​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Eating after Adjustable Gastric Band Surgery

 This will help you monitor your intake and tolerance to foods. Look for patterns of foods tolerated well and foods that are not tolerated well. Food records will also help your dietitian provide suggestions for better tolerance or nutrient balance.

• Time you ate
• Type of food (e.g., baked chicken without skin)
• Amount eaten (e.g., 1/2 chicken breast or 1/2 sugar-free yogurt )
• How your food was prepared (e.g., baked with broth). Be sure to include any butter, oil, grease or margarine that was added to the food.
  
• Grams of protein. Look on food labels, handouts in your patient notebook, the internet or books to determine your total protein intake.

2. Use ice cube trays.
Each cube holds about 2 ounces. This will help you control portion sizes. Try preparing reduced-fat cream soups or puréed meats and vegetables, ​and store item in the trays.
​3. Limit food to 2 to 4 ounces per meal.
Protein comes first
4. Aim for four to six small meals per day.
5. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (48 ​to 64 ounces) of fluid per day. Liquids should be sipped between meals. Avoid fluids with meals, and wait 30 to 45 minutes after a meal to begin your fluid intake throughout the day.

If you are having trouble tolerating puréed food:

1. Try slowing the speed of your eating.
2. Decrease your portion size.

How to blend food:

1. Cut food into small pieces about the size of your thumbnail.
2. Place food in the blender.
3. Add liquid such as skim milk, broth or fat-free gravy to cover the blades.
4. Blend until puréed and smooth like applesauce.
5. Strain out the lumps, seeds or pieces of food.
6. Use spices and seasonings (avoid spicy ones such as hot sauce and cayenne pepper) to add flavor.

​Puréed baby food can be used instead of pureed foods. Only meat (puréed beef, pork, chicken) baby foods contain protein.​

Stage 3: Semisolid Consistency Food

This stage begins at the end of three weeks after surgery (the beginning of week four). Your dietitian will review how to successfully introduce semisolid consistency foods without nausea and vomiting. At this point, you will advance to soft and easily tolerated foods.

Focus on protein first at meals, and avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar and difficult to digest. You may still need to consume protein from skim milk or supplements as between meal snacks until you are able to tolerate enough semisolid foods to meet your protein needs. Remember, add only one new food at a time, and observe your reaction to test your tolerance. 

You should consume three to four small meals per day.

Food Examples

• Cooked eggs, any type except fried
• Casseroles, such as macaroni and cheese, or tuna with light mayo (limited)
• Chopped lean meat (except red meat)
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Cooked vegetables (peeled)
• Beans and legumes
• Softened cold cereal (non-sugar coated)
• Canned fruits (in their own juices or water)
  
• Skim milk, unsweetened instant breakfast drinks, sugar-free low-fat yogurt
• Canned chicken
• Soft fish
• Shredded or soft, low-fat cheese
  
• Light yogurt
  

Tips for Stage 3

Keep in mind that you are "re-educating" your stomach. When you eat too fast or too much, or don't chew enough, you will feel discomfort and vomit. Use the following tips during Stage 3.

• Eat three small meals and two snacks per day.
• Each meal should not exceed 6 ounces total.
• Eat and drink slowly. Take at least 1/2 hour to eat a meal.
• Take small bites, and chew very well. Sip on liquids during meals only if needed, but don't drink large amounts during meals (limit to 1 ounce of fluid per meal).
• Continue to drink low-calorie liquids between meals — at least 6 to 8 cups per day.
• Continue to take a vitamin and mineral supplement everyday.
• A​void red meats.
• Avoid raw vegetables and raw fruits with skins.
• Avoid nuts and popcorn.
• Avoid all fibrous foods (may cause blockage).
• Avoid high-calorie beverages such as soft drinks, juices, milkshakes and protein drinks. You will feel discomfort and vomit.

Sample Semisolid Menu

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal made with skim milk and 2 tablespoons dry milk powder

Lunch: 2 ounces of lean meat (such as turkey, low-fat ham), 1 slice of reduced-fat/fat-free cheese,  1/2 whole wheat tortilla

Snack: 1 cup skim milk with 2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder (if needed)

​Supper: 1/3 cup tuna and 1/4 cup cooked vegetables

​Stage 4: Low-Fat, Solid Food

Begin this stage when directed by your physician and dietitian. This will generally be about eight to 10 weeks after surgery. Slowly introduce solid foods by adding one new food at a time, and observe your reaction to it. 

Add breads last because they tend to form a ball, which will not go through the pouch easily. You can experiment with red meat, raw vegetables and raw fruits with skins.

R​emember to chew all food very well, and sip limited amounts of liquids with meals, if necessary.

At this stage, eat only three very small meals per day. No snacking unless you are waiting longer than six hours between meals; then you can add one snack (less than 100 calories). Stop eating at the first sensation of abdominal pressure or fullness.

Select a balanced meal plan, choosing foods fr​om all groups in MyPlate​. This is the time to develop your lifelong meal plan and exercise routine.  Avoid sugar, sweets and desserts. Also avoid high-fat foods such as cream soups, gravy and butter.

• Dairy products
• Beans and legumes
• Fruits and vegetables
• Lean meat and eggs
• Whole wheat bread and whole grain products, such as cereals, brown rice and oatmeal

Protein

Protein is important, especially to help with healing after surgery and to help prevent hair loss and the loss of lean muscle mass. As your body adjusts to the change made during surgery and to rapid weight loss, you may experience some hair loss three to six months after surgery. Hair loss may also be related to poor protein, iron and zinc intake, and certain medications. To improve nutrition and help avoid hair loss, focus on eating protein first at meals including:​​

• Skim or 1 percent milk
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Low-fat or nonfat yogurt with artificial sweeteners
• Egg whites
• Low-fat cheese
• Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat made with skim milk
• Fish
• Chicken and turkey
• Other lean meats (pork tenderloin, extra lean ground beef)
• Legumes (dried beans)
• Nonfat dry milk powder (added to casseroles, soups, hot cereals, etc.)

You may not be able to tolerate meat or poultry after your surgery. Until you are able to eat meat and poultry, you must get protein from other protein sources.

It is recommended that you take a vitamin and mineral supplement with iron and zinc daily -- Calcium Citrate 600 milligrams twice a day and a vitamin B-complex or B12 supplement. Any additional vitamin and mineral supplements will be recommended by your surgeon and dietitian based on your food intake and lab values.

Fat

To help with weight loss and lifelong weight maintenance, remember to limit your fat and calorie intake. Limit/avoid these high-fat foods and beverages, except in small amounts:

• Olives (healthy fat)
• Nuts (healthy fat)
• Avocados (healthy fat)
• Regular mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Cream cheese
• Pie crust
• Whole milk
• Butter, margarine
• Hot dogs
• Peanut butter (healthy fat)
• Granola (some are high fat)
• Muffins
• Coleslaw
• Whole milk cheese
• Potato salad, pasta salads
• Snack crackers
• Ice cream
• Shortening, lard
• Fatback
• Regular salad dressings
• Sauces
• Fried foods
• Bacon, sausage, bologna
• Potato chips
• Doughnuts
• All oils (use olive or canola oil in moderation)
• Gravy
• Regular soft drinks, high-sugar drinks
  

Learn to read food labels for fat content. Aim for no more than 35 grams of fat per day. If you do not understand food labels, our dietitian will teach you.