Gastric Band Diet

Post-Operative Diet

0-2 weeks Post Surgery - Liquid Only

You are allowed only fluids from the time of your operation for 2 weeks. This will ensure optimum healing & hence allow maximum benefit from your surgical procedure.

As you will be only consuming fluids it is essential you follow all the guidelines. They are designed to; provide you with a balanced intake of energy, protein & all other nutrients, to ensure you have a good recovery, kick start your weight loss & boost general well-being.

• You must not eat any solid food during this time – fluids are defined as liquids able to go through a straw.    

• It is essential you take a multivitamin / mineral & calcium supplement long term. You will need a chewable / liquid option during this phase. We recommend Centrum Chewable, Sanatogen Gold or Multibionta and Calcichew or Sevenseas Calcium Chewable. Some own brand products are also suitable just make sure they contain vitamins and minerals. Ask your pharmacist about any existing medication you take to see if it is available in liquid form.

• Fluid - you should aim for 2.5 – 3.5 litres per day. This should be spread evenly throughout the day. Everyone has different fluid requirements, the best way to check you are well hydrated is to look at the colour of your urine. If it is pale, you are drinking enough, if it is dark e.g. straw coloured or darker or if there is very little, you need to drink more.

• The recommended portion size for a cup of fluid is 200mls.

• Fizzy drinks are not allowed. This is because gas and air cannot easily be expelled and can cause bloating and trapped wind. Fizzy drinks may also cause distension of the stomach wall that may result in band slippage.

• Chewing gum is not allowed.

• During this time you may feel hungry – this is normal & is caused by the stretch receptors in the stomach being upset during surgery. This will soon pass, keep motivated by knowing you are on the road to successful long term weight loss. However, some patients do not experience much of an appetite at this time - remember everyone is different.

   

Suitable Fluid Choices

• *Semi-skimmed milk - 600ml (1 pint) per day – this should be fortified with skimmed milk powder e.g. Marvel / 5 Pints, follow individual manufacturers instructions – this is essential to add the required protein & nutrients to your daily intake

• Soups / Milkshakes e.g. Slimfast – this is fortified with added nutrients – aim for 3 per day

• Low calorie / reduced sugar squash, Diluted fruit juice (½ juice, ½ water)

• Tea / herbal teas, Coffee,

• ‘Light’ Hot Chocolate  

• Water

*Semi skimmed milk is recommended at this stage as it contains essential fat soluble vitamins. If you can not take milk, please inform your nurse / dietitian or GP who will suggest suitable alternatives.

2-4 weeks Post Surgery - Soft Food

You will now be ready to start a soft diet. Aim for the consistency of cottage pie/ well cooked cauliflower cheese/scrambled egg - foods easily broken with a fork – avoid all crunchy foods/potato skins and salads at this stage.

Breakfast ideas

• Scrambled egg / omelette / polenta / poached eggs

• Porridge with skimmed / semi skimmed milk

• Weetabix with skimmed / semi skimmed milk

• Thick fruit smoothies with a selection of fruits / banana / strawberries / summer fruits / mangoes blended with low fat Greek yoghurt or skimmed milk 

Lunch and Dinner ideas

• Lean minced meat and blended casserole

• Fish pie and pureed vegetables

• Shepherds pie / Cottage pie

• Thick blended vegetable soups / mushroom soup

• Soft pasta in tomato based sauce

• Low fat cottage cheese

• Mashed avocado and 1 soft boiled egg

• Soft poached salmon with mashed potatoes

• Cauliflower cheese with fish and parsley sauce

• Pureed vegetables with meals

• Fish in parsley sauce with mushy peas

• Mashed or pureed tofu / soya / quorn with vegetarian gravy / stock and mashed potatoes and pureed vegetables.

• Well cooked lentils or dahl  

Desserts

• Pureed / stewed fruit with low fat custard

• Mashed banana and low fat custard

• Low fat / sugar yoghurt

• Low fat / sugar mousse

• Sugar free jelly / Low sugar sorbets

• Low fat crème caramel / Angel delight / Blancmange

• Low fat semolina / Fat free sponge soaked in fruit juice

Serve on a tea plate, drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. ONLY EVER drink fluids before your meal, not with your meal, allow at least 1 hour after a meal.

Always ensure a good protein portion at each meal- as a guide this should be the size of the palm of your hand.

 4 weeks and onwards

Once you have reached this stage you will be able to resume ‘normal eating’ i.e. all textures of food. You will have been seen by the dietician or will have been sent an appointment to be seen in the near future. You will then be followed up by the dietician on a regular basis who will monitor your progress, help, support and guide you towards eating a healthier diet for life.

Breakfast ideas

• Small banana and low fat yoghurts

• Granary toast & low fat spread with sugar free jam or pure fruit puree

• Melba toast and marmite

• Branflakes / Shredded wheat / All Bran / Cornflakes / Special K/ Cereal bars / Fruit and Fibre with semi skimmed milk

• Grapefruit segments and poached egg on toast

• Fresh fruit salad with low fat fromage frais

Lunch / Dinner / Snack ideas

• Jacket Potato

• Cottage cheese / low fat cheese spread

• Dutch crispbread / Ryvita / Rye bread / Melba toast / oatcakes / ricecakes / pitta / water biscuits / bread sticks

• Pasta / Rice / Cous cous / Noodles *caution with rice

• Chilli

• Mackerel and tomato

• Salmon and cucumber

• Egg salad

• Tuna and onion / baked beans

• Noodles

• Potato salad with mint and low fat yoghurt dressing

• Pasta salads with tomato puree and chopped peppers

• Roast sweet potato and parsnip

Remember

• At this stage you may be consuming smaller amounts than you did prior to the procedure. Try using a child’s plate or a tea plate. However, you may feel hungry and your appetite increasing - this indicates that you may be ready for your first fill 

• Drink plenty before a meal and leave at least one hour before your next drink

•  Eat very slowly & chew you food well - aim to chew 20 times per mouthful!

• Continue to take your multivitamin / mineral and calcium supplement

• Avoid BREAD, MEAT / CHICKEN (minced meat is allowed), & RICE until your first follow up appointment with the dietician after your fill – these foods sometimes cause problems of blockage which can lead to a slippage.

• Continue to avoid fizzy drinks and chewing gum

Food Diary

Our dietitians ask all patients to keep a food diary to record their food and liquid intake, exercise and any comments.  This is reviewed on a regular basis to help you get the greatest benefit from your treatment.  Any bariatric procedure is a tool, or a starting point for your weight loss journey - you do the work in terms of managing your diet, but the bariatric procedure will help enormously.  Click here to open a food diary.

Useful Links

Recipes suitable for use with Gastric Band, posted on the Lapband manufacturer's website.  Click here for Lapband.com recipes.

We are also pleased to announce a new resource for people who have undergone weight loss surgery. Working with Vita Clincs, the National Obesity Forum has embarked on producing a series of easy to follow recipes for patients who have undergone weight loss surgery such as gastric band, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.  The recipes are available to download at http://www.vitaclinics.co.uk/Post-Surgery-Recipes.aspx

Further Information - Lap Band Solution Book

The Lap Band Solution book is a great way to gain all the knowledge needed when undergoing the gastric band procedure. It talks about diet, exercise, various weight-loss options, the benefits and the restrictions of the band.  Available in our online shop with a 10% saving - click here.