Jeffrey Salazar
A gastrectomy is a surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. This procedure often results in nutrition-related complications, including weight loss, diet intolerances, and micronutrient deficiencies. To avoid these issues, it is crucial to follow a post-gastrectomy diet plan that focuses on food choices, quantities, and timing. The plan should be tailored to the individual's specific needs, with guidance from a clinical dietitian nutritionist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of meals per day | 6-8 small meals |
| Meal schedule | Do not wait until hungry; eat last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime |
| Meal size | 1-2 ounces each (about the size of a shot glass) |
| Food groups | High-calorie, high-protein foods and fluids; include many kinds of food groups unless advised otherwise by a healthcare provider |
| Food preparation | Cook in batches and freeze; reheat until steaming hot |
| Food storage | Keep favorite foods within easy reach; buy single-serving food items |
| Food intolerances | Avoid foods and drinks with lots of sugar to prevent dumping syndrome |
| Weight loss | Tell your care team if losing weight unintentionally |
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What You'll Learn
Eat smaller meals more frequently
After a gastrectomy, your stomach will not be able to hold as much food as it did before surgery. You will feel full faster than you did previously. To ensure you are eating the right amount of food, it is recommended to eat smaller meals more frequently.
You should have 6 or more small meals a day instead of 3 large meals. This means eating a half-sized meal every 2 to 3 hours. Do not wait until you are hungry. Create and follow a meal schedule, eating your last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.
You may only be comfortable eating a few bites of food at a time after surgery. To get all the nutrients you need, you may need to eat or drink every 1 to 2 hours. Eat slowly to prevent feeling too full and uncomfortable. Sit upright during your meals.
It is important to get enough nutrition before and after surgery to prevent deficiencies. Your body may not be getting enough nutrients from food alone, so you may need to take supplements. Ask your surgeon or a registered dietitian for advice.
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Focus on high-calorie, high-protein foods
After a gastrectomy, it is important to focus on consuming enough calories and protein to prevent weight loss and promote healing. A post-gastrectomy diet should be carefully planned and reviewed by a clinical dietitian nutritionist to ensure adequate nutrition and address any specific needs or intolerances.
- Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of three large meals, opt for 6-8 small meals throughout the day. This helps ensure you are getting enough nutrition, as your stomach will hold less food after the surgery.
- Protein-Rich Foods: Include protein in every meal, aiming for protein to make up at least half of your plate. Good sources of protein include chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
- High-Calorie Options: Choose foods that are calorie-dense to help meet your energy needs. This might include oils, butter, cream, cream cheese, and full-fat dairy products like buttermilk, evaporated milk, and regular or low-fat cheese.
- Liquids: Get more calories from liquids, such as milkshakes or nutritional supplements. Drink fluids 30 minutes before or after eating, but not during meals.
- Cooking Methods: Opt for soft, well-cooked foods that are easy to chew and digest. Cook vegetables without seeds or skin, and choose soft fruits like bananas and melons.
- Supplements: If needed, your healthcare provider may recommend supplements such as fiber, calcium, iron, or vitamin B-12 to ensure you are getting adequate nutrition.
Remember, it is important to work closely with your healthcare team and dietitian to design a meal plan that suits your individual needs and tolerances.
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Avoid sugar to prevent dumping syndrome
After a gastrectomy, it is important to follow a post-gastrectomy diet to prevent dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome is a common side effect of gastrectomy, affecting up to half of patients. It can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea, dizziness, burping, fatigue, rapid heart rate, sweating, shakiness, anxiety, and fainting. The condition is caused by a shift of fluid in the small intestine and a drop in blood sugar levels.
To prevent dumping syndrome, it is crucial to avoid sugar, especially in large amounts. This includes added sugars found in processed foods and drinks, as well as natural sugars in fruits and fruit juices. It is recommended to choose foods and drinks that are labelled "no added sugar" or "unsweetened". For example, plain yogurt without added sugar, unsweetened drinks, and diet, sugar-free beverages. Additionally, it is important to read nutrition labels carefully to identify and avoid sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, and xylitol. These can often be found in foods labelled "sugar-free" and can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhoea.
However, it is important to note that natural sugars from certain food groups, such as fruits, starchy vegetables, milk, and unsweetened yogurts, are safe to consume in moderation. These natural sugars are not added and will not be listed as ingredients. It is recommended to balance these natural sugars with protein sources to maintain stable blood sugar levels. For example, a yogurt with 11 grams of protein and no added sugar would be a good choice.
It is also beneficial to include high-calorie and high-protein foods in your diet to meet your nutritional needs. Aim for meals that consist of at least half protein and choose tender meats cooked without added fat, such as chicken, turkey, beef, pork, or lamb. Additionally, soft, well-cooked foods that can be easily chewed and pureed are recommended. It is important to eat slowly, relax while eating, and chew foods completely before swallowing.
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Keep favourite foods easily accessible
After a gastrectomy, the way you digest food will change. You may digest your food too fast and not absorb nutrients as well as before. Your stomach will not be able to hold as much as it did before surgery. This means you will need to have 6-8 small meals a day instead of 3 main meals. You will need to eat slowly and relax while eating.
To keep your favourite foods easily accessible, try the following:
- Keep your favourite foods in your home where you can get to them easily.
- Buy single-serving food items that you can eat easily, such as small bags of mixed nuts or trail mix.
- Cook in batches so you have leftovers. Keep one extra serving in your refrigerator for the next day, but not longer. Freeze the other extra servings.
- When you’re ready to use a frozen serving, thaw it in the refrigerator or microwave. Then, reheat it until it’s steaming hot.
- Include many kinds of food groups and food types in your diet, unless your healthcare provider tells you not to.
- Get more calories from liquids than solid foods. For example, have milkshakes or nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Carnation Breakfast Essentials.
- If you are losing weight without meaning to, tell your care team. They may suggest taking nutritional supplements high in calories or protein.
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Reintroduce higher-fibre foods slowly
After a gastrectomy, it is important to slowly reintroduce higher-fibre foods into your diet. This is because your body will not be able to absorb everything you eat, and you will feel full quickly. You may also experience weight loss, so it is important to meet your nutritional needs.
To do this effectively, it is recommended that you follow a meal schedule and have small meals every few hours, even when you don't feel hungry. This is because your body does not have the usual signals to tell you to eat after a gastrectomy, so you may forget to eat or not eat often enough. Eating smaller meals more frequently will also help you to eat the right amount of food.
When reintroducing higher-fibre foods, it is important to do so one food at a time to ensure that you can comfortably digest each new food. Focus on including well-tolerated fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and other whole, plant-based foods in your meals every day.
It is also important to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing to aid digestion and absorption. Soft, well-cooked foods can help with this. In addition, drinking fluids 30 minutes before or after eating, rather than during meals, can help with this, as well as avoiding bile reflux.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to eat at least 6-8 small meals a day, each consisting of about 1-2 ounces of food. It is also important to eat high-calorie, high-protein foods and fluids to meet your nutritional needs.
It is recommended to include high-protein and high-calorie foods in your diet. It is also suggested to include well-tolerated fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and other whole plant-based foods.
It is important to avoid foods and drinks with high sugar content as they can cause dumping syndrome, which includes symptoms such as cramping, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
