1. Solo Pea Protein Powder

2. Naked PB

3. Orgain Plant-based Vegan Protein Powder With Superfoods

4. Westsoy Unsweetened Plain Soy Milk

5. Broccoli

6. Cauliflower

7. Peas

8. Carrots

9. Chard

10. Bok choy

11. Garlic

12. Onions

13. Avocados

14. Mixed greens

15. Tomatoes

16. Bell peppers

17. Sweet peppers

18. Raspberries

19. Strawberries

20. Blueberries

21. Blackberries

22. Cherries

23. Peaches

24. Pears

25. Apples

26. Plums

27. Nectarines

28. Bananas

29. Pomegranates

30. Squash

31. Canned pumpkin

32. Turnips

33. Parsnips

34. Rutabagas

35. Hummus

36. Various spices

37. Almonds

38. Walnuts

39. Pecans

40. Peanuts

41. Hazelnuts

42. Peanut butter

43. Sunflower seeds

44. Chia seeds

45. Hemp seeds

46. Flax seed powder

47. Pumpkin seeds

48. Green beans

49. Pinto beans

50. Northern beans

51. Black beans

52. Chick peas

53. Quinoa

54. Wild rice

55. Tempeh

56. Tofu

57. Vegan crumbles

58. Ezekiel Bread

59. Nutritional yeast

60. Olive oil

61. Aloha Peanut Butter Cup Protein Bar

62. WATER

The nuts, seeds, any canned beans and vegetables are salt-free. The fruits and veggies are fresh and frozen. The tofu is always organic. I also buy organic non-gmo foods as often as possible.

I currently drink about 100 ounces of water each day.

Obviously, those are the foods and drinks I have stored in my kitchen I don't eat them all every week. I try to make sure that I have a variety of foods each week. I eat the rainbow as best as I can.

On this weight loss journey, I have had to work very hard to get up to 100 g of protein and 50 g of fiber each day while not consuming too many carbs, calories, fats, or sugars. That's a huge struggle for a vegan...at least for me. The three powders and the milk that I mentioned above go into my daily smoothie. That's what helps me get to my protein goal each day. 🙂

My dietician and bariatric surgeon haven't been very helpful with what changes I will have to make post-op even though both of them support my vegan lifestyle and say I'll do great.

Are any of you vegan? Can you share your post-op wisdom with me? Will I need to eliminate foods above? Will I need to add to my list? The one thing that I won't do is stop being a vegan, so I must figure it all out.

Thank you for any advice you have. I hope people read posts in here daily and respond, so we all learn from each other and feel supported and empowered.

Thank you. 🙂

Hiya. Long time vegan, and now years out from my surgery. Firstly, it's no harder getting protein in for a vegan than it is for an omnivore, so don't stress.

Pre-op, I ate everything you ate, and post-op I eat the same. That first year after the surgery is the hardest, but I found it easy hitting my protein goals by eating good old high protein vegan staples of seitan and tofu as my small meals, vegan protein water, and protein fortified soy milk. I couldn't stomach the cloying sweetness of vegan protein shakes post-op, and still can't years later. But protein water was a fantastic substitute, and encouraged water consumption as well.

These days, I mostly stick to tofu as my main protein source, as it's cheap and low calorie. Marinated tofu baked or air-fried tossed into meals, and silken tofu replaces cream and mayonnaise in any sauces or dressing for a much lower calorie result and bonus protein increase. Still love legumes, and vegetables and fruit are life.

It's not unusual to come out the other end of surgery suddenly finding certain foods no longer agree with you. Coconut was mine, and it still makes me nauseous today. I don't miss it.

Ultimately, don't stress. Your list is all wholefoods, and if that's your diet base then that's as balanced as it can get. Keep the balance going once you're over that first post-op year when things are readjusting - everything in that first year is temporary so be patient. Supplementing with protein shakes and water in that first year is normal, and I still have protein water post-gym.

You absolutely don't have to stop being vegan.

You've already built a strong foundation with a wide variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods. As a nutrition counselor, I'd focus less on what you'll have to eliminate and more on following your bariatric team's post-op stages. Since you're vegan, keep prioritizing protein and add foods back gradually as your body tolerates them. I also love that you're thinking long-term instead of looking for a quick fix—that mindset, along with consistency, is what leads to lasting success.

Thank you both for responding to my post. I appreciate your wisdom, advice, and support. Take care.