Patient Education Materials

	Patient Education

Post-Gastrectomy Diet

This diet is designed for patients to follow after a gastrectomy (stomach surgery).

Your body needs added calories and protein to help heal itself. Start slowly and
gradually eat more as you are able.
Eat small, frequent meals at least six times per day. See sample menu on a following
page.
Everyone tolerates foods differently. Avoid those foods known to cause you problems.
Keep high-calorie snacks handy, such as cheese, peanut butter crackers, and yogurt.
Pack extra protein into foods by adding shredded cheese, dry milk powder, or peanut butter.
Drink only nutritious beverages. Try milk, eggnog (without alcohol), or unsweetened juice instead of coffee, tea, diet soda, or water.
Report any weight loss to your doctor.

When food or fluids move too quickly through your digestive system, it’s called “dumping syndrome.” Symptoms of dumping syndrome are:

It’s very important to tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Here are some tips to help avoid dumping syndrome:

Don’t drink liquids with your meals. Wait one-half to one full hour after eating solid food to drink something.
Limit sweets. Use sugar-free foods and drinks in place of regular sweet foods or drinks.
Lactose (milk sugar) may also cause diarrhea and cramping. Drink lactose-free or lactosereduced milk, or take lactase enzyme tablets (like Dairy Ease) when you eat dairy products.
Adding extra fats (like butter, margarine, cheese, gravy, cream, or sour cream) to foods may help slow down the movement of food through your system.
Avoid extremely hot or cold foods.
Avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol.
Eat slowly and chew your food carefully.

Food Categories	Foods Recommended	Servings Per Day
Meat, fish, poultry, and cheese Serving size: 2 to 3 oz Count one egg or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter as 1 oz.	any meat, poultry, or fish (as tolerated) peanut butter eggs cheese and cottage cheese	at least 2 or 3 servings (6 oz.)
Milk Serving size: 1 cup	milk, cream, and yogurt fortified soy milk, lactose-reduced or lactose-free mlik	at least 2 servings (if tolerated)
Starches Serving size: 1 slice or 1/2 cup	any breads, cereals, and rolls rice, pasta, and potatoes muffins crackers	6 to 11 servings
Vegetables Serving size: 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables	any vegetable or vegetable juice (as tolerated)- boost calories by adding extra butter or salad dressing	2 to 3 servings
Fruits Serving size: 1 medium piece of fresh fruit or 1/2 cup canned fruit	any fresh fruit, unsweetened canned fruits, and unsweetened fruit juice	2 to 4 servings
Fats	butter, margarine, oil, salad dressing, mayonnaise, and cream cheese	add extra fats to all foods
*Sweets and desserts	sugar-free pudding, custards, plain cake, and cookies	1 serving

* Foods that are high in sugar may cause dumping syndrome in some people. Use sugar-free items, or eat sweets with a meal to limit symptoms.

Breakfast	1/2 banana 1 slice toast 1 egg 2 teaspoons margarine 1 cup 2% milk (drink 1/2 to 1 hour after eating)
Snack	1 oz. cheese 4 crackers
Lunch	2 oz. hamburger 1 small bun 1/2 cup fruit cocktail 1/2 cup vegetable juice (drink 1/2 to 1 hour after eating)
Snack	1 tablespoon peanut butter 3 graham crackers 1/2 cup orange juice (drink 1/2 to 1 hour after eating)
Dinner	1/2 chicken breast 1/2 cup mashed potatoes 1/2 cup green beans 2 teaspoons margarine 1/2 cup applesauce 1 cup 2% milk (drink 1/2 to 1 hour after eating)
Snack	1/2 turkey sandwich 1 cup 2% milk (drink 1/2 to 1 hour after eating)