Build a Better Burger for Bariatric Patients (2024)

FAQs

Can bariatric patients eat burgers? ›

Fast food is high in fat, calories and salt, and if a patient finds themselves on the road and must eat out, they should make good food choices such as salad or grilled poultry or fish and avoid greasy burgers and fries. Make fruits and vegetables a big part of their diet.

After that, your diet will be advanced to soft/pureed food for two to three weeks as healing takes place. Solid foods will then be added as tolerated. What are the best choices of protein? The best choices include eggs, low-fat cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, tofu, fish, other seafood, chicken, and turkey.

High-protein foods include eggs, meats, fish, seafood, tuna, poultry, soy milk, tofu, cottage cheese, yogurt and other milk products. Your goal should be a minimum of 65 to 75 grams of protein a day. Don't worry if you can't reach this goal in the first few months after surgery.

Protein is important for healing after surgery, maintaining muscle, preventing hair loss and preventing hunger between meals. Aim for three ounces per meal, or about the size of a deck of cards. The good thing about plant-based protein options is that they're high in protein and low in fat.

Although McDonald's is known for its unhealthy foods, some nutritious breakfast options are amiable for gastric sleeve and gastric bypass patients. Egg White Delight (260 Cal.) Sausage Burrito (310 Cal.) Egg McMuffin (310 Cal.)

Since your stomach is about the size of an egg after bariatric surgery, it will need to get enough daily nutrition by you making wise diet choices. A bariatric surgery diet means avoiding foods that provide little or no nutritional value. This includes pastries, sweets, chips, pretzels, rice cakes, and popcorn.

Bariatric Surgery patients are able to incorporate bananas and other fruits back into their diet at five to six weeks after surgery, as the stomach needs to slowly regain the strength to digest fibrous foods.

We recommend that you avoid red meat for at least four months after surgery.

The Importance of Protein

It helps build and maintain muscle mass and acts as a source of energy. Eating enough protein will also help keep your hair, skin and nails strong. If your diet doesn't include enough protein, you might notice thinning hair about 6 months to a year after weight loss surgery.

These amounts seem like a lot, but several foods are rich in protein. A daily protein requirement of 60 grams can be met by having two eggs, a glass of milk, a 3-ounce portion of baked fish, and a cup of cottage cheese. Even athletes with a greater protein requirement can get it from food.

How many protein shakes a day after gastric sleeve? ›

Drink at least 3 protein shakes per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for the first 4-6 weeks after your surgery. This will allow time for your new stomach to heal. As your food intake increases, shake requirements decrease. Work with your dietitian to figure out when to advance your diet.

They are typically what you think of when you hear the word “carb”—desserts, sodas, bread, pasta, and chips. We recommend that our bariatric patients who are greater than a year out from surgery stick to 50 to 75 grams of carbs a day and, more importantly, less than 15 tsp of sugar a day for sustained weight loss.

Eat slowly to avoid stomach problems. Choose foods that can be pureed, such as: Fruits: apple, pears, peaches, apricots, pineapples, bananas, melons. Vegetables: carrot, spinach, tomato juice, summer squash, green beans.

Eat 3 meals a day that are balanced with foods rich in nutrients. Lean meats or fish, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, low-fat starches, fruits, and vegetables. Eat as slowly as you can, taking tiny bites and chewing each piece about 20 times. You no longer have to feel guilty about clearing your plate!

Thinly sliced deli meat can be a great protein option after gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band surgery. It can be eaten on it's own, as part of a meal, or as a snack.

Greasy foods high in saturated and trans fats foods like fried chicken, burgers and cheesy nachos can also trigger heartburn. Garlic and onions can also cause heartburn because they increase acidity in the stomach.

Best bets are salads with grilled (not fried) chicken and a half portion of low-fat or “l*te” dressing as well as grilled chicken or fish sandwiches eaten open-faced or with no bun. A plain hamburger or cheeseburger (no sauce or mayo) piled with lettuce, tomato and onion is always an option.