For the many people who struggle against obesity, diabetes and related health problems, bariatric procedures can hold incredible benefits. Weight loss, increased life expectancy, diabetes management, reduced risk of both heart disease and cancer: the list goes on and on! Remember that your doctor's orders are the ones you should follow first. This article is intended as encouraging and inspirational material and should not be used as a replacement for medical advice.
Purposes of the bariatric diet are threefold: to keep you at a healthy weight, to form healthy eating habits and to encourage healing after surgery. Generally, the diet progresses in phases: Selected Liquids, Purees and Soft Solids. Again, always follow your doctor's advice on when to switch and what to eat. Generally speaking, patients will not be allowed to eat for one to two days following surgery to give the stomach time to heal. Afterwards, the bariatric diet progresses as follows.
Selected Liquids
During this phase, sip slowly and lightly throughout the day. Overfilling your newly constricted stomach will cause nausea and discomfort. Remember to avoid carbonation and caffeine. Here are some options for the liquid only phase of the bariatric diet.
- Milk--your doctor will likely encourage you to attempt as much protein consumption as possible. If you can handle dairy, milk is a valuable addition to your liquid diet.
- Unsweetened Juice--a bariatric diet should restrict sugar intake, but diluting clear unsweetened juices (like apple or cranberry) with 50% water will make for a refreshing treat.
- Sugar-Free Gelatin--if you're longing for some sort of texture, most bariatric diets allow for the intake of jello in this phase. Be sure you're consuming sugar-free.
- Clear Broth--it's easy to grow tired of sweet tastes. If you're longing for something savory, drink broth. Take care to ensure it's not too hot! And always seek a low-sodium option.
Purees
After you are able to tolerate liquid sustenance for a few days, your doctor will give you the go-ahead to move on to pastes and thicker liquids. Puree well in a quality food processor. Your food choices should not have any bits of truly solid food in them. Here are some generally accepted semi-solids. Blend your pureed meats and soft produce with broth, milk, gravy, unsweetened juice or yogurt for variety.
- Ground meat (Be sure to select lowest fat options.)
- Fish
- Yogurt
- Cottage Cheese
- Soft vegetables
- Soft fruits
- Bariatric Protein Shakes
Soft Solids
Once your doctor gives the "OK," it's fine to add soft solids to your diet. Hooray! A good rule of thumb for determining whether food is soft enough is whether or not you can easily mash it with your fork.
- Cooked vegetables
- Finely diced, tender meats
- Cooked noodles.
- Soup
- Canned or soft-flesh fruits
- Eggs
- Beans
Do your best to avoid hard or crunchy foods, even after your doctor gives you the okay to start eating regularly. Take your time! Remember that by giving yourself ample time to heal, you greatly increase your chances of continued success. So be patient with your body. Convenience is often a major factor in determining how well you'll eat, so bariatric specialty foods like Bariatric Diet Supplements protein shakes are sure bets. Look for more diet-specific options from specialty providers--or ask your nutritionist to recommend some.
Take your time recovering from bariatric surgery. In order to enjoy the most success, find foods that you enjoy that meet the requirements of your diet. With delicious and nutritious options, you'll be less tempted to stray and more likely to enjoy the incredible benefits of your bariatric procedure.
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