Gauge post-bariatric-surgery food servings quickly

August 6th, 2009

After weight loss surgery, you will be following a new bariatric diet with smaller servings. You will need to eat slowly and chew thoroughly, and listen to the signals from your new small stomach to make sure you don’t miss the feeling of fullness when it first arrives. In this month’s article, Registered Dietitian Lynn Holmberg shares a few tips to help you gauge and get used to the right amount of food per meal.

Let’s start with the number of meals per day. To optimize your weight loss, Lynn recommends continuing to eat just 3 meals daily. (If you drink a protein shake instead of breakfast, you’ll eat just 2 meals.) Instead of between-meal snacks, use liquids to meet your fluid goal of 60-70 oz, including protein drinks.

Now, how much should you eat per meal? According to Lynn, by 2-3 months after your surgery, your stomach will hold about 1/3 cup (about 5 tablespoons) of well-chewed food per meal. By 4-6 months after surgery, your stomach will reach its maximum capacity of about ½ cup (4 oz). Remember, the most important part of your diet is protein, and you should aim for 60-80g of protein per day.

At Home: Measure or Weigh Your Food

The easiest way to make sure you don’t overeat is to actually measure your prepared food. “Measuring cups and spoons are your new best friends when it comes to getting used to new portions,” Lynn Holmberg says. Use the measuring cups and spoons that you cook with, and if you don’t have those buy them before your surgery so that you’re well prepared when you need them.

Weighing food is another option, which may be easier than measuring for some foods such as meat. Try out the different kinds of food – meats, grains, cheese, purees, salads – until you can eyeball the right servings quickly.

Remember to watch your protein intake with each meal. “By 4-6 months post-op, you may find you can manage 1-1/2 to 3 oz. protein food per meal,” Lynn advises. “If you’re able to eat more protein at mealtime, you may be able to decrease your protein drink now. Your dietitian can help ensure you continue to meet your protein goal.”

At a Restaurant: Order Small Portions or Split the Meal

Here are three tips on how to be smart about your portions when you’re eating out and cannot measure or weigh your food:

Order an appetizer instead of a full meal, or order from the kids’ menu.

Tell your waiter or waitress that you had weight loss surgery and cannot eat very much.

Split your meal with your spouse or friend, or cut it in half/thirds right away and bring the rest home.

Lynn’s final advice on food servings: “It is very important to learn to eat slowly, and not overeat. You don’t want to have food blockage problems, feel sick, or stretch your new small stomach. If you are a LAP-BAND® patient and find that you can eat more than ½ cup of food without problems, it’s probably time to get a band fill (adjustment)!”

Entry Filed under: Food, Lap Band, Obesity Today, Realize Band, gastric bypass