Gastric bypass is a surgery in which the stomach is reduced in size, and the smaller stomach is then reconnected to the small intestine. This type of surgery can speed up weight loss but is also a life-changing experience in which a person makes a commitment to changing eating habits for a lifetime. A registered dietitian should assist in creating a gastric bypass diet that will provide enough nutrition but also promote healthy weight loss.
Clear Liquid Diet After Surgery
The first stage of the gastric bypass diet is drinking clear, room-temperature liquids. The liquids should be clear enough to see through. The new stomach is the size of a golf ball, and the patient has to learn what the new feeling of fullness is. Also, clear liquids are gentle on the gastrointestinal tract and allow the new stomach to heal. Drink small sips of water to start a clear liquid diet, and gradually start drinking sips of sugar-free juice. Bouillon soup can be made by dissolving a bouillon cube in water and adding enough water for the liquid to be as clear as possible. Two to three ounces at a time of clear, no-fizz (flat) soda such as Sprite are acceptable at this time. The first clear liquid diet usually lasts for a day or two after the operation.
Low-Fat Full Liquids
A low-fat full liquid diet can be started if no problems are experienced with clear liquids. This diet is administered while the patient is still in the hospital. Carnation Instant Breakfast™, Ensure™ or Sustacal™ are high-protein liquids that provide nutrients and should be used for one to two weeks. Patients also start taking chewable multivitamin/mineral supplement at this diet stage. Cream soup can be heated up and strained so no vegetables or food pieces are ingested.
Purée Diet and After Hospital Foods
Pureed foods should be the consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid. Most patients start this soft food diet two weeks after their hospital stay or when their dietitian or doctor approve. The pureed diet includes very soft, high-protein foods like scrambled egg, low-fat cheese or cottage cheese. Lean meats like tuna, chicken or pork can be blended and pureed so there are no distinct pieces. Strained baby food may be more convenient for some patients. The pureed diet is generally followed for three to four weeks.
Soft Foods And Starting Regular Food
Soft foods such as diced or ground meat can be started around eight weeks after surgery, with the doctor's approval. While this diet includes all five food groups, it is important to start with high-protein foods, like lean meats or milk, at every meal and add soft foods such as canned fruit and cooked vegetables. Each meal or snack should be small, with liquids consumed in between meals. After eight weeks of soft food consumption, a doctor or dietitian may approve the next step, which is graduating to foods of regular consistency and firmer texture. This step should be only taken after an individualized diet pattern has been planned by a doctor or dietitian. Future food consumption should include three to six small meals a day, and all foods should be chewed thoroughly and eaten slowly.
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