Manual of Clinical Nutrition

Nutrition Management in Bariatric Surgery

Manual of Clinical Nutrition Management B- 29 Copyright © 2013 Compass Group, Inc.

Table B-3: Guide to Choosing Regular Foods After Bariatric Surgery (1,5)
Food Category Foods Allowed Foods That May Be
Difficult to Tolerate

Foods to Limit for Best
Weight Loss
Beverages Water, tea, club soda,
diet soft drinks,
coffee, fat-free milk

Milk may not be tolerated

except for fat-free milk

in small amounts. Use

low-fat or fat-free,

sugar-free yogurt and

cheeses for other

sources of calcium.

High-energy drinks: whole

milk, milk shakes,

alcoholic beverages,

sweetened fruit juices and

drinks; avoid drinks with

more than 15 g of sugar

per serving.

Breads Dry, coarse, or well-
toasted bread;
crispy crackers or
baked tortilla chips

Soft breads that become

gummy; breads with

nuts, seeds, or dried

fruit

Sweet breads, bagels, Danish

pastries, and donuts

Cereals All cooked and dried
cereals without
added sugar

Cereals containing dried

fruit or nuts

Cereals with added sugar or

providing more than 10-

15 g of sugar per serving

Potatoes, rice, pasta Boiled, mashed, or
baked potatoes
(white or sweet
potatoes); well-
cooked pasta and
rice

Potato skins, sweet

potatoes, rice, noodles

None

Fruits Fresh, canned, frozen,
or cooked fruit; be
cautious with
apples, grapes, or
other fruits with
peel or skin.

Dried fruits; fruits with

core, seeds, or skin;

whole citrus fruits (eg,

grapefruit, oranges);

citrus fruits should be

juiced.

Canned fruit in syrup

Vegetables Fresh, canned, frozen,
or cooked
vegetables

Vegetables with tough

skins or seeds

None

Meats All if diced to ¼ inch
(size of a pencil
eraser) and well
chewed

Tough meats or those with

gristle; some patients do

not tolerate red meat.

Bacon, sausage, lunch meats

Desserts Frozen yogurt; low-fat
gelatin, sherbet,
fruit pies; low-fat,
low-sugar pudding;
sugar–free gelatin
or Popsicles

Any dessert with nuts,

dried fruit, seeds, or

coconut; candy

containing sugar, nuts,

dried fruit, jams, or

marmalade

All, except fresh fruit

Fats All, in small amounts Fried foods with a hard
crusty coating

All

Miscellaneous Soups with large pieces of
meat; popcorn; nuts;
chili and other highly
spiced foods; avoid
chewing gum.

Fried, salty snack foods;

creamed soups unless

made with nonfat milk