Soft Food Stage

With my surgeon, the dietary plan following a Gastric Sleeve procedure is broken up into phases – clear liquids (phase 1), full liquids (phase 2), soft and blended foods (phase 3), and solid food (phase 4). I'm instructed to move up so soft and blended foods about days 20-30 post-surgery, and after feeling completely comfortable with the previous phase (no vomiting or nausea). If, after advancing, problems develop, I go back to liquids and advance only after I've tolerated liquids without any problems for 48 hours. This page is dedicated to soft and blended foods stage (some also call it "puree" stage or "mushies").

What I really ate

During this phase I continued to eat (well, drink) the things I used during the liquid phase. But I worked in the following things gradually, and one at a time, to become accustomed to them:

• Boxed mashed potatoes
• Hummus
• Cottage cheese
• Greek yogurt (Fage 0%), which I eventually mixed/paired with other things
• Low/Non-Fat Yogurt (no chunks)
• Sugar-free pudding
• Campbell's Tomato Soup at Hand (I do half at a sitting), with 1 TBSP of Fage thrown in for protein 
• Fat free refried beans (2 TBSP), a bit of cheese melted on top, and 2 TBSP of Fage 2% greek yogurt 
• Once I was ready to get fancy, I tried "Shelly's Baked Ricotta" from The World According to Eggface. It's slightly famous on some of the WLS blogs, and didn't disappoint!
• Made my own buffalo chicken (and chicken enchilada) bites (aka crustless quiches)
• Frozen Protein Drops from theworldaccordingtoeggface (see below) 

Phase 3
SOFT AND BLENDED FOODS (Day 20-30 following surgery)

1. You may stay in this phase for as little as 10 days or for 2-3 weeks. You should always adhere to the rules regarding the composition of your food as previously stated – 75% protein and minimal amounts of carbohydrates and fats.  Always read labels to determine how many calories each food contains and how those calories are broken down (percentage from fats/carbs/protein).  For the purpose of “meals,” these are the first foods which count as a meal, and as such should never be eaten more than 5 times per day. 
2. Blended foods should be the consistency of a thick liquid (no chunks or solid material). 
3. Soft foods are things such as eggs (soft boiled or scrambled), tofu, low-fat cottage cheese, and sugar-free low-fat yogurt.  Never have more than 2 oz. at one time.  Take very small bites and eat slowly.  These should be chewed until they are of a liquid consistency. 
4. Have 5 very small meals a day – no more. Once you feel full you should stop eating and not resume eating anything other than liquids until the next meal. Anytime you eat anything blended, soft, or solid it counts as one of your meals. 
5. Never drink liquids with your meals. Liquids should be avoided for a period of 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after eating solid food or meals.  The small capacity of your stomach will not permit both things at the same time.  Patients who eat and drink at the same time experience severe stomach ache.
6. Between meals, you may drink any clear liquid or protein supplement that you like, provided it doesn’t contain sugar, carbonation, or fat. 
7. No caffeine or carbonated beverages should be consumed during phase 3 of the diet. These will cause unpleasant side effects and may also cause complications.  You may add decaf coffee to your diet during this food stage.
8. Continue to have between 600–800 calories per day. 
9. Once you have tolerated Phase 3 for 10 to 14 days without difficulty, then you may progress to Phase 4 (Solid Food)