Dietary Information for Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric Bypass Dietary Stages
» 0 - 4 weeks - Liquid ONLY
» 4 - 8 weeks - Soft Food ONLY
» 8 - 12 weeks - “Normal” Eating
0 - 4 Weeks Post Surgery - Liquid ONLY
You are allowed only fluids from the time of your operation for 4 weeks. This will ensure optimum healing & hence allow maximum benefit from your surgical procedure.
As you will be only consuming fluids it is essential you follow all the guidelines. They are designed to; provide you with a balanced intake of energy, protein & all other nutrients, to ensure you have a good recovery, kick start your weight loss & boost general well-being.
» You must not eat any solid food during this time.
» It is essential you take a multivitamin/mineral & a calcium supplement long term. You may find a chewable option more tolerable; alternatively break the tablet in half. We recommend Centrum Chewable, Sanatogen Gold or Multibionta & Calcichew or Sevenseas Calcium Chewable. Some own brand products are also suitable just make sure they contain vitamins and minerals.
» Fluid - you should aim for 2.5 - 3.5 litres. This should be spread evenly throughout the day. Everyone has different fluid requirements; the best way to check you are well hydrated is to look at the colour of your urine. If it is pale, you are drinking enough, if it is dark e.g. straw coloured or darker or if there is very little, you need to drink more.
» The recommended portion size for a cup of fluid is 200mls.
» Each drink should be taken 1 hour apart.
» Fizzy drinks are not allowed.
» During this time you may feel hungry - this is normal & is caused by the stretch receptors in the stomach being upset during surgery. This will soon pass, keep motivated by knowing you are on the road to successful long term weight loss.
Suitable Fluid Suggestions
» Tea “no added sugar”
» Coffee, “no added sugar”
» Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk
» Cordials
» Bovril and water
» Fruit and vegetable juices
» Consomme/ clear soups
» Creamed soups without bits
» Low fat hot chocolate drinks
» Low fat thin yoghurts without bits
4-8 Weeks Post- Surgery - Soft Food ONLY
You will now be ready to start a soft diet. Aim for the consistency of cottage pie/ well cooked cauliflower cheese/scrambled egg - foods easily broken with a fork - avoid all crunchy foods/potato skins and salads at this stage.
» Drink plenty of fluids before a meal and leave at least 1 hour before drinking again.
» Continue taking your multivitamin/mineral + calcium supplement.
» Aim to follow a balanced diet by eating a variety of foods and by choosing low fat/low sugar options, where possible, this will maximise your weight loss & ensure of optimum health.
» Continue to be prepared, choose sensibly from menus.
» At this stage you will notice you may be able to tolerate slightly larger quantities of food therefore aim for 3 meals per day & try using a tea plate or child’s plate when eating to prevent over eating.
» Avoid BREAD - including toast, tea cakes, crumpets, pizza, pitta, naan and all other bread products. MEAT/CHICKEN (minced meat is allowed) & RICE for 3 months post-op - these foods are the foods most commonly associated with blockages.
» Continue to avoid fizzy drinks & chewing gum long term
8 - 12 Weeks Post Surgery - “Normal” Diet
Once you have reached this stage you will be able to resume ‘normal eating’ i.e. all textures of food. You will have been seen by the dietitian (or will have been sent an appointment to be seen in the near future) to discuss a long term eating plan individual to you.
This will be designed specifically for you based on the information you provide in the Food Intake Questionnaire taking into consideration your preferences/intolerances & general lifestyle. You will then be followed up by the dietitian on a regular basis who will monitor your progress, help, support & guide you towards eating a healthier diet for life.
» Once you are this stage you will be consuming smaller amounts than you did prior to the procedure. Try using a childs plate or a tea plate.
» Drink plenty before a meal and wait at least 1 hour before your next drink.
» Eat very slowly & chew you food well - aim to chew 20 times per mouthful.
» Continue to take your multivitamin/mineral + calcium supplement
» Avoid BREAD, MEAT/CHICKEN (minced meat is allowed), & RICE for the first 3 months post op - until you are comfortable with your new way of eating
» Continue to avoid fizzy drinks and chewing gum
» You may find certain foods difficult to tolerate e.g. nuts, pips, seeds, acidic foods such as citrus fruits etc - be careful & avoid if you find these cause a problem
» You should now switch to skimmed milk - this is lower in calories than other milk & the extra fat soluble vitamins mentioned earlier are no longer essential as these will be gained from other foods you are now consuming
» Do not lie down immediately after a meal
Keep in mind your pouch has a very small capacity - if you overeat it can be stretched causing discomfort and potentially dangerous consequences
