From the second or third day, proceed by steps

Step 1 :

liquid food for 2 weeks. It is recommended to consume an average of 100ml of liquid per hour, with a spoon.

Varied food is recommended: skim slightly acid, skimmed acidulous milk, yoghurt, gruel or vegetables, tea or coffee. An extra of vitamins and minerals in form of a drink is also advised. It is important to space out the consumption of liquid throughout the day, by swallowing small quantities each time.

Step 2 :

Food in the form of puree for two weeks. The purees should be consumed in small portions. Soups with vitamins and minerals added must be included in the menu as well. Baby-food for babies, aged 5 to 6 months is recommended at this point, because of this ideal composition in nutritional value. It is not recommended to drink during meals, but between meals.

Meals can be adapted to each patient but it is recommended to respect the quantities hereafter mentioned. The daily quantity in liquids must be at least 1500ml at a rate of 100-200ml absorbed at regular intervals during the day. It is advised to vary the source of quantity in liquids by including, for example, tea or coffee, yoghurts, acidulous skimmed milk, or also vegetables or fruit juice.

The consumption of food in the form of mashed food must include meat or fish, or be spread out in several meals of 150gr each. The food is to be swallowed slowly, in small mouthfuls.

Step 3 :

Little portions of normal food for two weeks. Food of normal consistency may now be included in the diet. However the portions must remain small, and it is important to eat slowly and to chew each mouthful carefully. It is advised to drink only various types of skimmed dairy products such as milk, acidulous milk or yoghurts. The daily quantity in liquid must be at least 1500 ml and the amount of solid food to be ingested must be about 500g in total. Meals can be had at normal hours, but it is important to foresee enough time in order to be able to eat slowly in carefully chewing each mouthful.

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Step 4 :

Create your own menus. The patients can now create their own menus, but it is important that they continue eating in small quantities (but often) and learn to masticate their food carefully. It is recommended to drink only between meals and to stick to sugar free liquids and liquids without fatty contents.
The menus should be based on boiled vegetables and mashed into a puree. Fish and lean meat must be boiled rather than fried. Only dairy products with reduced fatty contents should be used such as 17% fatty content cheese, diet ice- cream, skimmed milk and yoghurt.

Food restrictions

Some food is not easily digested and must be avoided, unless it is mashed, or else it might get stuck in the stomach entrance. The obstruction might cause the patient to vomit, causing a lack in liquids.
Most patients would find it difficult or impossible to eat meat after their operation (beef meat is however tolerated if it is well masticated).
It is therefore not recommended to eat meat during the first post-operatory weeks, but to gradually introduce it into the diet.
According to the quantity of liquids ingested in the balloon of the ring, the inner diameter of the ring will be more or less big and will affect the ease with which the patient can ingest the food. A tightened ring will make weight loss more possible, but patients will have to be more careful and will have to eat food which will not obstruct the entrance of the stomach. If the ring is completely empty, the patient will be able to eat practically normally.

Food which is difficult to ingest.

Fibrous forms

• Asparagus: mashed into puree to be served like a potage.
• Grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, use only the juice.
• Rhubarb: mashed into a puree
• Brocoli: only eat the little flowers.
• Dried fruit: it must be avoided since it risks obstructing the stomach entrance when it dilates.

Food which can cause obstruction

• Coconut.
• French - fries.
• Pop - corn.
• White bread.

Food difficult to digest

• Wal nuts
• Hazelnuts
• Almonds