Chapter 2: What to Expect and What to Eat 33
✓ Because you’re able to eat only limited amounts, you need to eat
nutrient-rich foods. In other words, you want to get the most nutritional
bang for your calorie buck.✓ Continue to stick with foods that are low fat and sugar free.
✓ Use small plates and utensils to control portions.✓ Take your multivitamins and any other supplements your surgeon or
dietitian has recommended.Sample menu for a soft-food diet
You have many more options in this stage, which means it’s easier to meet
your nutritional needs (especially protein). Focus on using foods to meet
your needs and only use supplements to fill in the gaps. The following sample
menu shows what you may eat in a typical day:✓ Breakfast
- No-sugar-added yogurt
- Unsweetened applesauce
✓ Snack
- Low-carb protein supplement
✓ Lunch
- Cream of tomato soup made with nonfat milk
- Blended chicken moistened with chicken broth
- Blended green beans
- Sugar-free pudding
✓ Snack
- Low-carb protein supplement
✓ Dinner
- Blended meatballs with beef broth
- Mashed potatoes made with nonfat milk
- Fat-free gravy
- Blended carrots
- Sugar-free applesauce
✓ Snack
- Sugar-free pudding made with fortified nonfat milk or low-carb
protein supplement (if needed to meet protein needs)