

• During this time, you will be able to gradually tolerate increased portions so try to eat at least three meals every day and use a tea plate or a child’s plate to control your food intake.

• You can’t eat bread, meat, and rice yet as these foods tend to cause blockages.

         Meal suggestions:

           Breakfast

   o   Granary toast with sugar-free jam or low-fat spread
   o   Melba toast with marmite
   o   Grapefruit segments with poached egg and toast
   o   Small banana with low-fat yoghurt

           Lunch and dinner

   o   Cottage cheese
   o   Dutch crisp bread/melba toast/rice cakes or oatcakes
   o   Salmon with cucumber
   o   Tuna and onion or baked beans
   o   Egg salad
   o   Pasta salad in tomato puree

Keep a food diary

It’s also recommended that you record your liquid and food intake as well as your exercise routine in a journal. This is an easy way to track your progress and to make sure that you stick to your weight loss plan.