Mini Gastric Bypass Diet: A Week-by-Week Guide By info on October 23, 2021

A mini gastric bypass can help those who struggle with their weight shed excess pounds with fewer incisions and less time in surgery.

Although a mini gastric bypass is less invasive than a traditional bypass, patients must be prepared to make changes to their diet immediately after surgery, throughout recovery, and beyond.

Tijuana Bariatrics would like to take this time to look at a general mini gastric bypass diet in this week-by-week guide so patients in Tijuana, Mexico and Monterrey, Mexico may have a better idea of what to expect with their diets after surgery.

Week One

After mini bypass surgery, patients should follow a strict liquid diet for the first week of recovery. This is necessary to allow the stomach time to heal properly and prevent stretching, which can lead to complications.

Additionally, the stomach is significantly smaller in size after mini bypass surgery which means patients will not be able to eat as much as they did prior to surgery. A liquid diet helps patients with consuming smaller quantities.

It is important that patients only drink clear liquids for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Once this time has passed and the patient is able to tolerate clear liquids, other liquids may be added to their diet, such as:

fruit juice without added sweeteners
sugar free Jell-O®
skim milk
flavored broths
decaffeinated coffee
sugar free popsicles

Weeks Two to Four

After the first week of a liquid diet, patients can add pureed foods to their diet. Pureed foods should be completely smooth with not solid pieces of food and not too thick in consistency.

Pureed foods should be eaten through the fourth week of recovery. When preparing and consuming pureed foods, patients should keep the meals small, around four to six tablespoons, and space out eating three to six times a day.

The following foods may be blended with liquids, like water, unsweetened fruit juices, or flavored broths, to create a smooth puree:

soft fruits
cooked, soft vegetables
lean meats
scrambled eggs

Weeks Four to Eight

Around week four, most patients will be cleared by the doctor to move on to soft foods. Soft foods should be small in portion, about one-third to one-half cup in size, and should be eaten slowly three to five times a day.

When moving on to soft foods, it’s important that patients chew thoroughly so that the food is a pureed consistency when swallowed.

Some foods that may be soft enough to eat by week four include:

lean ground meat
eggs
fish
seedless soft fresh fruits
skinless soft, cooked vegetables

Beyond Eight Weeks

Around eight weeks after surgery, most patients are able to eat solid foods again. When patients are cleared to reintroduce solid foods back into their diet, they should take care to slowly incorporate solids into their daily meals.

After eight weeks, it’s important that patients continue to eat a healthy diet of lean meats, whole grains, and a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, and remain mindful of portion sizes. Tijuana patients who follow a healthy diet often have great success with meeting their weight loss goals and maintaining a lower weight.