Bariatric Dietary Progression After Surgery
Make sure to avoid all carbonated beverages and do NOT drink from straws. It is important that you do not advance too quickly. It takes 6 weeks for your stomach to heal and not be dependent on the little tiny staples. If you advance too quickly, you are asking your stomach to do additional work that it is not ready for and increase your risk of a leak from the staple line. Please, be kind to your body and do not cheat!
Dietary Phase | Time Frame Post-Surgery | Foods and Beverages |
Clear Liquids | POD #1-7 | Anything you can see through. Water, clear protein shakes made with water, clear soups, Jello. NO FRUIT JUICE! |
Full Liquids | POD #8-21 | Anything that FITS through a straw, but DO NOT USE A STRAW. All clears, add in regular protein shakes with unsweet almond milk, high protein cream soups |
Pureed Foods | POD #22-28 | Anything the is the consistency of baby food. All liquids as above, soft scrambled egg, low fat dairy (Chobani zero, etc.), pureed beans and lean meats (use a blender) |
Soft Foods | POD #29-34 | Anything you don’t need teeth to chew (can you “gum it”?). Boiled eggs, poached eggs, lean deli meat, fruits and cooked veggies (no peel), fish, fork-tender lean meats |
Solid Foods | POD #35+ | Remember to cut everything up very well like you are feeding a 12mo old child. Enjoy responsibly! |
Ainsley Freshour, MD, FACS, DABS
Robotic, Minimally Invasive, and Bariatric Surgeon
Board Certified General Surgeon and Surgical Intensivist
