You are here: Home > Your visit > Patient leaflets > Bariatric dietetics > Dietary Guidance after Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

Dietary Guidance after Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

Introduction

This information will guide you through the post- operative stages step-by- step after gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

The texture progression phases from fluids to solids are important to reduce the risk of unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, pain and discomfort. The gradual texture progression also helps to avoid damage to your new stomach, allows your wounds to heal after surgery and allows food to pass easily from the stomach to your small intestine. It is important not to skip any of the stages.

You will need to follow a modified texture diet for 6 weeks, before returning to a regular texture diet. The diet is separated into 4 separate stages:

  • Liquids
  • Puree
  • Soft
  • Regular

The day after your surgery, your surgical team will tell you when it is safe for you to begin to sip fluids. A member of the dietetic team will see you before you go home to discuss the post-operative diet and answer any questions you may have.

Stage 1 – only smooth liquids for 2 weeks 

All liquids should be completely smooth with no bits or lumps. Start with sips (little and often), and if you feel comfortable then gradually increase the amount. Avoid big gulps as this may cause discomfort, nausea, sickness and regurgitation.

Choose liquids that are high in protein to help you to meet your protein requirements. The average recommendation is 70-100g each day. Aim to have 1.5-2 litres of fluids each day to stay hydrated.

Always prioritise protein rich fluids over others such as tea, coffee etc. Begin with sipping your drinks little and often and gradually increase the quantity until the sensation of feeling full occurs. It is important to stop as soon as you feel full. If you drink too much, your stomach may overfill and cause pain, nausea and vomiting.

Which liquids are suitable?

Choose protein rich liquids at least 1 litre (2 pints) each day to help your body recover such as:

  • Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk (try adding dried skimmed milk powder or protein powder)
  • High protein shakes
  • Slimfast
  • Low-fat natural or plain yoghurt drinks
  • Complan soup
  • Meritene soup
  • Protein Water

Other fluids you can have:

  • Still water
  • Marmite®, Bovril®, consommé, bouillon
  • Clear soups
  • Herbal or fruit teas
  • Tea and coffee (use sweeteners, not sugar)
  • No added sugar/sugar free squash
  • Sugar free jelly
  • Diluted vegetable juice (no bits)

Fluids to avoid:

  • Fruit juices, malt drinks and fruit smoothies
  • Fizzy drinks (including fizzy water) as the gases may cause bloating, pain and can increase your stomach size
  • All alcohol

Sample meal plan

Breakfast: High protein shake

Snack: 200ml glass of skimmed milk (add 1-2 tsp of skimmed milk powder)

Lunch: Slimfast

Snack: Meritine soup (1 sachet)

Evening meal: High protein shake

Snack: 200ml glass of skimmed milk (add 1-2 tsp of skimmed milk powder)

How much and when?

Try to have 1.5-2 litres of fluids each day. Aim for at least 1litre (2 pints) of milk based fluids (see list of protein rich fluids above) and always prioritise protein rich fluids over others such as tea, coffee etc. Begin with sipping your drinks little and often and gradually increase the quantity until the sensation of feeling full occurs. It is important to stop as soon as you feel full. If you drink too much, your stomach may overfill and cause pain, nausea and vomiting.

Stage 2 – only puree foods for 2 weeks 

All food during this stage should be pureed and completely smooth with no bits or lumps.

It is important to complete this stage as your stomach pouch will be very small and tight at first. Puree foods are smooth and can pass through your stomach easily. You will need to use a blender, liquidiser or food processor to puree your food to the correct consistency. Aim for a smooth consistency like ‘yoghurt’.

Choose foods that are high in protein to help you to meet your protein requirements (at least 70g protein each day). Aiming for at least 500ml (1 pint) of protein rich fluids daily will help you achieve this.

How much and when?

Eat 3 meals and 3 snacks each day. Start with 1-2 tablespoons at your meals and snacks, and if you feel comfortable gradually increase the amount. As you progress through the puree stage, you may find that your portions gradually increase. However, remember to stop eating at the first signs of fullness or if you feel uncomfortable. If you eat too much then you may experience pain, nausea and vomiting.

Which foods are suitable?

The main focus for your meals and snacks is protein so always eat this first. All of the foods in the table below will need to be pureed. Foods from other food groups such as carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables are also suitable, but are not a rich source of protein. If you choose to eat these then add some extra protein such as; protein or skimmed milk powder, high protein yoghurt, skimmed milk or low fat cheese to fortify them.

Foods to avoid:

Any food not pureed with a blender, liquidiser or food processor.

Suitable fluids:

Try to choose protein rich liquids in between your meals:

  • Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk (try adding dried skimmed milk powder or protein powder)
  • High protein shakes, protein water

Other fluids you can have:

  • Still water
  • Marmite®, Bovril®, consommé, bouillon
  • Clear soups
  • Herbal or fruit teas
  • Tea and coffee (use sweeteners, not sugar)
  • No added sugar/sugar free squash
  • Sugar free jelly
  • Diluted vegetable juice (no bits)

Fluids to avoid:

  • Fruit juices, malt drinks and fruit smoothies
  • Fizzy drinks (including fizzy water) as the gases may cause bloating, pain and can increase your stomach size
  • All alcohol

Aim to drink 1.5-2 litres of fluids each day.

Sample meal plan

Breakfast: Weetabix, Oatibix or Ready Brek with plenty of skimmed milk OR high protein yogurt pot or pouch

Lunch and Dinner ideas:

  • Puree chicken with potato and vegetables
  • Puree spaghetti bolognaise and vegetables
  • Puree lentil and vegetable soup
  • Puree tinned fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel) with potato and vegetables

Half your meal portion should be from a protein rich food. Try adding 2tsp of protein or skimmed milk powder to your puree foods

Snacks: aim for 2-3 across the day: 200ml glass of skimmed milk (add 1-2tsp of skimmed milk powder) or protein shake or high protein yoghurt

Stage 3 – only soft foods for 2 weeks 

Once you have completed the puree stage you can move onto soft foods. It is important to follow this stage as your stomach is still healing and recovering from surgery.

What is soft food?

Soft foods are foods that have a soft consistency, are well cooked and can be easily mashed with a fork. You do not need to use a blender during the soft stage.

Foods to avoid:

Any foods that are hard or contain skins, seeds and pips as these will be difficult to mash into a soft consistency

  • Sweet corn, peas, celery, fresh tomato, potato skin, nuts, seeds, hard cheese
  • Dry, crumbly foods e.g. biscuits, crackers
  • Food that has a mixed consistency e.g. minestrone soup, cereal flakes with milk

How much and when?

Eat 3 meals each day and if you feel hungry between your meals, then have a snack. Use a side plate for your main meals, and fill ½ of your plate with protein rich foods. Start with 3-4tbsp at meal times and stop eating at the first signs of fullness or if you feel uncomfortable. Remember to stop eating at the first signs of fullness or if you feel uncomfortable. If you eat too much then you may experience pain, nausea and vomiting.

What foods are suitable?

The main focus for your meals and snacks is protein, so continue to eat this first.

Sample meal plan

Breakfast ideas:

  • Porridge, Oatibix or Weetabix with skimmed milk
  • Mashed baked beans
  • Soft cooked eggs e.g. scrambled, poached, omelette

Lunch and Dinner ideas:

  • Tinned or soft flaky fish with mashed potato and vegetables
  • Shepherd’s pie or cottage pie with mashed vegetables
  • Minced chicken/beef/lamb/turkey with couscous/mashed potato and vegetables
  • Minced quorn or soya mince with pasta and vegetable
  • Omelette with low fat grated cheese with mashed, peeled, seedless tomato
  • Cauliflower cheese
  • Risotto with soft mashed vegetables
  • Chicken or meat casserole
  • Thick soups e.g. lentil, ham, leek and potato

Snack ideas:

200ml glass of skimmed milk (add 1-2 tsp of skimmed milk powder) or high protein shake or high protein yoghurt or low fat custard or low fat yoghurt

Suitable fluids:

Try to choose protein rich liquids in between your meals:

  • Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk (try adding dried skimmed milk powder or protein powder)
  • High protein shakes, protein water

Other fluids you can have:

  • Still water
  • Marmite®, Bovril®, consommé, bouillon
  • Clear soups
  • Herbal or fruit teas
  • Tea and coffee (use sweeteners, not sugar)
  • No added sugar/sugar free squash
  • Sugar free jelly
  • Diluted vegetable juice (no bits)

Fluids to avoid:

  • Fruit juices, malt drinks and fruit smoothies
  • Fizzy drinks (including fizzy water) as the gases may cause bloating, pain and can increase your stomach size
  • All alcohol

Aim to drink 1.5-2 litres of fluids each day.

Stage 4 – regular foods from week 7 onwards

You will now have completed 6 weeks of texture progression and your stomach should have healed enough for you to gradually introduce regular texture foods and begin to increase the variety of foods in your diet.

Continue to eat 3 regular meals each day and try not to leave more than 4-5 hours between meals. You should not graze (eat small amounts of food constantly through the day) or go for a long-period of time without eating.

Use a side plate to help guide your portions and follow the plate model below, so that you are always prioritising protein first. If you are hungry in-between meals then choose a nutritious snack such as a piece of fruit, high protein yoghurt or a glass of skimmed milk.

EAT FIRST:

  • Protein (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, pulses)

EAT SECOND:

  • Vegetables and salad

EAT LAST:

  • Carbohydrates (bread, rice, potato, pasta, grains)

Possible problem foods

There may be foods after a bypass or sleeve that some people find difficult to tolerate and feel like they get ‘stuck’ or may make you sick. These include; chewy or dry red and white meat, bread, fibrous fruit and vegetables, rice, pasta, nuts and seeds. Avoid these at the beginning of the regular stage (stage 4) and then re-introduce them gradually once a ‘regular’ diet has been established.

What shall I do if food gets stuck?

If this happens it may be because you have eaten a food that was too solid, eaten too quickly or too much, or because of eating certain ‘problem’ foods. This will feel uncomfortable and you may wretch or vomit. Often it will resolve itself, however you could try drinking a small amount of cold sparkling water, as the fizz may help to dislodge the food that is stuck.

What else can you expect after surgery?

Side effects

Vomiting

After your surgery vomiting can occur. It is often the result of:

  • Eating too much
  • Eating too quickly
  • Not chewing your food well enough
  • Eating and drinking together, or too closely together
  • Eating foods that are not the correct consistency for the stage you are in
  • If you continue to vomit after checking the above and you are still within the first 2 months after surgery, you could try returning to the puree or liquid phase for a short period to see if your symptoms improve.
  • If you continue to vomit and the cause cannot be explained then please contact your surgeon or GP. Very occasionally there may be a narrowing where the new joins in your intestine have been created and this may require a procedure to stretch the area, so that food can move through.

Dumping syndrome

After surgery, avoid food and drinks high in sugar and fat. If these are taken even in small amounts, they can cause ‘Dumping Syndrome’. The symptoms are:

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Palpitations (rapid heart rate)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling faint

Dumping syndrome occurs when fatty or sugary foods are emptied or ‘dumped’ from the stomach into the small intestine too rapidly. It is usually easy to identify dumping syndrome and the food or drink that has triggered it, as symptoms usually occur within 30-60 minutes after consumption. If you experience dumping syndrome then try to sit or lie down until your symptoms improve. In the long term avoiding fatty and sugary food will help you manage dumping syndrome, as well as helping you to achieve your weight loss goal.

Hair loss

During the first 6-9 months after your surgery, you will experience rapid weight loss and hair loss can occur. By following a healthy balanced diet with enough protein and taking your vitamin and mineral supplements, should result in your hair returning to normal.

Constipation

If you experience constipation make sure you are drinking enough fluids. You should aim for 1.5-2 litres of fluids each day. During the early post-operative stages it can be difficult to get enough fibre as your focus is on protein. When you are in the puree stage, include some puree cereals and fruit and vegetables in your diet to help your bowels work more efficiently. If constipation persists then speak to your GP about a suitable laxative.

Reactive Hypoglycaemia

Reactive hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) is a recognised complication after surgery and is the result of the alteration in your intestine, hormonal changes and the way you digest carbohydrates (sugars). The symptoms are:

  • Sweating
  • Palpitations (rapid heart rate)
  • Feeling shaky
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling faint
  • Confusion
  • Weakness

The symptoms of reactive hypoglycaemia usually occur within 1-4 hours after a meal. If you think you are experiencing reactive hypoglycaemia then contact one the bariatric dietitians for advice, as reactive hypoglycaemia can often be managed with dietary changes. Keeping a food and symptom diary can be helpful to identify foods that trigger symptoms. If dietary changes do not help you to manage reactive hypoglycaemia, then the dietitian will refer you to endocrinology for further investigations and advice.

Hunger and appetite

In the early post-operative period you may not feel hungry because of your smaller stomach and the changes in gut hormones that will affect your appetite. It is still important to eat 3 regular meals and snacks (if needed), with the main focus on your protein intake.

A regular meal pattern with your smaller stomach can be a challenge and with less feelings of hunger, you may be tempted to skip meals thinking that this may speed your weight loss. However this can result in you becoming malnourished and deficient in protein and vitamins and minerals. Skipping your meals may also encourage unhelpful eating behaviours such as snacking / grazing that in the long term may result in weight regain.

Vitamins and minerals

After surgery reduced food intake may increase your risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Daily, life-long vitamin and mineral supplementation is essential.

As soon as you are able to start having liquids, you can begin taking your multivitamins and minerals. During this stage some vitamins and minerals will be soluble. Once you move through the texture stages your GP can prescribe you with a tablet or chewable form.

Remember to space your vitamins and minerals across the day, as taking them all together will affect how well you absorb them. You will need to take your calcium supplement separately from your multivitamins and minerals and iron. 

Dietary goals for successful weight loss after bariatric surgery ‘The Golden Rules’

  • Eat 3 small regular meals each day, avoid long periods of fasting
  • Do not ‘graze’
  • Plan snacks if you get hungry between meals
  • Use a side plate to portion your meals
  • Eat protein foods first
  • Eat slowly: put a small amount of food in your mouth at a time (size of a thumbnail) and chew this very well (at least 20 times). Take 20-30 minutes to complete your meal
  • Eat at a table or without any distractions and try putting your cutlery down between mouthfuls
  • Do not eat until you are ‘full’. Overeating will stretch your stomach pouch, cause discomfort and may cause vomiting
  • Do not drink with meals. Drink 20 minutes before meals and then wait at least 20 minutes after a meal before you drink some fluids
  • Aim to drink at least 1.5-2 litres of fluid a day
  • Avoid all alcohol
  • Avoid all fizzy drinks as these can cause discomfort, bloating and stretch your small stomach pouch
  • Avoid high calorie drinks such as smoothies, fruit juice, energy drinks and milkshakes as they contain a lot of sugar (and therefore calories) and can affect your weight loss following surgery
Contributors
George Vasilopoulos Liz Alden