Nutrition Following Gastric Band Surgery

Consume a low-fat, low-sugar, all liquid diet

Sip liquids at each meal

Drink water or other non-calorie, non-carbonated beverages between meals

Liquid diet choices

• Nonfat (skim) milk
• Carnation Instant Beverage (without added sugar)
• Low-fat creamy (strained) soup
• Low-fat Low-sugar yogurt, pudding or custard
• Commercially prepared protein drinks
• Fruit juices diluted with water

The fluids listed above may travel through the banded area rather rapidly. You may not feel full after a liquid meal. This is expected. Remember, the primary concern in the first month is not so much weight loss as it is allowing you to heal, allowing the band to encapsulate around the stomach, and preparing you to start progressing your diet to thicker, denser foods.

DO’s DON’Ts

• Sip liquids slowly
• Choose liquids which are low in fat and calories
• Drink plenty of water or non-calorie beverages between meals
• Avoid alcohol and carbonated beverages
• Eat any solid foods or soups containing solids such as meats or breads
• Soups made with cream
• Puddings or custards unless are low-fat and low-calorie
• Gulp any liquids

During week 3, you should eat foods that are moist and mushy than can be crushed with your fork.

Soft food diet choices

• Slowly consume soft consistency protein food in small amounts 3 times a day
• Drink water or other non-caloric, non-carbonated beverages up to 15 minutes before a meal and 1 hour after a meal
• Soft protein food choices:
• Low-fat cheese (cottage cheese, American cheese)
• Eggs or egg substitutes
• Egg, chicken or tuna salad
• Soy products
• Beans
• Soft carbohydrate food choices:
• Hot cereal or cold “soggy” cereal
• Mashed potatoes
• Fruit without the skin (canned fruit, apple sauce or bananas)
• Soft well-cooked vegetables (e.g., spinach, squash)
• Remember to eat slowly and try very small portions to start. You may notice a feeling of fullness after eating small portions of soft foods.

DO’s DON’Ts

• Eat small portions very slowly
• Have protein at every meal
• Drink plenty of no-calorie beverages between meals
• Eat any fibrous foods such as raw vegetables or tough meats
• Eat any fast foods or concentrated sweets

You are ready to introduce solid food into your diet. You should be experiencing satiety, a feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating small portions of solid foods, mainly after your first adjustment.

Solid food diet choices

• Slowly consume a small portion of protein food and vegetables 3 times a day.
• Space these solid meals 5 hours apart
• Chew all solid foods to a mushy consistency
• Do not drink liquids during or shortly following a meal
• Solid foods, as tolerated:
• Fish
• Ground chicken and turkey (dark meat)
• Introduce pasta, rice and red meats at separate times to see if they are tolerated
• Avoid fibrous foods such as pineapple, celery and non-tender cuts of red meat
• Avoid meat and other foods which are dry and overcooked

Remember to eat very slowly, chew thoroughly, and take very small bites. You should spend 30-45 minutes eating at each meal. Once solids are started, you should experience a feeling of fullness. This is how you will eat permanently.

• Tough or dry meats
• Bread
• Rice
• Pasta

• All fresh and frozen vegetables
• Fresh fruit
• Chicken or turkey, no skin
• White fish
• Tuna fish
• Milk, skim or 1%
• Egg whites or egg substitutes
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Low-fat cheeses
• Yogurt, non-fat, no added sugar
• Beans, lentils, split peas
• Whole grain bread
• Cooked cereal
• Brown rice
• Whole wheat pasta
• Beans, lentils, lima beans
• Baked potato
• Sweet potato
• Mashed potato, no fat

• Vegetables juice
• Tomato juice
• Canned vegetables
• Fresh juices
• Lean, tender cuts of veal, pork, and beef
• Whole eggs
• White bread
• Unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal
• Saltine crackers
• Rice cakes

• Deep fried vegetables
• Creamed vegetables
• Corn
• Asparagus stalks
• Celery
• Canned fruits in syrup
• Pineapple
• Fruit candy
• Fruit punch
• Whole milk
• Regular cheeses
• Omelets
• Ribs
• Sausage
• Bacon
• Fried chicken
• Snack chips and crackers
• Sweetened cereal
• Cookies
• Cake
• Ice cream
• Sweetened beverages
• French fries