In previous articles, we have covered a wide variety of topics concerning nutrition and the types of diets a patient must follow before and after bariatric surgery, as well as what you cannot eat. Sticking to these diets is very important to avoid any complications during and after the procedure, and while there may be some slight changes according to each patient’s case, the diet plans provided by nutritionists during this process are very straightforward. After undergoing bariatric surgery, you will be given a postoperative diet plan to guide you on what you can and cannot eat.
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We highly encourage our patients to follow these diets to have a successful recovery, as well as to avoid overeating well beyond their bariatric surgery, especially if they underwent a gastric sleeve or bypass. In this article, we will discuss which foods cannot be eaten after bariatric surgery and some of the consequences of not following the diet given by the doctor.
Our specialists provide thorough nutrition planning for patients as part of our integrative bariatric program. As a patient at LIMARP® International Center of Excellence for Obesity, patients receive specific, individualized postoperative diet plans. These plans will vary based on the type of procedure they receive. Our postoperative diet plans schedule a gradual introduction of foods, from liquids to solids, to allow the stomach to heal properly, reducing the risk of future complications, as well as a list of foods that the patient cannot eat. Allowing the stomach to heal also increases their odds of achieving your weight loss goals and keeping the weight off in the long-term.
Postoperative diet plans are essential for all bariatric surgery patients. Those individuals who undergo malabsorptive procedures must learn to choose foods and supplements that ensure they receive the nutrients they need because they cannot eat certain foods in the first weeks of recovery. With our tailored plans, all patients can discover more options that will benefit their health and unique situation. As always, we’d like to remind you that the information presented in this article is general and may not apply to all cases. If you’ve been following a postoperative diet and start having negative side effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Before we learn more about which foods cannot be eaten after bariatric surgery, we would like to provide more information on how your diet will change throughout your recovery process.
Stages of a Postoperative Diet
As your stomach heals, you will go through various stages of eating during your postoperative diet. This means that the foods that you can and cannot eat after bariatric surgery will also change.
Liquids
You will only have clear liquids for one to seven days following your bariatric surgery, meaning that you cannot eat any solid foods. This includes, of course, water, but also chicken, beef or vegetable broth, popsicles and gelatin. You may only drink two to three ounces of liquid at a time and you must drink them very slowly. When your program allows for it, you may begin drinking non-clear liquids for one week. These include skim milk, unsweetened plant-based milks, soups, sugar-free juices, and decaffeinated coffee or tea, but still cannot eat anything more solid than that.
For more information on liquid diets and what you can and cannot consume during this stage of your postoperative diet, we invite you to read this article
Pureed Foods
As your body becomes more tolerant, you may start introducing pureed foods. You will eat them exclusively for three to four full weeks and cannot eat food more solid than that. Pureed foods have a consistency similar to baby food and you may also have protein shakes during this time. You cannot eat and drink at the same time during this stage because you will not be accustomed to the smaller size of your stomach and will likely be unable to gauge when you are full. Examples of good pureed-consistency foods are scrambled eggs, cooked and smashed vegetables, grounded meat, humus, and yogurt.
Soft Foods
After three to four weeks of pureed foods, you may begin to introduce soft foods, but still cannot eat more solid foods. You may eat a combination of pureed and soft foods for about two weeks. Soft foods should be cut or shredded into very small pieces and may include foods such as diced fish or chicken or ground meats, canned or soft fruit with no seeds or skin, and cooked vegetables with no skin. Other good options are rice, lentils, tuna, and soft cheeses. Keep in mind that you still cannot eat harder to chew food during this period of time.
Healthy Solid Foods
After about six to eight weeks, you may gradually introduce more solid foods into your diet, but you should continue cutting your food into small, easily digestible bites. You may find that you cannot eat or tolerate some foods right away, such as spicy or extremely crunchy foods. However, you may be able to incorporate them back into your diet at a later time. It is important to continue eating small meals and to make healthy choices that focus on protein, vegetables, and fruits.
Although you’ll be able to eat many different types of food after your recovery, it is still important to remember that you still cannot certain foods that can lead you on a wrong track from your weight loss goals and away from healthy eating habits, like high-calorie, high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods, junk foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol.
Now that we’ve covered how a postoperative diet works after undergoing bariatric surgery, as well as what you can eat, let’s go over some of the foods that you cannot eat while recovering from your procedure.
What Foods and Drinks to Avoid
There are several foods and drinks that you cannot eat after having bariatric surgery and when it comes to beverages, it’s best to avoid the following[1]:
- Caffeine and carbonated beverages for at least three months
- Alcoholic drinks for at least six months
When your doctor has finally cleared you and tells you that you can drink the aforementioned beverages, make sure to start slow. One of the reasons you’re indicated to avoid these drinks is because they can irritate the stomach and even though you’re healed, you can still feel discomfort. If it becomes unmanageable, your doctor may recommend that you cut them from your diet moving forward.
When it comes to food, you may also notice some intolerance toward dishes that you didn’t have a problem with before, such as red meat, greasy, high-fat foods, spicy food, and food that’s reheated in a microwave. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you cannot eat them, but it’s best if you don’t to avoid irritation in the stomach that can later lead to more serious complications, such as ulcers or ruptures.
Other types of foods you cannot eat after bariatric surgery include[2]:
Food the contains empty calories
After bariatric surgery, your doctor will not tell you that you cannot eat foods that provide little or no nutritional value, but rather avoid them as best as you can. Foods loaded with sugar or that are fried can lead to a condition called “dumping syndrome,” which means that food is dumped in the colon quickly after eating it. Dumping syndrome causes weakness, cold sweats, nausea, and possibly vomiting and diarrhea.
Dry food like cereal and granola
If you’re not consuming many liquids and still recovering from your procedure, you cannot eat foods like nuts or granola because they can be difficult to swallow. This doesn’t mean that you will never be able to eat them, but it’s important to give your stomach enough time to heal before it digests these types of foods.
Rice and pasta
Rice and pasta are starchy and can form a paste in your throat that can be hard to swallow if you’re not drinking liquids. You cannot eat them because, in the worst of cases, they can block the stoma and put you at risk of serious postoperative complications.
Fibrous fruits and vegetables
Your doctor may tell you that you cannot eat certain vegetables, such as celery, corn, broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus, while recovering from bariatric surgery. This is because they are hard to digest and may put your stomach under a lot of stress, which puts you at risk of complications.
These are just some examples of the foods that you cannot eat after bariatric surgery, but keep in mind that they may change according to the way your recovery goes or if you have any dietary restriction.
Your dietitian will create your plan with a list of foods that you can and cannot eat, as well as recommendations on how to make this process easy and comfortable for you. If you’re struggling with following your new diet plan or find that there are other foods that you cannot eat, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.
Contact Us to Learn More
If you want to learn more about which foods cannot be eaten after bariatric surgery, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
References
- [1] “What Foods and Drinks Should You Avoid After Bariatric Surgery?”. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery-blog/2020/january/foods-drinks-to-avoid-after-bariatric-surgery (Accessed June 20, 2022).
- [2] “Eight foods to avoid after bariatric surgery”. https://www.phoenix-health.co.uk/foods-to-avoid-after-bariatric-surgery/ (Accessed June 20, 2022).