For the past 4 weeks, your food choices have been relatively limited. You have gradually introduced new foods and textures and have been learning to eat regular meals, avoid snacks, avoid high density carbohydrates, and choose quality proteins at each meal.

Foods that come from animal sources are the best source of high quality protein. Examples are meat, fish, eggs, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese and tofu. You are ready to move on to the Regular Diet.

Normally, the Regular Diet is started around the 4th week after discharge from the hospital. However, we strongly urge you to advance slowly and cautiously. Going on to the Regular Diet does not mean that you can begin eating whatever you want whenever you want. Add only 1 solid food per day from each category of proteins, vegetables, and fruits. As you add solid foods, you should begin eliminating the higher calorie liquids that were included in the Full Liquid diet.

Take very small bites and chew, chew, chew, and chew again before swallowing. Then wait for 5 minutes before taking another small bite. Listen to your body. Let it become the teacher. You become the student. If you experience pain, a feeling of the food sticking in your throat, vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea, wait 1-2 weeks before trying this food again.

Every patient's ability and capacity of handling all foods is different. One size does not fit all. Taste is individual, not the same for everyone. Take it slowly.

Identify what works for you rather than comparing yourself to other postoperative patients.

For most patients, red meats such as steaks and roasts are hard to eat, while bean-less chili with tomatoes is tolerated well by most. For the time being, avoid crunchy, hard to chew foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and tough meats.

For meals to begin your transition to regular foods, choose from:

Beverages
milk (skim, 1/2%, 1%)
Crystal Light® or sugar-free Kool-Aid®
water
caffeine-free diet soda (in limited amounts)
decaffeinated tea (hot or cold)
decaffeinated coffee

Proteins
eggs or egg substitute
canned tuna in water
soft flaked fish (baked or broiled)
low-fat cottage cheese
lean ground beef (all other meats should be ground to the same texture as ground beef, using a blender or food chopper)

Cereals
cooked or refined dry cereal (Cream of Rice®, steel cut oats, old fashioned oatmeal, diluted grits)

Fats
eliminate margarine, transfats and hydrogenated oils from your diet. Instead, use extra-virgin olive oil, cold pressed Canola oil, and a limited amount of real butter

Fruits
canned or cooked fruits packed in natural juice

Vegetables
soft, cooked and/or chopped vegetables (examples: green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus)
At this time, avoid vegetables with skins, seeds, and hulls (examples: cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini squash, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepinos)

Soups and Stews
cream or broth-based soups and stews (made only with allowed foods)

Remember that soups are considered a liquid and should not be eaten on a regular basis. Thick stews made with meats and vegetables are a better choice.

Desserts
sugar-free gelatin
sugar-free pudding
sugar-free custard

Miscellaneous
Seasonings may be used to add flavor, such as ground spices and smooth condiments including mustard, no sugar added salsa, and real mayonnaise.

Avoid catsup, honey mustard sauce or barbeque sauce due to the added sugar.

Eliminate all high density carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, corn and peas. It is better to complement your protein choices with low density carbohydrates such as lettuce (all kinds), broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, green beans, cooked celery, egg plant, skinned and seeded cucumber, and low density whole fruits (berries are the best).

A Terrifying Revelation

A nutritional researcher has estimated that some postoperative gastric bypass female patients, once they have reached a weight plateau, a year or more after the surgery, will gain weight if they consume more than 25 grams of high density carbohydrates per day. The researcher has also estimated that for some male postoperative gastric bypass patients a consumption of more than 40 to 50 grams of high density carbohydrates per day will initiate weight gain.

Remember:
A baked potato (51 grams of high density carbohydrate) equals 51 cucumbers, almost a bushel (one cucumber = 1 gram of carbohydrate x 51 cucumbers = 1 baked potato)

At this time we suggest patients begin taking Bari-Tec Long Term, two (2) caplets after meals, three times daily.

Caution! You should not take this product without consulting with your physician if you have a Greenfield filter or other kind of vena cava filter. Simply take our regular Bari-Tec vitamin/mineral supplement which contains no Vitamin K.

Induction Plan (Preop diet)   Day 1-6 (Postop diet)   Day 7-13 (Postop diet)
Day 14-27 (Postop diet)   Day 28+ (Regular diet)   Diet Guide

  Global Nutritional Products

These products have not been evaluated by the F.D.A.
and are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Always consult with your healthcare professional before modifying your diet or lifestyle.

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