Food Guides

Food guide for the second post-operative week (day 4-14 at home)
During this very early period it is best to limit your intake to liquids. This will give your new stomach pouch time to heal properly. The liquids should not be carbonated and should not contain alcohol. Sip your liquids carefully.

Liquids that are well tolerated are:

Un sweetened, non-carbonated beverages
Beef, chicken or turkey broth
Miso soup
Skim milk
Problend 55, ProComplex, Pure Protein, Zero Carb Isopure, Designer Protein Powder, GeniSoy or other low carbohydrate, high protein shakes.
Un sweetened Popsicles
Un sweetened Jello

Food guide for weeks three through six after surgery
It is still very important to adhere to the guidelines, as your new pouch is still healing and you are adjusting to a new way of eating. You should limit your intake to liquids, pureed and very soft foods.

Foods well tolerated during this period are:

Any liquids that worked before
Scrambled eggs: try 2 egg whites with one yolk
Poached or soft boiled egg
Pureed soups or egg drop soups
Pureed bean dishes
Creamy peanut butter
Any soy product in form of powder, tofu, tempeh etc.
Cottage cheese
Un sweetened apple sauce
Oatmeal thinned with skim milk
Grits
Cream of wheat
Mashed potatoes thinned with broth
Baby shrimp – chew very well
White, flaky fish such as sole
Liverwurst and pâté
Low-fat, un sweetened yogurt
Low-salt table crackers

Food guide for after the sixth post-operative week
Tolerance to foods varies from one individual to the next. Gradually, try other sources of protein such as soy products, poultry, fish and seafood, and lastly, meats. We advise patients to avoid red meats until their stomach is functioning very well, usually after 3 to 4 months. Tolerance to food may improve over time. Always be sure to chew your food very well, take small bites and eat slowly. Try only a very small amount at first. Cook foods without added fats.

Foods well tolerated on the low-fat, proportionally high protein, heart healthy meal plan are:

Fish, seafood and imitation crab meat
Poultry (keep moist)
Deli sliced meats
Edamame (shelled soy beans)
Beef or turkey jerky
Low fat burritos
Egg or soy noodles
Veggie burgers and Bocca burgers
Vegetables and salads
Whole grain toast

Fluids
Drink 1 ½ to 2 liters per day, between meals.  Recommended beverages are water, un sweetened, low calorie, non-carbonated drinks.  Juices are high in calorie, could cause dumping and provide very little nutritional value.

Here are some tips.

-   Do not drink 30 minutes before or after meals
-   Sip slowly and carefully
-   Sip fluids continually all day long to prevent dehydration
-   Avoid drinking from fountains or with straws (it is more difficult to control
    the volume of your intake.)
-   Eliminate high calorie drinks such as milk-shakes, soda, alcoholic
    beverages and juices.  Weight loss can be slowed down dramatically and
    even be stopped.

Protein
Protein is the essential stuff, of which our muscles, organs, heart and brain are all constructed.  Our bodies require a constant supply of protein building materials, to repair and replace tissues that become worn out or damaged. 
It is important to get at least 60 grams of protein each day.  Remember that if you have not taken in adequate amounts of protein after three weeks, your body will start to break down it’s own source of protein – muscle.  This will cause you to feel nauseated and week. It is important to prevent this from happening.  Protein also helps with cell tissue repair and helps fight infection. 

Because the small stomach pouch reduces the capacity of the stomach to a very small volume, protein containing foods should be carefully eaten with each meal.  This is crucial to be sure that the body gets enough protein to maintain itself.  If the focus of each meal is protein-rich foods, deficiency is very unlikely to occur.  Early on, when you are taking in protein drinks, it is easy to keep track of how much protein you are consuming, but later, when you are eating regular food, it may be a little more difficult.  Use the nutrition labels as your guide. 

Here is a list of the most popular protein rich foods and their nutritional value in regards to protein:
 

Guidance on how to understand & use
the Nutrition Facts Panel on Food Labels
(U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
 
People look at food labels for different reasons.  But whatever the reason, many consumers would like to know how to use this information more effectively and easily.  The following guidance is intended to make it easier for you to use nutrition labels to make quick, informed food choices that contribute to a healthy diet.

The Nutrition Facts Panel has two parts:
The main or top section (see #1-5 on the sample nutrition label below), which contains product-specific information (serving size, calories, and nutrient information) that varies with each food product; and the bottom part (see #6 on the sample nutrition label below), which contains a footnote.  This footnote is only on larger packages and provides general dietary information about important nutrients.