Proper Nutrition Program After Bariatric Surgery

Stage 1: Clear Liquid Diet (3rd and 4th day after the operation)

48 HOURS AFTER THE OPERATION, THE PATIENT SHOULD START DRINKING FLUIDS AND THE CLEAR LIQUID DIET CONTINUES FOR TWO DAYS.

These liquids should be clear and grain-free.

The clear liquid diet is short-term. It is administered during the hospital stay.

We can list the foods that are appropriate and should be avoided in this process as follows,

Suitable Foods

• Su               
• Linden
• Fruit Teas
• Unsweetened fruit compote juice
• Light buttermilk

Forbidden Foods

• Carbonated drinks
• Tea
• Soda
• Alcoholic beverages
• All drinks containing sugar
• Fruit juices with added sugar
• Full-fat yogurt, buttermilk, milk
• Bread and derivatives
• Drinks containing caffeine
• Dried fruits
• Fresh fruits
• Pastries
• Deep-fried foods
• Foods with a solid consistency
• Egypt
• Legumes
• Instant soup
• Chocolate, candy, biscuits, etc.

Recommendations for the clear liquid diet period

Liquids should be taken in small sips and caution should be taken against the feeling of fullness. Fluid intake should be stopped after the feeling of fullness.

All drinks should be clear and pulp-free.

The first sips should always be very small, and sips should be increased gradually if there is no discomfort. Pushing too hard can cause pain and vomiting.

3rd day liquid consumption: Half a liter of water + 1-2 cups of Fruit Tea + 1 cup of Ayran

Day 4 liquid consumption: 1 liter of water + 1 glass of fruit juice + 1 glass of buttermilk

Day 5 liquid consumption: 1.5 liters of water + 1 glass of fruit juice + 1 glass of buttermilk

Important note: 3-4 sips (30ml) of fluid intake should be followed by a 1 hour break.

For water; 1-2 sips should be taken and a break should be taken for 10-15 minutes.

Phase 2: Semi-liquid Diet

STARTS FROM THE 5TH DAY AFTER THE OPERATION AND CONTINUES UNTIL THE END OF THE 3RD WEEK

During this period, it is necessary to strain the food through a blender to avoid particles.

Recommended and prohibited foods for the Semi-Fluid Diet period are listed below.

Suitable Foods

• Su
• Linden
• Fruit teas
• Juice compote without sugar
• Light buttermilk
• Light milk (lactose-free may be preferred if uncomfortable)
• Freshly squeezed Apple, Pear and Peach juices
• %100 Hazır meyve suları (şekersiz)
• Vegetable juices (carrot, pumpkin, spinach, potato)
• Low-fat cheese
• Soups with yogurt, meat and chicken broth, tarhana etc. (can be consumed by blending and straining)
• Protein powders

Forbidden foods

• Carbonated drinks
• Tea
• Soda
• Alcoholic beverages
• All drinks containing sugar
• Fruit juices with added sugar
• Full-fat yogurt, buttermilk, milk, cheese
• Bread and derivatives
• Drinks containing caffeine
• Dried fruits
• Pastries
• Deep-fried foods
• All foods with a solid consistency
• Egypt
• Dried legumes
• Instant soups
• Chocolate, ice cream and confectionery
• Wholegrain products

Recommendations for the Semi-liquid Period

Protein-rich liquids should be preferred. These (broth, light milk/buttermilk, meat broth, whipped yogurt) minimize muscle loss while protein intake prevents hair loss and accelerates wound healing.

You can add protein powder to your drinks. For example: buttermilk, milk, yogurt, fruit juice and chilled soups are suitable for adding protein powder.

Hazır meyve suları yoğun şeker içerdiği için kaçınılmalıdır. %100 hazır meyve suları tercih edebilirsiniz. Eğer mümkünse katı meyve sıkacağı ile kendi meyve suyunuzu elde etmeniz tercihimizdir. Günde 1-2 su bardağı (200-400 ml) kadar tüketebilirsiniz.

Since every product purchased from the market may contain high amounts of fat, sugar and additives, it should be avoided as much as possible. If consumed, the ingredients should be carefully checked.

4-6 meals a day should be eaten and 1-2 hours should be allowed between meals. Do not starve for more than 1-2 hours.

Each meal should last 10-15 minutes and fast food consumption should be avoided. Rapid food consumption leads to intense swallowing of air and flatulence, and can also lead to gastric dilatation.

You can start with 1-2 tablespoons per meal and gradually increase this amount as long as you do not feel uncomfortable, but this amount should not exceed 4-5 tablespoons per meal. Leave the table as soon as you feel full.

Phase 3 Puree (Soft Consolidated Solid Foods) Diet

COVERS THE PERIOD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 4TH WEEK TO THE END OF THE 6TH WEEK AFTER THE OPERATION.

In the puree diet, foods should have a consistency that can be crushed with the back of a fork. If the food cannot be crushed with the back of a fork, it should be passed through a blender.

Foods that are appropriate and should be avoided during the Semi-liquid Diet period;

Suitable Foods

In Phase 2, in addition to the recommended nutrients

• Eggs (boiled or lean omelettes)
• Minced meat, chicken or fish (make sure to cook it without losing its juices)
• Vegetable dishes with minced meat (without oil, mashed with a fork and chewed well (at least 20 times))
• Fruit purees (except citrus fruits (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon))

Forbidden Foods: The foods we avoid in Phase 2, we avoid for life.

Suggestions for the Puree Period

Foods in the puree diet should have the consistency of baby food.

The amount of protein intake should be increased by adding eggs and yogurt to soups in addition to minced meat or chicken.

Ground beef or chicken should be added to vegetable dishes and the dish should be cooked with the fat of the meat and no oil should be added.

1.5 liters of water + 400 ml of liquids with high protein value (light milk / buttermilk, broth), 1-2 cups of fruit tea or sugar-free compote / fruit juice) should be preferred.

4-6 meals a day should be eaten and fluid consumption should not be neglected.

The daily intake of solid food in the form of puree should be 500 g and should not exceed 100-150 g per meal.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The 30-minute rule must be followed. Fluid intake should be stopped 30 minutes before meals and the stomach should enter the meal empty. Fluids should not be taken with meals and half an hour after the meal should be spent without taking fluids again. The 30-minute rule is applied to fill the small stomach volume with protein instead of liquid.
2. Never fast for more than 3 hours and eat 5-6 meals of equal intensity instead of 3 meals
3. Food intake at meals should not exceed 150 g.
4. We do not recommend bread until 3 months after the bariatric operation. The aim is to fill the small stomach volume with as much protein as possible.
5. We also exclude rice and pasta from our menu for adequate protein intake until 4 months after bariatric surgery.
6. We do not recommend raw vegetables until 4 months after the bariatric operation in case of gas and discomfort.
7. Be very careful about the feeling of saturation and never force yourself, leave the table as soon as you feel full.
8. Straws should never be used. Swallowing air = gas = increased stomach volume.
9. Eating fast and not chewing food well makes digestion difficult in the stomach and increases gas complaints. Eat slowly and chew your food at least 20 times.
10. Movement reduces your gas complaints. Do not skip your exercises.
11. Stress causes gas problems, try to avoid stress.
12. Even if the foods to be consumed are limited, the table order should not be abandoned. Eating slowly and with pleasure will also saturate our brains and help us gain psychological superiority in this battle.
13. Prefer healthy cooking techniques (boiled, baked, grilled, grilled, steamed, low-fat skillet)