The phasing-in special diet is followed by a gradual return to normal food composition, but not to pre-operative amounts of food!

It is essential to stay within the limits of food volume appropriate for each course you got used to during the last four weeks

Nevertheless, it is still important to eat slowly and chew well

You may now try to start with a piece of meat.
Cut it into small pieces and chew it well. Start with veal or chicken, because it is easier to chew

You can also try vegetables with more fibre,
but caution is still advised with asparagus, leaf
spinach, cauliflower, broccoli with stalks, green beans, leeks, and cabbage

Stop eating immediately when you feel full, even if it means leaving some food on your plate

Teach yourself to be aware of your eating habits.

Enjoy your food and concentrate on eating

You can try fruits cut into small pieces

Large quantities of high-energy food are not recommended, e.g.:

Ice cream, Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, fruit juices
sweetened with sugar.
Remember that even unsweetened or fresh fruit
juice contains good amount of calories
Cakes and gateaux
Chocolate and cocoa-flavoured puddings
Foods containing large amounts of sugar or cream
Rich sauces

Chew your food well, in fact much longer than you have been used prior to the operation

Avoid "grazing" - it is better to stick to regular mealtimes

Make sure you drink enough (at least 2-3 litres per day) low-calorie or calorie-free liquids

Please have on your mind that liquids pass freely and vary quickly through the narrow area created by the band on
your stomach. It is easy to take more calories than intended by this

High-calorie drinks (sugar sweetened, alcohol etc.) as well as ice creams may prevent weight loss or even make you gain weight, so avoid them

If feelings of faint and dizziness occur it is usually due to insufficient fluid intake

In case you feel faint, drink some fluids (preferably a clear soup, because the salt in it will help your body to retain fluids)

After about 4 weeks, the gastric band will have healed into place sufficiently for the system to have its first filling

If you experience difficulties, you can go back to the phasing-in diet for a while. ln the long term, you should try to eat as normally as possible (like the rest of your family or friends) but in smaller quantities

Eating out

Leave out the starter or take the starter as your main course. The quantity is ideal.

ln many restaurants, you can order a small portion of the main course, even if the menu does not say so.

Perhaps you can taste a little of your companions' meal. This will give you more variety if you are having only one course.

Take your drink before the meal and consume only small amounts of liquid while eating.