Gastric Sleeve: Forbidden Foods & Foods You Can Eat
Discover the various foods you can eat and the foods you can’t eat after gastric sleeve surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the patient’s stomach. During this surgery, a section of the stomach is removed by a bariatric surgeon leaving a thin tube-shaped stomach. Because the stomach has reduced in size significantly, the patient feels full faster and consumes less food, which leads to rapid weight loss.
At least two weeks before gastric sleeve surgery, food restrictions are made. These diet changes prepare both the liver and the Gastrointestinal/digestive tract for the procedure. This pre-surgery diet also helps develop the patient for the lifestyle changes they are committing to by having this weight loss surgery
Forbidden Foods
Food to Limit Before and After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The types of foods that each patient should avoid will depend on how their body processes and digests food. Here is a general list of foods that all weight loss surgery patients should always avoid.
- Fried food;
- Fatty food;
- Alcohol;
- Desserts and candy (Donuts, baked goods);
- Sugar (Use Equal, Sweet & Low or Splenda instead);
- Carbonated drinks (Kool-Aid sweetened or soda);
- Snack foods (chips, pretzels, etc.);
- Added fats such as salad dressing, butter/margarine or mayonnaise;
- Fast food;
- High-fat meat such as bacon, sausage or hot dogs;
- Animal skin or fat;
- Whole milk products whether sauce, cheese or cream/milk.
Food That is Safe to Eat After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There is a large variety of food that is safe to eat following your gastric sleeve surgery. Here is a list of some of the most popular. To fully understand your post-op diet, it’s important to follow-up with your physician, a nutritionist and your bariatric surgeon.
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Scrambled eggs, egg whites only
- Lean meats
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Sugar-free Jell-O
- Protein shakes
Protein is especially important following the gastric sleeve surgery. It helps the body to fat burn while the patient is on a low-fat diet. Protein shakes or other protein-rich foods should be consumed at the right time to prevent the chance of blockages (consult your doctor and surgeon). Always drink a lot of water to digest correctly, but do not consume any while eating as it will feel you up faster.
Eating Tips While Preparing for Gastric Sleeve
Always begin choosing low-fat foods ahead of the surgery. Practice drinking water and fluids in between meals only and to consume at least 64 ounces of water daily. Some experts suggest drinking half of your body weight in fluids to stay the most hydrated. You will be sipping liquids after surgery, so practice this too.
Start decreasing portion sizes a few weeks before surgery to prepare for your new stomach size. Practice chewing your food thoroughly and eating slowly. Prepare your vitamin and mineral schedule. Also, purchase all of the safe foods you need for after your gastric sleeve surgery.
All of these tips will help your post-op experience that much easier. Ultimately, the results you see from your weight loss surgery depends on your commitment to the strict guidelines set by your doctor, surgeon and nutritionist. Good luck!
