Updated on October 18th, 2022
For obese people, a stage is reached where the best option for losing weight becomes a gastric bypass. And when that happens, many aspects of their lives will change, including their diet. So, having a proper gastric bypass meal plan becomes important as it helps you maintain the benefits of the surgery for a longer time. And while it won’t be easy, it beats the alternative of returning to the unhealthy eating habits that led to such excessive weight gain.
This gastric bypass meal plan will help you avoid certain foods that can’t return to your daily lifestyle. And it replaces them with foods that’ll build the stepping stones to your new way of life.
Features
The meal plan combines foods that are permitted for your current condition. After gastric bypass surgery, your stomach needs time to heal, and as such, you can’t process foods like it used to before the procedure. So, a proper meal schedule is prepared to ease your body into its original system. And the items differ, depending on the healing stage of your stomach.
Most gastric bypass meal plans feature four stages that must be strictly followed. The first stage, which comes immediately after surgery, strictly involves one or two ounces of clear liquids every two hours for seven days. Afterward, a one or two-week stage of protein shakes and pureed foods follow. Then, they’re subjected to a period of two weeks maximum, where they can feed on soft foods, followed finally by reintroduction to solid foods. And each stage is closely monitored by a dietician who decides what foods are best for the candidate at different levels.
In this meal plan, you’ll be dealing with the foods required during the final stage, as these items will shape your dietary habits for the rest of your life. As such, the schedule includes lean proteins, healthy fats and carbs, and a combination of rewarding snacks in-between meals. The plan lasts for one week but can be adjusted and adapted for more extended periods. And the foods are designed to encourage your stomach’s healing and body’s recovery from the stress of the surgery, plus help you track how many calories you consume daily.
Benefits of this Diet
For starters, this meal plan aims at changing your dietary lifestyle. A gastric bypass is mostly suggested as a radical approach to weight loss, and afterward, your body faces a recovery period. But assisting it with a diet of healthy foods and snacks helps accelerate recovery and build a new approach to eating. As such, you’ll come out with a different take on what you eat, allowing you to live healthier and escape the chances of regaining excess weight.
The meal plan is also great for weight loss, as it combines lean proteins with liquid foods, healthy carbs, and fats. Plus, you get the required amount of daily proteins, especially since this aims to heal the operated area. The schedule is also balanced, so you won’t feel hungry during the recovery process. And the snacks and foods are composed of healthy items, including lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and shakes, vegetables and legumes, and non-fat dairy.
You can also adopt this gastric bypass meal plan for keto diets as its schedule includes fewer carbs. It’s also ideal for gluten-sensitive people as it combines foods free of such. You can also consider this gastric bypass meal plan as a template for preparing a paleo diet due to its use of whole foods. But note that the meal plan must be done under the supervision of a dietician, who will decide how many calories you can take and what foods you should stay off.
Meal Plan
Download Here: Gastric Bypass Meal Plan
Day 1
Breakfast
- Breakfast smoothie
Morning Snack
- Vanilla cappuccino
Lunch
- Mini protein pizzas with veggie toppings
- One pear, medium
Afternoon Snack
- Protein potato chips
Dinner
- Vegetable chili with beans
Dessert
- Half cup non-fat cottage cheese with cinnamon
Day 2
Breakfast
- Peaches and cream protein oatmeal
Morning Snack
- Proticcino instant protein drink
Lunch
- Half cup refried beans (fat-free) with roasted green pepper halves and melted cheddar cheese
Afternoon Snack
- Quarter cup roasted edamame
Dinner
- Grilled chicken breast with VLC pasta sauce
- Baked sweet potato fries
Dessert
- Baked apple with cinnamon
- Half cup vanilla frozen yogurt, low-fat-sugar-free
Day 3
Breakfast
- Strawberry meal replacement shake
Morning Snack
- Meat snack stick
Lunch
- Salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Afternoon Snack
- Chocolate caramel protein granola snacks
Dinner
- Eggplant bake
Dessert
Day 4
Breakfast
- Vegetable omelet
Morning Snack
- Cinnamon protein bar
Lunch
- Chopped salad with shrimp, chicken, and Honey-Dijon dressing
- One cup strawberries, sliced
Afternoon Snack
- One cup plain Greek yogurt
- One cup cucumber sticks
Dinner
- Chicken enchilada Verde
Dessert
- Dulce de Leche protein pudding
Day 5
Breakfast
Morning Snack
- Half medium apple, sliced
- Two tablespoons peanut butter
Lunch
- Chicken salad with lettuce wraps
Afternoon Snack
- Protein zippers
Dinner
- Broiled cod quinoa pilaf
Dessert
- Apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies
Day 6
Breakfast
- Oatmeal protein bar
Morning Snack
- Aloha mango protein smoothie
Lunch
- Cream of tomato protein soup
Afternoon Snack
- Bell pepper slices (one cup)
- Hummus (quarter cup)
Dinner
- Low-carb tuna melt
Dessert
- Cocomint protein pudding
Day 7
Breakfast
- Honey nut protein cereal
- Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup blueberries
Morning Snack
- Melon, one cup
- Almonds, one ounce
Lunch
- Steamed broccoli (one cup) with cheese sauce
Afternoon Snack
- One hard-boiled egg
Dinner
- Lean turkey burger
Dessert
- Peanut butter cup protein bar
Extra Tips
- The gastric bypass meal plan must be done under your doctor’s supervision.
- Prepare the meals in batches you can store for later. This way, you can easily access the portions at the needed time.
- Ensuretoslowly chew when eating; about 15 seconds for each bite. You want the foods to fully break down before reaching the stomach to digest better and not stress its healing.
- You’ll need to stay hydrated during the period of recovery, so drink lots of water. You can also consume low-calorie or calorie-free beverages if you prefer. But give a 30-minute space between food and drink.
- You’ll have to stay off certain foods as they may be hard to digest. Options like shellfish, pork, beef, and grapes should be taken off your menu list, and your dietician will suggest more options.
- Stay off refined carbs, processed foods, and high-GMI foods during the entire period of your meal plan.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, whole milk, desserts, fast foods, and carbonated drinks.
- Ensure that each meal is properly portioned and should be no bigger than your clenched fist. You want to slowly introduce your body to eating these foods without stressing your gut in the process.
- Drink water directly from the glass or cup, and don’t use a straw.
- Your dietician will recommend supplements during this meal plan, and you’re better off purchasing them in chewable or liquid form.
- You may consume whole grains and nuts during this meal plan, but ensure they’re properly chewed before swallowing. This allows your stomach to fully digest them before they pass to the intestine and prevent bowel discomfort.
- This isn’t the time to return to spicy and greasy foods, so stay off those types.
- It helps to have a goal buddy who can monitor your progress and keep you on track. A friend, colleague, relative, or sibling can be informed of your plan to change your eating lifestyle.
Shopping List
- Apples
- Bananas
- Almond milk
- Powdered peanut butter
- Vanilla protein powder
- Vanilla extract
- Cappuccino powder
- Pizza sauce
- Mozzarella
- Protein bread
- Pears
- Zucchini
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Mushrooms
- Kale
- Cabbages
- Protein potato chips
- Vegetable chili
- Cheddar cheese
- Cottage cheese, non-fat
- Cinnamon
- Protein oatmeal
- Pecans
- Protein drinks
- Refried beans, fat-free
- Green peppers
- Edamame, roasted
- Chicken breasts
- Pasta sauce
- Vanilla frozen yogurt
- Meal replacement shakes
- Meat snack sticks
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Parmesan cheese
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Protein granola snacks
- Ricotta cheese
- Eggplants
- Dark chocolate
- Vegetable omelet mix
- Protein bars
- Shrimp
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Strawberries
- Feta cheese
- Chicken Enchilada Verde, pre-packed
- Protein pudding
- Bacon
- Omelet mix
- Whole-grain English muffin
- Peanut butter
- Celery sticks
- Mayonnaise, non-fat
- Walnuts
- Cod
- Quinoa
- Vegetable broth
- Green peas
- Onions
- Oatmeal
- Protein smoothie
- Protein soup
- High-fiber bread
- Swiss cheese
- Hummus
- Tuna, low-carb
- Portobello mushrooms
- Blueberries
- Melons
- Almonds
- Ketchup, sugar-relish
- Burger buns, high-fiber
Conclusion
Living after gastric bypass surgery can be challenging, especially since your body must adopt a new eating method. But because this weight loss procedure depends on it, you need to stick to a new diet. This meal plan helps you retain the new weight, stay in shape and change your dietary lifestyle for good. And with it, you can prevent problems associated with weight gain, eat healthily and live a more fulfilling lifestyle.