Ask Amy
What is acceptable to drink during the initial fluid phase? This is a question a hear quite often. Your Postoperative Weight Loss Manuel details the progression of the diet after surgery: liquid phase, soft food phase, and solid foods. For the liquid phase acceptable fluids include:
- Your protein drinks; mix with water. Some are better if you add non fat milk or soy milk.
- Chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth. Yes, homemade broths are fine.
- Non fat milk and/or soy milk
- Sugar Free Crystal Light (or any comparable product)
- Sugar Free Jello
- Sugar Free Popsicle
You're aiming for 64 oz of fluid/day and 70 grams of protein/day. A majority of your protein will come from the protein drinks, as the other fluids listed above do not contain much protein. LapSF does carry some specialty soups that are enhanced with protein: Chicken Bouillon, Beef Bouillon and Tomato Soup. We also have a high protein Chicken Soup Mix and a Cream of Chicken Soup Mix that would have to be strained in the fluid phase, or eaten in the soft food phase.
*Some great ideas I've heard for the soups is to mix our high protein Chicken Bouillon with low sodium chicken broth, in place of water, for added flavor. Mix our high protein Tomato Soup with low sodium beef broth, in place of water, for added flavor.
What have YOU tried? Share your ideas and recipes!
Amy Ingols, Registered Dietitian
Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco
Ingredients:
1 box of SF Jello (large 0.6 oz. box) - any flavor
1 packet of SF Unsweetened Kool Aid - chose your favorite flavors to mix or match
1 Cup Splenda - adjust to your taste
2 Cups of boiling water
4 Cups cold water
Directions:
Mix Jello thoroughly with 2 cups boiling water. Mix thoroughly.
Add 2 cups cold water.
Add Kool Aid and Splenda and 2 more cups cold water. Mix thoroughly.
Pour into molds and freeze as quickly as possible. Remember to allow for expansion as the liquid freezes. The quicker they freeze, the less crystals you will have.
Enjoy!