Things You Can Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery

You will become all-consumed with food schedules following gastric bypass surgery. You will have to dramatically change the way you handle meals because the anatomy of your digestive system has been altered. Your stomach is now the size of a walnut, so your doctor will give you a very specific diet to follow. Rest assured, your stomach pouch will become slightly larger in time, but it's essential to follow your doctor's orders. You'll work with a nutritionist to come up with a meal plan. Following the gastric bypass diet will promote health weight loss.

First Two Days

• For the first two days following gastric bypass surgery, you're not allowed to eat any food. You're restricted to a liquid diet of room-temperature, water-based products, such as broth, juice, strained cream soup and milk.

Three to Four Weeks

• You will soon be able to eat pureed foods, which contain no distinct pieces. They will have the consistency of paste or thick liquid.

Eight Weeks

• You'll eat soft foods for eight weeks before being permitted to move onto solid foods. Soft foods include fresh fruit, cooked vegetables and ground meat.

Schedule

• You are encouraged after gastric bypass to have six small meals a day, sipping liquid in between. You'll progress to four meals a day and finally to a normal schedule of three meals.

Warning

• Your stomach will now only hold 1 oz. of food. So, eat and drink slowly and avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar. They will cause painful vomiting, also called dumping syndrome.