Food you can eat after bariatric surgery

What can I eat after bariatric/weight loss surgery?

There are a number of procedures that come under the heading bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. The most common procedures are gastric bypass, gastric band/lap band, duodenal switch and sleeve gastrectomy/stomach stapling.

What you can eat after your weight loss operation
Initially after all bariatric operations you will have nourishing fluids only for at least 2 weeks, you will then gradually progress through smooth purees to soft diet. After 6-8 weeks, depending upon your procedure,you will move back to a normal varied textured diet with foods from all the main food groups including 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Weight loss surgery reduces your stomach capacity and, if you eat carefully and slowly you will feel comfortably full after much smaller meals. With careful eating you will feel satisfied and not continually feeling hungry or so easily tempted to stray from your careful diet. It will still be important to avoid high calorie foods which have a low nutrient density.

Foods to avoid after weight loss surgery
You will be asked to avoid having drinks with your meals and snacks after all bariatric procedures.

After all weight loss surgery procedures patients are advised to avoid all fizzy drinks and should not use chewing gum.

All bariatric surgery patients need to have chewable multivitamins and often minerals (depending upon the procedure) from the time of surgery for life. These ensure that overall nutritional intake meets daily requirements as closely as possible.

Most patients enjoy a very varied diet after their surgery. A small number of patients find that bread is not well tolerated after either gastric banding or gastric bypass even after 8 weeks. These patients usually have crackers and crisp breads as an alternative.

Vita Clinics patients have their own named dietitian and specialist bariatric nurse who will advise them pre operatively and at each post operative stage, giving support and encouragement, helping them to return to varied healthy eating.

If you would like to talk to a Bariatric Specialist Dietician call Vita Clinics on freephone 0800 849 4050 or visit our contact page and complete the 1 minute enquiry form here.

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