Diet After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Your diet will change and evolve during the days and weeks after surgery. You will start off with very small quantities of a limited range of foods. Then, over time, you will increase the quantity and variety of foods you eat.

First Few Days: Clear Liquids Only

When you leave the hospital after surgery and head home, you will still be feeling a bit weak from the experience you have just been through. Your stomach, now much smaller than it has ever been, will only be able to handle liquids such as clear chicken broth, water, and sugar-free juices. Sip very slowly and drink no more than a few sips before waiting to have more.

First Few Weeks: Soft, Mashed Foods

After the first few days have passed, you can start eating high-protein, low-fat foods such as eggs, low-fat chicken, jello, and tofu. You may want to put everything you eat into a blender to help you really mash it up before ingesting it. Be sure to avoid bulky foods with lots of fiber, such as grains, breads, and large helpings of fruit.

After That: Return to Normal Foods but in Small Quantities

Once the first few weeks after surgery have passed, slowly switch back to some or most of the foods you used to eat. Given that you elected to undergo gastric bypass surgery due to having had a weight problem, it will always be a good idea to avoid high-sugar, high-fat foods. Still, your body will likely be able to process most types of foods that it did before, only in smaller quantities. Remember to listen to your body - it will tell you what it can handle and what it cannot.

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It is not only what you eat - but HOW you eat - that determines how fast you recover after gastric bypass surgery. Pay attention to the following tips in order to stay healthy, avoid pain during digestion, and recover faster after weight loss surgery:

1. Your "new" stomach can only hold about 1/2 cup of food at any one time - that's a tiny amount. So, break your mealtimes up into 6-7 very small meals per day.
2. Drink at least one, 8-ounce cup of water, clear chicken broth, or non-carbonated diet soda between each meal. Be sure to stop drinking at least on hour before you plan to eat again.
3. Chew every bite you take until you almost think you are over-chewing it. By mashing your food to a pulp before swallowing, you will be making it much easier on your stomach to digest the food you send its way.

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