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Bariatric
Surgery Program
Post-Operative
Nutrition
Handbook (Gastric Bypass)
The Second Month
After the Blended Diet
Now you are ready to start eating solid, non-blended foods. You should gradually replace your blended foods with solids. It will be very important that you chew your foods thoroughly. You should try one new food at a time only, eating one bite, chewing carefully, and eating slowly. If you eat too fast, too much, or do not chew well, you are likely to have pain in your pouch, and may regurgitate the food. You may need to eat one bite at a time and wait for 10 minutes to check your tolerance, before going on to the second bite. You should stop eating a meal after 30 minutes to avoid eating too much. If you have difficulty with a new food, wait at least another week before trying that food again. Foods that are tolerated best are usually soft and moist, or can be chewed well until they are soft and moist.
Examples of good foods to start with are as follows:
Low-fat cottage cheese
Cheese
Crackers
Tender fish
Ground, moist meats
Meat loaf
Canned fruit in juice
Soft fruits such as banana, strawberries, etc.
Soft-boiled or poached eggs
Soups
Cooked vegetables
Stewed meats
Toasted whole grain breads
Later
Tolerance to foods is individual. It may take you up to several more months to advance to other foods. When you do well with foods such as those above, you may advance to raw fruits and vegetables, poultry, and thinly sliced meats. You may need to peel fruits, such as apples, and may need to avoid stringy vegetables, such as celery and asparagus stalks. You may have difficulty with meats, especially those that are tough or dry. Some of these changes may be permanent. Most people experience discomfort when eating pasta, rice, and white bread after surgery, and it is recommended that you do not eat these at all, or eat them only in very small amounts. Sometimes a food is okay one day and not the next. This is normal. You should always eat slowly and chew your foods thoroughly. Even after a full recovery, some people continue to experience distress when they drink with their meals. You might always need to stop drinking one half hour before a meal and wait one hour after your meals before drinking. Don’t forget to continue to avoid sweets, which can cause dumping syndrome. Continue to take your multivitamins and calcium daily, and add vitamin B-12 in the third month. You may also need to take iron.
Other Hints for Success
 | Eat small amounts |
Your stomach pouch is approximately the size of a small egg. You may only be able to eat one or two ounces (1/8 to ¼ of a cup) over a half-hour. If you feel full, stop earlier. You will be able to eat more over time, but you shouldn’t be able to comfortably consume the volume of food you did prior to surgery. Overeating may cause stretching of the pouch, allowing you to regain weight later.
| Chew
foods thoroughly |