Phase Three: The Bariatric Surgery Soft Solid Diet

Duration: 7 Days Post-Surgery

We are discussing Phase 3 – Soft Solids of the post weight loss surgery meal plan. You will start this phase 2 weeks after your surgery, around day 15 to 21. At this stage, you are still drinking 64 ounces of fluids to prevent dehydration. Also, continue reaching for your goal of 60 to 90 grams of protein by getting 15 to 20 grams of protein per each meal.

Approved Soft Solids

The soft solid phase is the consistency of mashed potatoes or baby food but you don’t want to eat baby food because your nutrition needs are much different than a child. This is the phase where you start weighing your food. If you have not already bought a pocket digital scale you need to get one.

• Add only ONE food at a time
• Scrambled eggs (soft, boiled, poached)
• Egg salad
• Tuna fish moistened well with mayo
• Chicken salad, salmon, moistened with mayo
• Cottage cheese
• cheese
• Tofu
• Fruit (mashed, can – anything soft)
• Veggies (mashed, can, and slow-cooked to tenderize)
• Refried beans with cheese
• Meats pressure cooked to tenderize
• Bananas
• Sweet potatoes, and potatoes (mashed – only)
• Greek Yogurt

The Goal of Soft Solids

You begin to weigh your food at this stage. The goal is no more than 6 ounces of food- 3 ounces of protein, one ounce of healthy fat, and two ounces to play with adding vegetables, fruits, or carbohydrates. Your goal is to work towards getting 20 grams of protein at each meal

You will begin to have 3 meals per day at 4 to 6 ounces and then one protein shakes a day. Your goal is to get in at least 12 ounces of food per day. So if you can not get in 3 ounces of protein at one time your 3 meals may turn into 6 meals having only 2 ounces at a time. Each person is different after surgery.

Avoid Overeating

It is very important that you listen to your body and not overdo it. In time, you will be able to eat 6 ounces at one meal. Now that you are eating real food you will stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you eat, no fluids while you eat, and then wait 30 minutes after you eat. Why is it important to follow this and not drink with your meals?

You have to remember you have drastically decreased the size of your stomach. If you drink before you eat you will fill your pouch up with fluids and not be able to get the proper nutrition. If you eat during or directly after you will push the food through your pouch faster causing you to be hungry sooner.

What We Recommend

It is very important that you weigh your food. Your goal at each meal will be to eat 6 ounces of food. 3 ounces will always be protein. When you can eat 3 ounces of protein you can add one ounce of healthy fat like pureed avocado or add coconut oil or some other oil to your foods. Then you have 2 ounces you can play with to add some fruit like applesauce or vegetables like purred eggplant or green beans.

During this phase, you will need to eat very slowly and although the food is soft, still practice chewing your food until applesauce consistency before swallowing. Also, take pinky size bites to minimize your chances of regurgitation or to get nauseous. One of the main reasons people have problems with regurgitation or vomiting is because they are either eating too fast, or they have taken too big of a bite.

We recommend getting tiny utensils to assist in only eating a little amount at a time. Also during this phase, it would be beneficial to try one new food at a time. If you seem to be constantly vomiting at this stage, and you have slowed you’re eating down and you are taking the pinky size bites; go back to thick liquids for a day or two and try again.

Examples of foods that are soft solids are scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, Greek Yogurt, tofu, shrimp salad, and much more. When choosing yogurt, We recommend getting using plain Greek yogurt. For a complete list of foods and a sample, the menu clicks the link below.

Sample Menu: Bariatric Meal Plan for the Four-Phase Post-Op Diet

 Moving to the Final Phase

Feel free to join our FaceBook support page for more information or view the post-surgical meal plan for specific guidelines that you can print out from our website; Links are below. Here at Mexico bariatric center, our goal is to take this journey with you and provide you with excellent care with both pre and post-surgical support.