Dietary Guidelines

Once you can eat solid foods without problems, you need to carefully follow your new diet:

• Avoid drinking liquids during or immediately after meals as liquids tend to flush food through the stomach pouch. This prevents you from getting that prolonged feeling of satisfaction needed to help you eat less.
  
• As always, staying hydrated throughout the day is important, however. Drink at least six to eight cups of Water per day, and make sure you consume them between meals.
  
• Chew your food thoroughly and eat small bites so that the food can easily fit through the opening to your stomach pouch. This will help you avoid the problem of food blocking the stomach outlet.
  
• Only eat when you are hungry and no more than three small meals a day, but you must make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrition. Remember, your stomach can only hold about one-quarter of a cup of food, or two ounces, at a time. Stop eating when your hunger is gone or when you feel comfortable.
  

The general nutrition guide below can help you create good and healthy meals that contain adequate nutrients but low sugar and fat:

• Good Food Choices
  
  • Fruits and vegetables
    
  • One to two servings of fresh fruit daily
    
  • Two to three servings of fresh vegetables daily
    

  [*]Breads and cereals

  • One small portion of low-sugar cold or hot Cereal
    
  • Half to one slice of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day.
    
  • Note: Some patients have difficulty eating bread
    

  [*]meat, fish, poultry, eggs

  • One to two ounces of meat, fish, or poultry-or one egg each day.
    
  • Remove all visible fat from the meat.
    
  • Remove the skin from poultry.
    
  • Prepare the meat in ways that need very little fat. Grilling, steaming, microwaving, or boiling are all good ways to do this.
    
  • Note: Some patients have difficulty eating meat.
    

  [*]Dairy products

  • Milk and yogurt are calories in liquid form. However, these types of food have Calcium, which makes them an important part of a healthy daily diet, so choose a maximum of 2 cups of skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt and 1 ounce of cheese a day.
    

  [*]Fats

  • Restrict the use of fat to 3 to 4 teaspoons of margarine, butter, or oil per day. You can have low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise in moderation.
    

  [*]drinks

  • Drink as many calorie-free liquids per day as you wish (though not with meals).
    
  • Suitable drinks are tea or coffee (black) with low-calorie sweetener, water, non-carbonated beverages containing few or no calories
    
  • Some doctors have reported that carbonated beverages may contribute to enlargement of the small pouch and recommend they be avoided.
    

  Foods to Avoid

  Some foods deliver a concentrated supply of calories but little nutritional value. These foods should be avoided whenever possible. They include:

  [*]

  • syrups
    
  • cakes
    
  • jam
    
  • chips
    
  • pastries
    
  • Alcoholic drinks should also be consumed in moderation: for example, one glass of wine per day.
    

  [*]Common Problem Foods

  Some foods have difficulty passing through the stomach opening created by the LAP-BAND® System and may cause blockage. These include:

  • dry meat
    
  • shrimp
    
  • untoasted or doughy bread
    
  • rice
    
  • Peanut Butter
    
  • fibrous vegetables like corn, asparagus, and celery
    
  • nuts
    
  • greasy or fried food
    
  • membrane of citrus fruits
    

Introduce these foods slowly and individually to see if you can tolerate them. Always be careful, chew well, and follow your surgeon's or dietitian's advice.

Good information, thanks!