What Foods and Drinks Should You Avoid After Bariatric Surgery?

If you are thinking about bariatric surgery, you may be wondering about the foods you should avoid after your procedure. While everyone has different needs after bariatric surgery, there are general recommendations for which foods and drinks to avoid.

Beverages to Avoid After Bariatric Surgery

Some drinks may irritate your healing stomach and should be avoided after bariatric surgery, including:

• Caffeine for at least 3 months after surgery
• Carbonated beverages for at least 3 months after surgery
• Alcoholic drinks for at least 6 months after surgery

Even after your stomach heals, you may find that there are certain beverages that you can’t tolerate, and they may need to be removed from your diet indefinitely.

Foods to Avoid After Bariatric Surgery

You may also experience food intolerances that you didn’t have before surgery. They may include the following:

• Red meat that’s tough or dry
• Greasy, high fat foods
• Heavily seasoned or spicy foods
• Sugar alcohols, such as erythritol, glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol
• Foods reheated in the microwave

Diet after Bariatric Surgery

Even though there are foods and drinks to restrict, there still are plenty of things you can — and are encouraged to — eat after bariatric surgery.

At each meal, reach for foods high in protein first at each meal to ensure you're getting 60 to 80 grams of protein daily. Protein is important because it prevents muscle and hair loss after weight-loss surgery.

After protein, focus on non-starchy vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and spinach. And then add in fruit or starchy foods. Starches such as fried potatoes, rice and pasta may make you feel bloated or gassy and may not be well tolerated.

Eating three small meals a day, separating food and fluids by thirty minutes and chewing your food well will support your weight loss.

Also, keep a food journal to track your intake and tolerance to foods as you learn your new "full."