Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition: Essential Needs & Diet

Due to the reduced caloric intake of patients who have had bariatric surgery, the nutritional needs have some very specific requirements. There is no room for junk food because everything eaten needs to have high nutritious value.

Immediately Post-Op

• Immediately following surgery, patients will be on a clear liquid diet and then will move to a liquid protein diet for the next two to three weeks.

Supplementation

• It will be difficult to get enough of the right vitamins and minerals after surgery so patients should supplement with a chewable multivitamin and a chewable calcium supplement.

Soft Foods

• Soft foods, such as eggs, potatoes and oatmeal can be introduced around Week 4 after surgery. Again, the foods chosen need to be of high nutritious value, consumed in small amounts.

Solid Foods

• Somewhere between Weeks 10 and 12 after surgery, the patient can begin slowly adding solid foods to the diet. Patients will choose lean meats and low fat foods and each meal should contain at least three oz of protein.

Warning

• Try not to drink fluids at least 30 minutes prior to eating because this will further restrict the amount of nutritious food that can be taken in.