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Gastrectomy Food Chart

Follow this chart when making food choices during the 6-8 weeks after a gastrectomy:

Food

Choose

Avoid

Dairy

Buttermilk

Evaporated, skim, or 1% milk

Yogurt with no added sugar

Powdered milk

Cheese

Low-fat, low-sugar ice cream

(If lactose intolerant, choose lactose free or soy products.)

Chocolate milk

Any milk product with added sugar

Protein

Tender cooked meats without added fat including chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and lamb

Soy-based meat products

Eggs

Fish

Smooth nut butters

Fried foods.

Processed meats such as salami, bologna, bacon, sausages, and hot dogs

Tough or chewy meats

Beans, peas, and lentils

Nuts and chunky nut butters

Grains

White flour

Bread made with white four including bagels, English muffins, etc.

Cereal with less than 2 grams of fiber per serving and no added sugar.

High fiber grains and cereals

Grains with 2 or more grams of fiber per serving on the nutrition label.

Vegetables

Cooked vegetables without seeds or skins

Potatoes without the skin

Lettuce

Strained vegetable juice

Raw vegetables except lettuce

Cooked vegetables with skin or seeds

Beets, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, collard greens, turnip greens and corn.

Fruits

Canned and soft fruits without added sugar

Bananas and melons

All fruit except bananas and melons

Dried fruit including raisins and prunes

Fruit juices

Canned fruit in syrup or without added sugar

Fats

Oils, butter, trans fat free margarine, cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise

Drinks

Water

Coffee, tea (decaf only)

Soft drinks(diet, sugar free, caffeine free)

Caffeinated, tea, coffee, or soda

Alcoholic beverages

Fruit juice and fruit drinks

Sweetened drinks with sugar, corn syrup, or honey

Sweeteners

Any recommended foods made with artificial sweeteners such saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, or stevia.

*Stevia is your best choice for an artificial sweetener because it is natural and plant based.

Sugar, honey, syrup, sorbitol, xylitol

Foods that list any of these as one of the first three ingredients