Diet Progression After Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass
The following is a typical diet progression after bariatric surgery. However, please speak to your nursing staff, Dr. Shawn Tsuda or Dr. Heidi Ryan about specifics regarding your surgery. Select from the phases below for more detailed information:
Helpful Items to purchase:
Food Scale, small containers, small plates and utensils
For The Gastric Sleeve
The gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy is a metabolic surgical procedure that shrinks the usable stomach by about 75 to 85% of its original size, causing both food restriction and decreased hunger. The postoperative nutrition requirements are slightly different from the gastric bypass, as there is no intestinal malabsorptive component. In addition to the instructions below, you will require one multi-vitamin per day and possibly other supplementation depending on your vitamin and mineral levels, which we check periodically after surgery.
- Bariatric Liquid Diet: Surgery day – 2 weeks (while in the facility / home)
- Pureed Diet: 2 weeks (consistency of applesauce). Slowly move from pureed diet to soft diet over a 1 week period of time.
- Soft Diet: 2 weeks (consistency of scrambled eggs). Slowly move from soft diet to regular diet over a 1 week period of time.
- Regular Diet: 4 weeks after surgery ***Begin working toward eating only 3 meals daily.
Number of Meals: 4-6 small (2-3 oz) meals daily (first 4 weeks only) THEN 3 (6-8 oz) meals daily after 4 weeks AND for life)
Length of Meals: 20-30 minutes (NO MORE/NO LESS)
Fluids: Drink at least 48 ounces of fluid daily
Dumping Syndrome: Does not USUALLY occur.
Protein: Minimum of 60-80 Gms per day
Hunger: Less often and less intense.
For The Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves both restriction, in the form of shrinking the usable stomach, as well as malabsorption as a result of the bypassing of part of the small intestine. As a result, gastric bypass patients will have a slightly modified postoperative diet and nutrition regimen versus the gastric sleeve. All patients will require two multivitamins a day and most will require supplementation of one or more of the following vitamins and minerals: iron, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Supplementation requirements will be dependent on periodic post-operative blood tests.
Bariatric Liquid Diet: Surgery day – 2 weeks (while in the facility / home)
Pureed Diet: 2 weeks (consistency of applesauce)Slowly move from pureed diet to soft diet over a 1 week period of time.
Soft Diet: 2 weeks (consistency of scrambled eggs). Slowly move from soft diet to regular diet over a 1 week period of time.
Regular Diet: 4 weeks after surgery ***Begin working toward eating only 3 meals daily.
Number of Meals: 4-6 small (2-3 oz) meals daily (first 4 weeks only) THEN 3 (4-6 oz) meals daily after 4 weeks AND for life)
Length of Meals: 20-30 minutes (NO MORE/NO LESS)
Fluids: Drink at least 48 ounces of fluid daily
- Avoid fluids with, and immediately after meals, to slow emptying of stomach and enhance satiety
- Stop drinking fluids 30 minutes before and after each meal
- 30/30/30 RULE
Dumping Syndrome: Vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate and /or sweating after eating foods high in sugar or fat. Occurs and helps to reinforce limiting intake of sweets and foods high in fat content.
Protein: Minimum of 60-80 Gms per day
Hunger: Less hunger due to slower emptying time and less appetite stimulating hormone production.
