A person is not allowed to eat for a couple of days directly after gastric bypass surgery. After that, one may be able to eat certain foods according to diet progression. This helps in the healing process, minimize stress on the area of surgery as well as give time to the body to adapt to the new eating patterns.

A gastric bypass diet follows these phases in progression:

1. Liquid foods - broth, juice, milk, cooked cereal, and the like to be taken in 1 to 2 days

2. Pureed foods - foods with a consistency of a thick liquid, usually for 3-4 weeks, or as recommended by the dietician

3. Soft foods - finely diced meats, soft, fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, and similar foods for 8 weeks, or as recommended by the dietitian

A person can take many small meals throughout the day and take sips of liquids as part of the gastric bypass diet progression. However, liquids should be taken separately and at different times from the meals. You can start by having 6 small meals a day, then decrease to 4, and then to a regular 3 meals a day. Lean meat, low-fat dairy products, eggs, and other protein-rich foods are recommended to maintain as well as repair the body after the surgery.

The diet progression depends on how fast the body can adjust to the eating patterns. To ensure that you're getting the needed nutrients, here are a few eating guidelines to take note of:

1. You must eat in small amounts when in a gastric bypass diet. Eating in large amounts at one time may cause pain, nausea or vomiting. Patients are advised to stop eating as soon as they feel full.

2. To avoid dumping syndrome, eat and drink slowly. Also a person must avoid foods high in sugar and fat.

3. The food should be chewed thoroughly and well. This is to prevent blockages in the stomach since its opening is now smaller than before.

4. Drink liquids between meals. When you take them with the meal, it makes you very full and it can cause dumping syndrome as well. 6-8 cups of liquids are recommended to avoid dehydration.

5. A person has to try new foods one at a time so that your body can adjust to the new food. Foods such as meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, milk and carbonated beverages may not be tolerated easily by the body.

6. Take the recommended vitamin supplements since the body may have problems absorbing certain nutrients since most of the stomach and small intestine is already bypassed.

Following the recommended gastric bypass diet will give you nothing less than the best possible results.