Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a condition when your stomach is slow to empty food into your intestine and causes bloating after you eat. Other symptoms are nausea and vomiting. There are some helpful changes you can make to how you eat.

1. Eat small meals. Large meals take longer to empty your stomach. Eat snacks if you need to get enough calories.
2. Choose low fiber foods:
   Eat white bread instead of whole wheat
   Avoid bran based cereal
   Choose canned or cooked fruit instead of fresh fruit and avoid fruits with skin or seeds
   Choose cooked vegetables instead of raw vegetables
   Avoid nuts, dried beans and legumes
3. Limit fat.
   Avoid fatty meats such as brats, hotdogs, breaded and fried/greasy meats
   Limit cheese
   Go easy on gravy, butter, margarine, cream based sauces, dips, sour cream and dressing
   Limit nuts and nut butters
   Limit rich sweets such as cake, cookies and pie
   Limit rich snacks such as chips and rich snack crackers
4. Help your body with digestion by chewing foods very well. Try going for a gentle walk after eating. Stay upright for a couple hours after eating.
5. Control blood sugars if you have diabetes. High blood sugars makes gastroparesis worse
6. If small, low fiber, low fat foods don’t work it may be necessary to eat a more liquid-like diet
   Blenderized or pureed meats, fruits, vegetables, casseroles
   Baby food items
   Liquid nutritional drinks such as Ensure, Boost, Equate and/or Carnation Instant Breakfast
7. If you are still experiencing intolerable discomfort or unplanned weight loss then discuss with your doctor. It may be helpful to have your diet evaluated and get nutrition recommendations by a registered dietitian.