Eating after gastric sleeve surgery is important. The new stomach pouch created after surgery has a volume of approximately 150 ml and has the capacity to absorb nutrients. To ensure proper healing of the stomach, juicy, soft and pureed foods should be preferred for the first four weeks.
This dietary pattern aims to maintain a healthy lifestyle along with weight loss goals. It is very important to pay attention to the right food choices and balanced nutrition principles while maintaining your health during the weight loss process. In addition, a postoperative exercise routine is an indispensable part of the weight loss process.
Which Foods Should be Consumed After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The eating after gastric sleeve surgery consists of several stages. During this process, the doctor applies a personalized nutrition plan. However, the meals and drinks to be eaten during the first few weeks due to surgery are similar. The generally recommended diet after gastric surgery is as follows:
Juicy Foods: Approximately three days after surgery, it will be appropriate to switch to clear watery foods. During this period, foods such as tea, water, compote, apple juice, broth can be preferred. When the patient’s body can tolerate such foods, foods such as soup, yogurt, biscuits and feta cheese should be added slowly on the fifth or sixth day. These foods should be included in the patient’s daily diet at frequent intervals and in smaller portions.
Blenderized Soft Foods: In addition to the foods listed in the previous stage, this stage may include foods that are juicy and soft in texture. A blender can be used to obtain such foods. A blender is an effective tool for grinding and mixing dried food samples.
Patients can more easily digest foods that have been processed with a blender. For example, soft fruits such as apricots, peaches, strawberries and watermelon can be consumed directly. However, fruits with hard skins should be pureed with a blender. Examples of these foods are:
- Blenderized soups
- Blenderized fruits (fruit purees)
- Mashed potatoes made with skim milk
- Fat-free or low-fat (light) milk, yogurt and buttermilk
- Blenderized stews
Semi-Solid Foods: Semi-solid foods are consumed in stage 3 after gastric surgery. After four weeks after the surgery, you can gradually switch to semi-solid foods. At this point, your stomach pouch will have completed the healing process. Your digestive system can easily accept soft and semi-solid foods. Examples of semi-solid foods include the following:
- Cooked vegetables (peeled)
- Low-fat milk, buttermilk, kefir
- Grilled or baked fish
- Beans and legumes
- Minced lean meat, kebab
- Low-fat cheese
- Fruit
Low-fat Solid Foods: After gastric surgery, low-fat solid foods are introduced in the 4th stage. This process covers approximately three months after surgery. At this point, your dietary options have expanded. You can now consume red meat, raw vegetables and raw fruits. However, you can easily consume all solid foods, provided that you chew your food well. It is also possible to drink a glass of water during meals.
Dietary Considerations After Gastric Surgery
The eating after sleeve gastrectomy includes some rules. There are many points you should pay attention to in this process. You should pay attention to the following in your diet after sleeve gastrectomy surgery:
- After surgery, you should pay attention to your protein intake as prescribed by your doctor.
- Since a good and balanced diet is important in this process, you should consume all kinds of food as recommended.
- You should eat three meals and two snacks.
- You should consume food by taking small bites and chewing a lot.
- Take care not to consume liquids during meals.
- Try to avoid all fibrous foods as much as possible, as they can cause obstruction.
- Eat foods that are good for your bowel function.
- Avoid unshredded red meat.