Healthy Eating Post-Surgery Plus 7 Recipes to Try!
Undergoing surgery is a challenging task. Even the smallest of procedures can strain your body, making it essential to prioritize your health for a smooth and speedy recovery. While it may seem like a small thing, the food you eat directly impacts your well-being post-surgery. With a higher risk of infection, constipation, and decreased mobility, maintaining a healthy diet after your operation is paramount. Eating the right foods, and avoiding the wrong ones, can make a huge difference in your recovery process.
In this blog, we’ll discuss proper nutrition and what foods to avoid, and we’ll share some of our favorite meals and snacks for post-op!
Nutrition After Surgery
The goal post-surgery is to fuel your body with slow foods rather than fast foods. “Slow foods” are foods that take your body time to digest. They help you stay full longer and are filled with nutrients. When shopping for post-op foods, focus on protein, vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and zinc.
Protein: Eating foods rich in protein is important for healing and repairing tissues. Protein helps your body make new blood cells necessary for wound healing. Good protein sources include lean meats, poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and beans. While we love a steak occasionally, be careful not to consume too much red meat. Delicious, but high in saturated fat, which is not good for heart health. If having red meats, try to choose a lean cut or cut off the fat to reduce the saturated fat content.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is essential for healing after surgery since it is crucial for collagen formation and connective tissue repair, meaning your incision site will heal quickly. Vitamin C also helps reduce the risk of infection. Good Vitamin C sources include citrus fruit, oranges, peppers, strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and potatoes. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so it is something that you need in your everyday diet.
Fiber: Constipation is a common side effect of using anesthesia or pain medicine related to surgery. It can also be caused by a lack of activity. Being constipated can reduce your appetite, increase your pain level, and put stress on surgical incisions, all of which will get in the way of your healing. Fiber is a necessary bulking agent that keeps your system moving. Good sources of fiber include fruits, beans, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Magnesium: Magnesium provides a soothing, relaxing effect. Adequate amounts of magnesium can relieve sore muscles and promote better sleep quality. Magnesium helps heal broken tissue and reduce swelling. Good sources of magnesium include avocados, almonds, cashews, leafy greens, bananas, tofu, and whole grains.
Zinc: Zinc is necessary for producing collagen, a tissue responsible for scar formation. Taking zinc can help speed up the healing of surgical incisions and also boost the immune system. Good sources of zinc include meat, shellfish, seeds, nuts, dairy, eggs, and dark chocolate.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid After Surgery
Just like there are foods to eat post-op, there are foods you should avoid. Maybe not forever, but until your doctor gives you the green light. Processed foods, added sugar, sodium, alcohol, and caffeine all have their downfalls for patients recovering from surgery.
Highly Processed Foods: Many foods in the grocery store are highly processed and perfectly fine to be enjoyed in moderation. However, post-surgery, foods low in fiber can cause inflammation and lack the nutrients your body needs to heal, and they should be avoided when possible. Highly processed foods include fast food, sugary beverages, processed meats, frozen meals, packaged snacks, breakfast cereals, and white bread.
Added Sugars: Food and drinks with added sugar offer your taste buds a quick reward, but the added sugar is high in calories and gives your body no nutritional value. You may feel a short burst of energy and alertness but quickly feel more drained. Bacteria and viruses thrive on sugar, one more reason to avoid sugary foods after surgery. Foods with the most added sugars are breakfast cereals, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweet snacks such as ice cream, pastries, and cookies.
High-Salt Intake: Sodium can increase your chances of post-operative swelling, increasing the recovery time. Some foods that may be high in salt include processed meats, white bread, tomato sauce, packaged and self-stable salad dressings, and convenience foods such as canned soups, boxed potatoes, frozen meals, and pizza are all often high in sodium.
Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can have a diuretic effect on the body, causing dehydration and constipation. Alcohol can thin your blood, which can lead to excessive bleeding, infections, swelling, impaired immune systems, and increased inflammation. All of this can hinder healing and increase pain and discomfort.
Caffeine: Some surgeons recommend avoiding caffeine after surgery because it can interfere with the healing process. Caffeine makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. Caffeine drinks can irritate your stomach because they are acidic and contribute to stomach acid production. Caffeine can also disrupt the early stages of bone healing.
Easy Post-Surgery Snack & Meal Ideas
Freezer Friendly Breakfast Burritos
Eggs are a cost-effective, nutrient-dense option for breakfast. These breakfast burritos are an excellent recommendation because they include all the necessary nutrients post-op.
- Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet.
- Scramble eight eggs and sauté your burrito fillings of choice (e.g., breakfast sausage, beans, onions, peppers, potatoes, or cheese).
- Scoop the mixture into a tortilla and enjoy now, or wrap it in aluminum foil to freeze.
- Burritos can be stored in the freezer. To reheat, remove the burrito from the foil, place it on a microwave-safe dish, and cook until heated through.
Breakfast Egg Muffins
Egg Muffins are nice and easy to make. They can be stored in the fridge until you’re ready to heat them for breakfast or as a snack.
- Beat the eggs with salt, pepper, and some finely chopped onion. Pour the egg mixture into your pan and fill it with whatever you like.
- A few possible combinations are spinach, tomato, and mozzarella, bacon and cheddar, or garlic, mushrooms, and peppers.
Puréed Vegetable Soup
Veggies are high in fiber and vitamin C. The nutrition soup is not only delicious but can also be made prior to surgery and stored in the freezer for an easy meal.
- Dice carrot, celery, and onion. Combine the vegetables in a soup pot with vegetable broth and cannellini beans. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow time to cool.
- Place soup into a blender and purée until consistency is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Salmon or Tuna Salad Sandwich
Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, and this recipe requires minimal effort, making it easy to assemble post-surgery.
- Mix canned salmon or tuna (drained) with mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt for extra protein and your favorite salad fixings.
- Serve on toasted whole-grain bread with a side of fruit.
Greek Yogurt with Berries and Granola
Greek yogurt with chia seeds is a great nutrient-dense breakfast or snack because it includes protein, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
- Top Greek yogurt with fresh or frozen berries and low-sugar granola. Add chia seeds for omega-3 fatty acids.
Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a convenient source of high-quality protein for breakfast or a mid-day snack.
- Place eggs in a large saucepan and cover with an inch of cool water. Cover the pan with a lid and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce to medium heat and let sit for 6 to 7 minutes for a perfect hard-boiled egg.
- Allow eggs to cool in a shallow ice bath for a few minutes to make them easier to peel.
Smoothies
Not a big fan of fruits and vegetables on their own? Smoothies are a great way to get all the benefits of antioxidants blended into one delicious cup.
- What you put in a smoothie is totally up to you, but consider blending in Greek yogurt, a scoop of nut butter, or flax seeds to maintain your blood sugar level with healthy fats and protein.
- Berries and fruits are the typical main ingredients, but leafy veggies like kale and spinach are the starting ingredients for “green” smoothies.
Healthy eating is an essential part of our diet. Our job is to fill our bodies with foods that fuel, not just please. When you are recovering from surgery, no matter the size, a healthy diet can make a difference in your timeline. As always, discussing your diet plans with your healthcare provider before and after your surgery is important. Every patient and procedure are different, and there may be specific recommendations you need to follow. The tips and recipes in this blog act as a great starting point as you begin your journey to healing!
Sources:
The Key
Healthwatch
Abbott
St’ John’s Health