Several common mistakes are made both by patients and surgeons who are not qualified dieticians.

Myth #1:  Flintstones vitamins work just as effectively as regular multivitamins, and are gentle enough to use after bariatric surgery.

Fact: All chewable vitamins contain fillers such as transaturated fats, sugar, and artificial colors and flavors.  After your bariatric procedure it is highly counterproductive to include such ingredients in your diet, even in the form of nutritional supplements.

Also, the doses required for the optimal health of adults is different for those of children. Children’s vitamins don’t contain the proper amount of B-12 to help fight fatigue common after surgery, for example.  The lack of appropriate amounts of the required vitamins  will cause increased hunger, reducing the effectiveness of your diet and adding to the risk of malnutrition.

Myth #2:  Over the counter products like One A Day are adequate to supplement your dietary needs.

Fact: Most multivitamins can cause cramping and nausea, even for individuals who have not undergone bariatric surgery.  For those of us who have had any type of stomach related procedures, painful reactions to these pills become even more prevalent.

These vitamins increase the risk for malnutrition, which is entirely the wrong effect vitamins should have on your body!  Regular multivitamins contain fillers that don’t even resemble food, such as talc, the most common ingredient in baby powder.

Even worse, some of the ingredients in such products are disproportionate to the needs of bariatric patients and can counteract with other ingredients.  Both this and the presence of fillers will prevent proper absorption of the nutrients you need to maintain optimal health after your surgery.

Keeping the carbs low on a bariatric diet is sometimes not as easy as you might think. Bariatric dumping, as some of you learned the hard way, is not pleasant and a low carb diet can help you to avoid the symptoms.

Are Carbohydrates bad for you?

First carbs are not the devil! They are necessary in your diet and a source of energy. But too much of a good thing can definitely cause some health problems. Carbs are made of sugars, cellulose, and starches.

There are two types of carbs: simple and complex. The simple carbs breakdown easily and you digest them quickly. Because of this you get a fast burst of energy that quickly subsides. Complex carbohydrates require more digestion and provide a more sustained energy. They are found in vegetables and fruit and can aid in lowering cholesterol in some individuals.

You can still enjoy great tasting meals and not crave carbohydrates. Here is a bariatric diet recipe that is sure to please your taste buds and keep your carb intake low.

Easy Flounder Fillets Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound founder fillets, cut in the size you will serve
• 1 large tomato, chopped in bite size pieces
• 1/2 small red pepper, chopped (yellow or green peppers are good too)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoons olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves smashed and chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper (black or cayenne)
• 2 drops red pepper sauce (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with the oil or a non-stick cooking spray. Add the fish to the pan. Combine the remaining ingredients and toss to mix. Spoon this over the top of your fish fillets. Bake in the oven for around 10 to 12 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Learning the Ropes about Bariatric Nutrition

After bariatric surgery it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Your body has been used to being overloaded with calories. Those calories may or may not have contained important nutrients. But now, post WLS, your nutrition needs are more important than ever.

Your physician may have guided you about what you should be eating and about taking bariatric vitamins. But as is true with most things, doing your own research is going to give you a thorough amount of knowledge. Not only will this help you to stay healthy but you will be able to help guide your family and friends about how to eat nutritiously.

Bariatric Diet Recipe Planning

You might like to stay on top of your nutritional needs by planning your menus in advance. There are a variety of bariatric recipes online. If you are an experienced cook you can probably come up with some great recipes yourself or modify some recipes you find. Making delicious meals is easier than you might think.

Planning a month in advance will put you in great shape and you won’t need to worry about what you are going to eat. It is easier to fall off your bariatric diet if you suddenly become hungry and grab the quickest (maybe even junk) food you can find.

Liquid Protein Supplements

Even with a great bariatric diet you may find that your labs show you are lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. One common deficiency is protein. Next to water, there is more protein in your body than any other substance.

Immediately following surgery protein is very important for helping to heal your wounds. After healing is completed you still will need to take protein supplements to make sure you are receiving adequate amounts. It is quite difficult to consume enough protein from food alone. A great predigested liquid protein should be included in your daily regimen.

Many gastric bypass recipes involve artificial sweeteners or processed foods. But by cooking in old-fashioned ways, you can increase the flavor of your food and even enjoy eating in ways you may not have experienced before your surgery.

Weight Loss Surgery Diet and Slow Food

There is a relatively new slow foods movement and it’s perfect for bariatric nutrition because it involves eating whole, healthy foods rather than dieting. Slow food is everything fast food is not. Slow food is the kind of food your grandmother ate. It’s not processed. It’s rich in nutrients. It doesn’t have additives or chemicals in it.

Slow food should also be eaten slowly and enjoyed. It’s shared with conversation and friends and family. Slow food might be organic. It might be a luscious heirloom tomato picked at the exact right time. Or it might be a simple preparation of quality ingredients.

It’s getting easier to find slow food without having to cook it yourself, so slow food is getting faster! Grocery stores with prepared foods are often doing homestyle cooking using fresh ingredients.

And new restaurants are opening that serve slow food, fast. That means they are using fresh, natural ingredients, not frying their food, and not using preservatives.

How to Give Your Body the Gift of Slow Food after Bariatric Surgery

While all of this is definitely a step in the right direction, it will still be up to you to cook most of your own slow food.

Slow Food–Faster and Easier

1. If you have leftover chicken, throw it into a pot and make a stock. Aside from chicken, you can also use beef or other animal bones. Add some celery, carrots, onions, and let it cook on low heat overnight. Skim off anything on the top, season to taste with salt and herbs of your choice, and then strain. Let the liquid cool and freeze it in an ice cube tray. Take out “stock cubes” when you want to add more flavor to your food.
2. Roast some zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, carrots, and other vegetables of your choice. You can buy a mister to put a tiny bit of olive oil over the veggies before you put them in the oven. Roast at 450 degrees until the vegetables look done. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. I guarantee that this simple dish will create some of the best veggies you’ve ever eaten!

None of us can eat slow food all the time. And even when we can, it’s always good to take bariatric vitamins that are free of unnecessary additives or fillers to make sure that we are getting all of our proper nutrition.