THE FOLLOWING IS ONLY FOR POST-OP PATIENTS
The following foods, recipes and info are only allowed after bariatric surgery. Do not use this information for the pre-op diet phase before surgery! For pre-op info, please click here.
A soft mechanical diet is made up of foods that are easy to chew and swallow. It is perfect for people who have recently had weight loss surgery; it is easy on the digestive system that is still slow from medications and anesthesia. At the beginning of Week 4 post-surgery, you can follow the soft mechanical diet and even stay on this plan for several weeks until you gradually transition to regular soft foods.
Guidelines
- Avoid all foods that are difficult to chew, including tough meats, raw and dried fruits and vegetables, bread with a thick crust, nuts, and seeds.
- You can eat cooked fruits and vegetables, ground meats, soft cheese and other dairy products, and softened bread and cereals.
- Any liquid can be consumed.
- Legumes are fine if they are cooked properly.
- Anything that is chopped should be smaller than ¼ inch in size.
- Bread and cereals can be mashed up and softened with some liquid before eating.
Allowed Foods
- All liquids – tea, broth, diet sports drinks, zero calorie flavored water, etc.
- Low-fat yogurt
- Low-fat soft cheese and cottage cheese
- Low-fat sour cream and cream cheese
- Ground cooked chicken, turkey, beef, pork, or scallops, and crab meat that is canned or cooked soft and shredded
- Eggs, Egg Beaters, or egg whites
- Thinly shaved deli meats, like turkey or chicken (chopped into small pieces)
- Tuna, egg, or chicken salad (shredded or cut into small pieces) without any added raw vegetables
- Tofu
- Reduced fat peanut or nut butters that are smooth (not chunky) – limit to 2 servings per week
- Soft cooked vegetables, without seeds or skins, chopped into small pieces – unlimited amount allowed
- Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes (without the skins)
- Clear and creamed soups with chopped or shredded meats and vegetables (Progresso 100 calorie soups are great)
- Soft fruits like bananas and ripe peaches
- Applesauce or other cooked fruit
- Reduced sugar jams, jellies, and fruit preserves (best without seeds)
- Cereal without nuts or dried fruit (serve with skim milk or lite soy, rice, cashew, or almond milk)
- Lite bread and crackers – may need to be softened with liquid, and you must count the carbs in these
