Pureed foods diet (three to four weeks post-surgery)

Real foods are gradually added back into the diet as surgery wounds continue to heal. Only one kind of new food should be added at a time. During this stage, patients eat three meals and up to three snacks per day, depending on surgeon and dietitian recommendations.

Foods List

This phase allows the liquid diet foods plus:

• Fat-free cottage cheese
• Cream soups
• Creamy peanut and nut butters
• Pudding
• Yogurt without fruit chunks
• Canned fruit
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Mashed bananas
• Silken tofu (the soft kind)
• Creamed soup
• Pureed potatoes with water
• Cream of wheat and farina

Sample Meal Plan

Tips and Guidelines for the Pureed Foods Diet

• Protein is a main focus and should be eaten first at each meal and snack
• Stop eating when full, even if it is only after a bite
• Measure all portions using measuring cups, measuring spoons or food scales
• A blender to puree food and a strainer to make sure that there are no chunks are two helpful tools for this stage
• Begin to separate fluids from solids; i.e., have water at least 30 minutes before or after meals and snacks with pureed foods
• Continue to take recommend vitamin and mineral supplements
• Limit or eliminate caloric beverages, such as juices
• Limit the use of protein shakes; they should only be used when patients are having trouble meeting protein needs
• Each surgeon or dietitian may have slightly different recommendations for allowed foods during this stage