Healthy Shopping after Bariatric Surgery

Following your bariatric surgery, grocery shopping may seem slightly intimidating. Grocery stores are filled with tempting treats, snacks and sweets that could derail your weight loss efforts. Although your bariatric surgery has physically changed the way you eat, you want to ensure that your food choices are encouraging your weight loss journey and overall health. It is important that you are taking every step to optimize your weight loss and to reach your weight loss goals. Since your weight loss surgery will limit how much you can eat, it will be helpful to ensure that the food you are eating provides you with essential nutrients and vitamins your body needs.

Your diet is most healthful if it is:

• High in fresh fruits and vegetables
• High in dietary fiber
• Low in calories
• Low in saturated and polyunsaturated fats
• High in lean proteins

Avoiding the foods that will fill you up with empty calories or harmful fats and added sugars without providing needed nutrition.

Tips to Making Healthy Shopping Choices after Bariatric Surgery:

• Avoid the aisles. Avoiding walking up and down every aisle in the grocery store. If you do this, you will be less likely to put tempting foods that you don’t need, into your cart.
• Stick to the perimeter. Generally, the deli and produce sections of grocery stores are located on the outer perimeters of the stores. The processed foods and snacks tend to be on the inside aisles. If you stick to the outside areas of the store, you will be less likely to pick up junk foods and snacks that are harmful to your post-bariatric diet.
• Make a list (and stick to it). Make a list of the groceries you need to buy and don’t buy anything else other than what is on your list. This is another helpful tip for keeping those tempting snacks out of your cart and out of your pantry.
• Bring your own bags. Try bringing reusable bags to the store with you. If you stick to using these bags, you will be less likely to purchase extra goodies that won’t fit or are unnecessary.
• Don’t shop hungry. If you go grocery shopping while you are hungry, you are more likely to impulse shop. If you go feeling full and satisfied you’re more likely to stick to your list and avoid any harmful foods.

After your weight loss surgery Dr. Bass and your weight loss surgery team will help with your dietary plan but it is up to you to continue to make healthy choices following your surgery. Cravings and temptations can be difficult, but with the right choices and by using the above tips you can stay on track with your post-bariatric diet and lifestyle.