What to Eat After Weight-loss Surgery

There is a misconception that after weight loss surgery, people can only eat tiny morsels of food, are malnourished and no longer enjoy food.

While patients do, in fact, need to restrict the amount of food they eat – especially in the first few weeks after surgery – most people can resume healthy, moderate eating.

Patients cannot eat large quantities of food they ate before surgery, because their digestive tract is physically different and can no longer accommodate large amounts of food.

Following surgery, meals will likely consist of two to four tablespoons of food. As you advance your diet, you should be eating "regular" food within six to eight weeks of surgery.

Smoothies, shakes and purees

Following weight-loss surgery at Penn, you meet regularly with a dietitian who offers nutritional support. And, since protein plays an important role in both the healing and weight loss process following surgery, it is recommended you incorporate high protein drinks that are low in fat and sugar into their diets.

As you are able to eat more and increase the variety in your diet, you should rely on high protein foods to help meet your protein goal as outlined by the nutrition team.

Try this recipe for a Banana Berry Smoothie.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

At this free session, you will learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free event here.