Planning healthy and delicious meals for your bariatric diet is not easy. There are significant dietary modifications involved, including eating smaller portions and choosing nutritionally dense foods, to ensure long-term success and a healthy lifestyle post-surgery.
While the diet can seem daunting, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor. With this list of 28 bariatric diet recipes at your disposal, you can satisfy all your hunger cravings while following the recommended post-op diet!
Phase 1: Full Liquid Diet
#1. Aromatics Infused Chicken Broth
This flavorful broth is just the thing to keep you satiated during the first few days when you need to consume liquids only. Once you cook all the ingredients until tender, strain the mixture for clear, flavorful, nutritious broth. You can also add protein powder to the mix for a more filling meal.
#2. JELL-O Popsicles
Sugar-free and so refreshing, this easy recipe is ready in 10 minutes! Combine sugar-free JELL-O to boiling water, stir thoroughly, then add a cup of cold water to the mix. Once the mixture is warm to the touch, pour into popsicle or ice molds and freeze overnight to enjoy!
#3. Ginger Carrot Juice
This cool, refreshing juice is a tall glass of nutrition! All you need are carrots, ginger, apple, lemon or lime juice, and stevia. Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth and strain through a cheesecloth for a clear, fiber-free juice. You can also add a scoop of your favorite protein powder for a more nutritious juice.
#4. Sugar-Free Lemonade Tea
This recipe blends cold brew decaf tea with sugar-free lemonade and lime wedges for a chilled, zesty drink. The best part? This tempting beverage takes only 5 minutes to prepare. It’s a simple, delicious recipe that’ll make the cut for the drinks menu on a hot, summer day!
#5. Healing Broth Soup
This low-calorie, easy-to-make soup combines a clear vegetable soup base with health-promoting spices and herbs to create the ultimate comfort food. After the soup has been prepared and simmered to perfection, drain it to remove the solid parts and serve with cilantro (optional).
Phase 2: Blended or Pureed Diet
#6. Coconut Avocado Popsicles
These tasty popsicles are made with the natural sweetness of low-carb coconut milk, fiber-rich avocados, and limes to add a “tart” element. Skip the coconut flakes depending on your dietary restrictions. And consider adding some protein powder to make this dessert healthier!
#7. Chimichurri Chicken Puree
A quick weeknight dinner, this high-protein, simple recipe is made with easily available ingredients. Add chopped parsley, cilantro, garlic, and apple cider vinegar to the chimichurri and stir well to combine. Then, in a food processor, blend the mixture until smooth, creating the perfect pureed meal for your bariatric diet.
#8. Buffalo Chicken Dip
This low-carb, high-protein dish is highly versatile, making it ideal for a quick and easy meal. Serve as-is for filling snack for yourself or top with green onions (optional) and serve hot with celery, cucumbers, bell peppers, and other raw veggies to enjoy this guilt-free dip with the family.
#9. Curry Chicken Lentil Soup
This aromatic recipe combines the flavors of cumin, curry, onions, and carrots with the chicken and lentils to make a hearty, protein-rich meal. Make sure you puree it thoroughly for the pureed phase of your diet. This recipe is also highly adaptable, so you can modify it to enjoy in every phase of your diet.
#10. Protein Pumpkin Custard
Combine eggs, no-calorie sweetener, pumpkin puree, non-fat evaporated milk, and various warming spices to produce a low-sugar, low-fat dessert. Before you put it in the oven to bake, make sure the mixture is lump-free. Serve with a scoop of whipped cream on top for a true fall dessert.
#11. Vegetable Lentil Soup
This lentil and vegetable soup is rich in protein and fiber, making it a nutritious meal option. Enjoy it with a dollop of Greek yogurt (optional). This soup’s texture can be adjusted to suit your dietary needs, so if you’re on a pureed diet, this recipe is perfect.
#12. Italian Chicken Puree
Experience the authentic flavors of Italian chicken without straying from your diet! To make this dish, combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, then slide it in the microwave for 30 seconds. The best thing? This recipe is versatile so feel free to explore different ingredients.
#13. Pureed Chicken Salad
This high-protein dish with only 84 kcal is perfect for when you’re on the pureed phase of your diet. Simply grind the chicken in a food processor until smooth, then combine it with Greek yogurt, light mayo, celery salt, onion powder, and a pinch of black pepper for a healthy and tasty meal.
Phase 3: Soft Diet
#14. Crockpot Carnitas
With less than 150 calories, this crockpot carnitas recipe takes the flavors of pulled pork to new heights! The addition of orange to the variety of spices and herbs creates a wonderful medley of flavors. Easily customizable to your liking, serve this high-protein, low-carb meal in lettuce wraps or on salads.
#15. Greek Yogurt Bark
To make this refreshing, light dessert, spread a mixture of greek yogurt and vanilla on a baking dish lined with parchment paper and top it with fresh/frozen fruits, unsweetened coconut, sunflower seeds, pistachios, or your choice of toppings. Freeze for 3 hours and serve! You can also grind the seeds and nuts for a smoother consistency.
#16. Peanut Butter Chicken
With peanut butter and chicken forming the protein sources, this dish features a hefty dose of spices and creates the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and aroma to create a meal you’ll find yourself craving for! Serve hot with chopped coriander/cilantro to enjoy.
#17. Turkey Albondigas Soup
If you enjoy classic Italian flavors, this high-protein turkey albondigas dish, which includes garlic, spices, ground lean turkey, and other ingredients, will satisfy your cravings. To serve, garnish with cilantro; if you’re on a soft or pureed diet, skip the garnish and blend the soup into a smooth consistency to enjoy.
#18. Sugar-Free Applesauce
This incredibly delicious applesauce recipe needs only four ingredients to come together — apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water. Make it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker or instant pot, this recipe is incredibly easy. Pro tip: Add some warming spices like nutmeg to boost its taste profile!
#19. Sugar-Free Strawberry Ricotta Gelatin
To make this low-calorie sweet treat, mix fluffed up ricotta cheese in a gelatin and water mixture and add cold water to combine. Next, cover and chill until set. Then, discard the top layer of gelatin and enjoy this delectable snack.
#20. Broccoli Cheese Soup
This scrumptious recipe, made with fresh broccoli, stock, flour, cream, cheese, and seasonings, is brimming with flavor! Because the vegetables can make this dish a bit chunky, you may want to consider pulsing it in a blender to keep the consistency to your liking. Serve hot!
Phase 4: General Diet
#21. Good Luck Greens Soup
A delectable combination of greens, beans, sausage, and spices, this soup has only 222 calories and is packed full of nutrition. Depending on what stage of your diet you’re in — pureed, soft, or regular — you can change up the ingredients in this recipe to enjoy a delicious meal.
#22. Chicken Pepper Nachos
Taco seasoning and shredded chicken mixture are packed into sweet mini red peppers to make this zesty meal. Bake the peppers with a topping of cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses as well as olives until the cheese has melted into a gooey delight. Sprinkle cilantro and serve with mild salsa or guacamole.
#23. Chipotle Chicken Fajita Bowls
This customizable recipe is low in carbs and calories but high in protein and flavor, allowing you to enjoy a tasty meal while staying on track with your diet. Once the bowls are assembled with chicken, cauliflower rice, and fajita vegetables, garnish them with your favorite toppings for a wonderfully delicious weeknight meal.
#24. Easy Southwest Frittata
Frittatas are arguably the best way to cook eggs. To make this flavorful yet simple dish, just combine cooked chopped turkey bacon with a well-blended mixture of eggs, cheese, salt and pepper, and cilantro in a skillet with peppers and onions. Once baked, sprinkle with cheese if you like, and dig in!
#25. Chicken Cacciatore
This protein-dense, low-calorie meal is bursting with flavor in every bite! Made with chicken thighs, herbs, spices, and other key ingredients, this recipe can be tweaked to suit your preferences. Serve the chicken breast over cauliflower rice and garnish it with fresh basil to enjoy.
#26. Chicken Bacon Ranch Wonton Cupcakes
These crispy wonton cups are made with an incredible combination of chicken, bacon, and ranch for a savory punch that will leave you wanting more. Top the savory cupcakes with the remaining chicken mixture and shredded cheddar cheese and bake until golden brown to create a delicious, healthy weeknight meal.
#27. Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream
Indulge in this incredibly satisfying fruity ice cream without worrying about saturated fats or cholesterol! Just combine fresh cherries, almond milk ice cubes, frozen banana, and almond milk in your food processor until smooth, add in chocolate chips, and serve! With only 100 calories, this decadent dessert is absolute perfection!
#28. Low-Carb Burrito Bowls
Ground meat cooked with taco seasonings is layered with beans, cherry tomatoes, Greek yogurt, lettuce, red onion, and salsa in mason jars that can be kept in the fridge and used as needed. To serve the flavorful dish, pour the contents of the mason jar into a bowl and enjoy. Simple, healthy, and so flavorsome!
