If you tolerate the pureed diet well, your surgeon will likely recommend that you begin to incorporate solid foods. You should slowly incorporate small amounts of new foods—a few tablespoons rather than a half-cup. Everyone encounters problems with some foods; it’s perfectly normal. If you do have a poor reaction to a certain food, you always can try it again in a week or so.

Hydration will continue to be important. Hydrate with more than 64 ounces of water, calorie-free or very-low-calorie drinks, and diet frozen juice bars. Beverages such as fruit juices contain calories, which will slow down your weight loss or cause you to lose less weight than you could.

You still need 60 to 65 grams of protein each day. This translates to about 4 ounces of lean meat, three times each day. At this point, you can switch from chewable multivitamins to those in pill form. When it comes to calcium, calcium citrate is the best-absorbed calcium. Some calcium supplements contain vitamin D and magnesium to aid in absorption. Your surgeon may prescribe iron supplements as well.

Tips Include:

• Incorporate new foods in small amounts.
• Avoid foods and beverages high in fat and/or sugar.
• Chew your food thoroughly.
• Eat slowly.
• If your stomach feels irritated, let it recover by consuming liquids in place of the next meal or two.

Examples of Healthy Lifetime Foods:

• Protein shakes or supplements
• Lean ground beef, chicken, turkey, or pork
• Fish
• Tofu
• Cottage cheese
• Soft pasta
• Cooked or canned fruits and vegetables (avoid starchy vegetables such as corn)
• Whole-grain cereals and breads