Phase #2 -- Purees & Soft Foods

[MsJacquiiC]

In this phase, protein sources will be your mainstay. Soft foods, purees and all moist foods such as chili, eggs, refried beans and foods listed below are allowed.

Purees & Very Soft Foods
Begin to Use Protein for Healing
(Week 2 - Week 6 Post-op)

Your surgeon or dietician will indicate when it is time for you to advance to the pur?e and then soft diet. It is important to obey your surgeon’s time frame. Make sure that initially all foods are pur?ed in an extremely soft semi-liquid state; the consistency of applesauce is a good reference for texture for the initial stages of this phase. You will later progress at the end of the phase to foods that can be finely mashed with a fork. There is a blurred line between purees and soft foods, which is why we address both in this section even though there are differences.

The purpose of this stage is to allow your stomach and intestines to continue to heal, and to slowly introduce soft, semi liquid foods into your pouch. Eating solid foods too soon may put pressure on the staple line and may cause breakage or leaking so be patient and do not push the limits of this stage. You have your whole life ahead of you and although it is frustrating to be ‘stuck’ in these special texture phases, advancing too rapidly into foods that are too dense and hard can cause problems with vomiting and even result in foods getting stuck. If at any time you find that you are not doing well with these foods or experience vomiting, back down to the liquid phase, remain for a day or so and then bump up again to the more liquid spectrum of this phase.

If at any time you are repeatedly vomiting liquids or water, or if food and water is causing great pain, call your doctor.

In this stage protein will begin to be an essential part of your diet. Protein helps with wound healing, muscle and skin re-growth, and repair, creating fullness or satiety, as well as preventing hair loss. Every meal and snack should have a good source of protein in it.

You should eat 3 small meals per day plus protein supplements mid morning and mid afternoon in order to get in adequate nutrition. Some surgeons prefer to call this ‘five small meals’.

The following are examples of pureed and very soft & moist foods suitable for phase 2:

• Soft scrambled eggs *
• Low-fat cheese, mozzarella 'string cheese' sticks
• Low fat small curd cottage cheese *
• Low carb yogurt *
• Part skim ricotta cheese *
• Poached fish filets mashed with a little of the cooking liquid
• Small amounts of mashed banana for flavoring *
• Any meat (excluding red meat)
  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Shrimp
  • Crab
  • Other Seafood
  • Pork
  • Ham
  • Turkey and groud turkey
• Refriend beans and dried beans * (pinto, garbanzo, white, northern, etc...)
• Tofu and soy products *
• Creamy peanut butter *
• Protein puddings *

* You do not have to puree these foods, but ensure they are moist.


Eating rules for phase 2:

• Serving size ==> 1 1/2 oz. (volume) three times per day. Measure food using 3 tablespooons.
• Avoid high carbohydrate foods (especially starches)
• Do not drink liquids 30 minutes before a meal or 60 minutes after a meal.
• Meal time should not exceed 20 minutes to avoid overeating. Only eat to the point of fullness If you are full before you eat 1 1/2 oz, do not continue to eat or finish the meal at another time. This will only create bad habits.
• Soups are considered having liquid with your meals. High protein soups (bean soup, lentil soup, etc...) are allowed on phase 2 if you drain the liquid and process through a food processor. Avoid vegetable soup and soups with beef and noodles/pasta.

Tips:

• Variety is the spice of success ==> Be creative! Any recipe is acceptable as long as it does not contain starches, fruits, or vegetables.
• Puree meals in advance and freeze leftovers in ice cube trays.