University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview
Basic Eating Guidelines after
Laparoscopic Adjustable
Gastric Band Surgery
Dr. Ikramuddin, Dr. Kellogg and Dr. Leslie
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Basic Eating Guidelines
Your gastric band allows you to feel full with only a small amount
of food. We will adjust your gastric band as needed to help you
lose weight.
We will check your band often in the first year or two after surgery.
Our goal is to control your hunger as much as possible during this
time. You will have about 10 short clinic visits in the first year. After
that, you will return every 6 months for the rest of life.
At each clinic visit, we will decide together if your band has too
little, too much or the right amount of fluid. If we decide to adjust
your band, we will add or remove fluid.
The exact amount of fluid is different for each person. The band
should be tight enough to control your hunger and help you lose
weight. It should still allow you to get the nutrition you need.
Your band is empty right after surgery. This allows your body
time to heal and gives you time to get used to the band. Your first
adjustment will be eight weeks after surgery.
To get the best results, you must be very careful in the first few
weeks after surgery. You will need to:
• Avoid vomiting (throwing up).
• Avoid putting pressure on your new stomach pouch above
the band.
Please follow the guidelines in this booklet. These will protect your
gastric band and help you lose weight.
Basic Eating Guidelines
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Guidelines for eating
• Eat three small meals per day. No snacking. Snacking or eating
throughout the day will keep you from losing weight. It may
even cause weight gain because you are eating too many calories.
If you feel like snacking, it may mean that your band is not
adjusted well. In this case, you should come back to the clinic.
• Eat small amounts—no more than 1/2 cup of food per meal.
Your stomach pouch can only hold this much. If you try to eat
more than this, you may get sick and your pouch will slowly
stretch over time. To keep the weight off, you will need to eat
small amounts of food for the rest of your life.
• Stop eating as soon as you feel full. Always throw away some
food at the end of each meal.
• Eat slowly. Each meal should last 20 to 30 minutes. Eating too
fast can cause you to eat too much before you feel full. It can also
cause nausea, vomiting (throwing up) and pain or pressure in the
shoulder or upper chest.
• Chew all foods into a paste. If you swallow larger pieces of food,
it may block the outlet of the pouch. Use a small fork or spoon
to control your bite size.
• Eat at least 50 to 60 grams of protein per day. Try to include a
good source of protein with each meal (such as eggs, lean meats,
and low-fat or fat-free milk products).
• Avoid sugar and fat. Eat a well balanced diet. Do not fill your
small stomach pouch with “junk” foods that lack vitamins and
other important nutrients.
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Basic Eating Guidelines
Guidelines for liquids
• Do not drink liquids with meals. Stop drinking 30 minutes
before your meals. Then wait 30 minutes after eating to drink
liquids again. This will:
– Prevent the pouch from overfilling
– Keep food from “flushing” out of the pouch too quickly
– Keep you feeling full longer
• Sip all liquids slowly. Drinking too quickly may cause nausea
or vomiting.
• Drink plenty of calorie-free liquids between meals. Plain water
is best. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups per day.
• Avoid high-calorie liquids. These add extra calories without
making you feel full. For example, do not drink:
– Regular soda pop
– Coffee drinks (mocha, latte, cappuccino or other specialty
drinks)
– Kool-Aid
– Smoothies
– Alcohol
– Anything with sugar
– Fruit juice
• Avoid carbonated (fizzy) liquids. These can cause gas and bloating.
• Limit caffeine. Caffeine may make you hungry and may irritate
your stomach pouch.
Basic Eating Guidelines
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Other important guidelines
• Take a multi-vitamin with minerals daily. A chewable form
works well. (If you are taking a children’s form, take the adult
dose listed on the label. If you are taking an adult form, take one
per day.) After one month, you may switch to a non-chewable
form and cut large pills into 2 or 3 small pieces. You should also
take 500-600 mg calcium with vitamin D 3 times per day.
• Get regular exercise. Since exercise uses energy and burns
calories, it is very important for weight loss. Your size may make
it hard for you to exercise as much as you should at first. But get
started, even if it is just a little. The more weight you lose, the
easier it should get.
• In the first months after surgery, you will move from clear
liquids to regular foods. Week 1 – 3 to 4 days of clear liquids,
then 3 to 4 days of full liquids
Weeks 2 and 3 – pureed foods
Weeks 4 through 7 – soft foods
Week 8 – regular foods
Please read the guidelines for each stage of your diet.
Please keep in mind that everyone progresses at a different rate.
If you have problems—like throwing up or feeling sick to your
stomach—you may need to go back to an earlier stage. For example,
if you are on soft foods, step back to a pureed diet. Then, slowly
move to the next stage in your diet. (If you have started a regular
diet, please see note on page 18.)
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Basic Eating Guidelines
Clear liquid diet (week 1: first 3 to 4 days)
Goal
• Slowly sip 6 to 8 cups of liquid throughout day. (Drinking too
quickly can cause nausea, vomiting and pain or pressure.)
Tips
• Freeze liquids in plastic bottles to carry with you.
• Do not use a straw. Straws bring air into the stomach pouch,
causing gas, bloating and pain or pressure in the shoulder or
upper chest.
Suggested liquids
• Water
• Iced tea
• Sugar-free Popsicles
• Clear broth
• Sport drinks such as Gatorade (add water to dilute) or Propel
• Crystal Light
• Cranberry juice or 100% apple or grape juice (add extra water to
dilute; limit to ½ cup per day)
• Decaf coffee or tea with no sugar or honey (artificial sweeteners
are okay)
• Sugar-free Jell-O
Basic Eating Guidelines
Full liquid diet (week 1: after the first 3 to 4 days)
Goals
• Add foods that are slightly thicker than clear liquids.
• Bring more protein into your diet.
• Keep sipping liquids throughout the day.
• Start taking your multi-vitamin with minerals.
Tips
• Between meals, sip on skim milk, 1% milk or sugar-free
Carnation Instant Breakfast. This will increase your protein.
Limit your total to 1 to 2 cups per day.
• Ask your dietitian if you should add dry skim milk or protein
powder to liquids.
Suggested liquids and foods
• Clear liquids (see week 1)
• Skim or 1% milk
• Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added or low-carb)
• Low-calorie yogurt (no chunks of fruit)
• Hot cereals (Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, Malt-O-Meal,
plain instant or quick-cooking oatmeal) made with low-fat milk
instead of water
• Strained cream soups made with low-fat milk
• Sugar-free pudding
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8
Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Full Liquid Diet
Breakfast
¼ cup Cream of Wheat
¼ cup low-calorie yogurt (no chunks of fruit)
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after breakfast:
½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Lunch
¼ cup strained cream soup
¼ cup sugar-free pudding
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after lunch: ½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Full Liquid Diet
Dinner
½ cup low-calorie yogurt (no chunks of fruit)
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after dinner: ½ cup skim or 1% milk
30 minutes later: ½ cup fruit juice
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
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10 Basic Eating Guidelines
Pureed diet (weeks 2 and 3)
Goals
• Add more food choices. Foods are blended (pureed) to reduce
the risk of nausea, vomiting and band slippage.
• Keep drinking enough liquids. Remember to stop liquids
30 minutes before your meals. Wait 30 minutes after eating to
start liquids again.
Tips
• Add new foods slowly. Try one new food at a time.
• Eat the protein part of your meal first.
Suggested foods
Proteins:
• Skim or 1% milk
• Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added or low-carb)
• Low-calorie yogurt (no chunks of fruit)
• Strained, low-fat cream soups
• Low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
• Scrambled Egg Beaters (egg whites only)
• Mashed tofu
• Pureed chili
Basic Eating Guidelines
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• pureed chicken or tuna salad (use low-fat or non-fat mayonnaise
or salad dressing)
• Pureed lean beef, lean pork, chicken, turkey or fish (or use baby
food meats)
• Mashed beans (such as black beans, pinto beans or fat-free
refried beans)
Grains and starches:
• Hot cereals (Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, Malt-O-Meal,
oatmeal, grits)
• Mashed potatoes
• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Mashed winter squash
Fruits and vegetables:
• 100% fruit juice (add water to dilute). Limit yourself to ½ cup
per day.
• Plain applesauce (no added sugar)
• Mashed bananas
• Pureed peaches, pears, apricots or other fruit
• Tomato juice
• V8 juice
• Pureed carrots, green beans, beets or other vegetables
12 Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Pureed Diet
Breakfast
¼ cup scrambled Egg Beaters
¼ cup oatmeal
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after breakfast:
½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Lunch
¼ cup mashed low-fat cottage cheese
¼ cup pureed peaches
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after lunch: ½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Pureed Diet
Dinner
½ cup pureed chicken or baby food meat
¹⁄8 cup pureed green beans
¹⁄8 cup applesauce
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after dinner: ½ cup skim or 1% milk
30 minutes later: ½ cup fruit juice
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
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14 Basic Eating Guidelines
Soft diet (weeks 4 through 7)
Goals
• Add slightly thicker foods to your diet, including soft (or ground)
protein foods.
• Eat a wide range of low-fat, low-calorie starches, whole fruits
and non-starchy vegetables.
• Keep drinking at least 6 to 8 cups (more is great) of liquid per day.
• Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
Tips
• Add new foods slowly. You may have problems with some foods
more than others. Take small bites and chew all food well.
• Always eat the protein part of your meal first.
Suggested foods
Proteins (not breaded, not deep fried):
• Tuna fish or salmon
• White fish
• Shrimp, lobster or crab
• Chopped lean meats
• Lean ground beef or turkey
• Deli-sliced turkey breast, chicken, ham, roast beef
• Low-fat cheese (such as part-skim mozzarella)
Basic Eating Guidelines
• Egg, chicken or tuna salad (use low-fat or fat-free mayo or
salad dressing)
• Hard-boiled, scrambled or poached eggs
• Tofu
• Mashed or well-cooked beans (such as black or pinto)
Grains and starches:
• Mashed or baked potatoes
• Cereals soaked in 1% or skim milk (like Cornflakes) or
hot cereals
• Well-cooked pasta
• Low-fat crackers
• Toast (if your body can handle crackers)
Fruits and vegetables:
• Canned peaches or pears (packed in juice, not syrup)
• Thawed frozen berries (plain, no syrup)
• Bananas
• Plain applesauce (no added sugar)
• Mandarin oranges
• Soft melon
• Soft, well-cooked vegetables (carrots, green beans, squash,
beets, broccoli)
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16 Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Soft Diet
Breakfast
Poached egg
¼ piece toast
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after breakfast:
½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Lunch
¼ cup chopped chicken
¼ cup cooked carrots
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after lunch: ½ cup Carnation Instant Breakfast
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Soft Diet
Dinner
¼ cup tuna salad
3 to 4 low-fat crackers
2 fresh strawberries
Liquids between meals
30 minutes after dinner: ½ cup skim or 1% milk
30 minutes later: ½ cup fruit juice
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
30 minutes later: ½ cup water or calorie-free drink
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18 Basic Eating Guidelines
Regular diet (week 8)
During this phase, you should be eating a regular diet. This will
include foods with more texture and crunch, such as raw fruits
and non-starchy vegetables.
This new diet is a complete change from the liquid diet you had
right after surgery. For example:
• You may not have any liquid calories. If it has calories and can
easily spill from a spoon, avoid it. If you can only eat food in a
liquid form, it may mean that your band is too tight. In this case,
you will need to come back to the clinic.
• You may only eat foods that contain nutrients. No “junk” foods.
If you get sick: Once you start a regular diet, do not go back to an
earlier stage without telling us. If you throw up or feel sick to your
stomach, call the clinic. We may need to adjust your band.
Goals
• Eat three small, well-balanced, nutrient-dense meals each day.
Each full meal should be about 1/2 a cup. Be sure to get
enough protein.
• Keep drinking at least 6 to 8 cups (more is great) liquid per day.
Almost all of your liquid should be water or calorie-free drinks.
• Avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat.
• Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
• Keep taking your one multi-vitamin with minerals daily and
500-600 mg calcium with vitamin D 3 times per day. You will
do this for the rest of your life.
Basic Eating Guidelines
Sample Menu for Regular Diet
Breakfast
1/4 cup yogurt or egg
1/4 cup fruit, no sugar
Liquids between meals
1 cup skim or 1% milk
At least 2 cups water or calorie-free drink
Lunch
2 ounces meat, fish, chicken, turkey
¼ cup vegetable
Liquids between meals
1 cup skim or 1% milk
At least 2 cups water or calorie-free drink
Dinner
2 ounces meat, fish, chicken, turkey
¼ cup fruit, no sugar
Liquids between meals
At least 2 cups water or calorie-free drink
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Phone numbers
If you have any questions or concerns, please call one of these
numbers.
Surgery clinic..................................................... 612-626-6666
To make or cancel appointments
Triage nurse....................................................... 612-626-4117
For non-emergency questions
Dietitians
For nutrition questions
_________________________................ 612-273-9221
_________________________................ 612-273-4991
Emergency room................................................ 612-273-2700
TTY for hearing impaired.......................... 612-273-2702
Dr. Ikramuddin, Dr. Kellogg or Dr. Leslie......... 612-625-8446
The surgeons are usually in the operating room during the day
Hospital operator
612-273-3000 or 800-688-5252
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
On evenings, weekends and holidays, call the hospital operator and
ask for the resident who is on call for Dr. Ikramuddin, Dr. Kellogg or
Dr. Leslie. You can also call Unit 7B at 612-273-3072.
For information only. Not to replace the advice of your health care provider. Copyright © 2005 Fairview Health Services. All rights reserved. SMARTworks 520262 – REV 11/12.