Food guide for weeks four through eight (Stage III) Goals of this diet: 1. To take in 60–70 grams of protein each day. 2. To take in at least 64 oz. of fluid each day. 3. To establish a routine with your eating that includes 3 planned meals and 2 to 3 planned snacks. Avoid eating unplanned foods and snacks between meals. 4. Chew foods well to the point of puree or liquid. You may choose to remain with puree or soft solid foods until you feel comfortable to move on to more solid consistencies. Only eat poultry or meats that are ground, shredded or deli-sliced. 5. To continue a food journal to help achieve the above goals. Continue to weigh and measure foods and fluids. This diet includes semi-solid, soft and pureed foods that are easily digested. During the first six to eight weeks after surgery, the stomach and small intestine are still healing. Limiting your diet to the foods listed in Stage III is necessary to avoid a blockage or other complications. Introduce foods slowly. If you notice a problem, try to identify it and be wary of the speed and amount you eat. Foods that are not tolerated well at this stage can often be added to your diet later. You may experience occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or cramping after eating during the recovery period. Return to the Stage I Diet for 24 hours if these symptoms are severe, and contact your surgeon if they don’t improve within 12 hours. Remember, always chew your food very well, and don’t drink fluids with meals. Sip water and other beverages throughout the day. Gradually, try other sources of protein such as soy products, poultry, fish and seafood, and lastly, meats. Tolerance of foods varies from one individual to the next. Once you are back on a more regular diet, through trial and error, you may find that you can tolerate some foods better than others. There may be some foods that your digestive system cannot handle well. Raw vegetables with skins and seeds may not be tolerated. However, if you remove the skin and seeds (for example, on a cucumber), you may be able to eat it without any problem. We advise patients to avoid red meats until their stomach is functioning very well, usually after the first two months after surgery. Red meats are not well tolerated and can cause vomiting. Sometimes the source of vomiting may be a specific food. Do not avoid a food just because you vomit once after eating it. You may wish to wait a few days, but you can try that food again. Tolerance to foods will improve over time. Always be sure to chew your food very well, take small bites and eat slowly. Try only a very small amount at first. Cook foods without added fats.
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