My stomach is paralyzed. It just doesn’t work. I have gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles don’t work properly. It has significantly impacted my dietary choices and overall nutrition. For most people with this illness, the gastroparesis diet is crucial for managing symptoms and promoting well-being.
In this article, I share my top tips for eating with gastroparesis, including which foods I do and don’t eat, and some example gastroparesis diet plans and menus.
When I was first diagnosed with gastroparesis, I couldn’t eat anything. No matter what I ate, I would immediately throw it up. Thus, I had to stop eating everything and could barely drink anything either. After several months, I was fit with a feeding tube.
Fortunately, most people will never need a feeding tube. Rather, they can manage gastroparesis with a simpler diet. Some people incorporate a liquid gastroparesis diet, as it is easier on the stomach to drink calorie-enhanced drinks like Boost or Ensure. On the other hand, some can pretty well eat everything; they just need to pace themselves by eating several small meals.
What is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a stomach disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach into your small intestine. It literally translates to paralyzed stomach, and is also known as delayed gastric emptying. Understanding the basics of the illness, its symptoms, and its impact on digestion is the first step towards creating a suitable gastroparesis dietary plan.
It’s most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, bloating, and feeling full very quickly. So, most people can only eat small amounts of food at a time. It is thus crucial to ensure you’re eating nutritious foods whenever possible.
The Gastroparesis Diet Basics
One of the fundamental questions in managing gastroparesis is how much can be consumed without triggering symptoms. As discussed, when I first got sick, I literally couldn’t keep anything down. I have slowly been able to eat more, but as soon as I eat too much, I develop severe pain in my stomach and feel like throwing up.
While the term ‘gastroparesis diet’ is thrown around a lot, there is no one specific diet. Rather, a gastroparesis meal plan is about making necessary modifications that work best for you.
Gastroparesis Diet Recommendations
While everyone is different so these may not work for you, here are the best tips I’ve picked up over the last year:
- Eat many small meals or snacks throughout the day. Instead of eating 3 meals a day, I have multiple very small (very small!) snacks.
- Slowly build up how much you can eat. At first, I couldn’t keep anything down. Then, I could have 3 crackers a day. Over time, I’ve been able to eat more and more. Slowly, I went from having 0 coffee to 2 cups a day over the course of 8 months. Go slowly!!!
- Try liquids. Most people with gastroparesis find it easier to digest liquids. For example, you can try high-calorie drinks like Boost or Ensure. Some people mix protein powder into them to make an even higher calorie milkshake type drink. Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me when I first got sick, which is why I needed a feeding tube.
- But be careful with liquids: You don’t want to fill up on low-calorie liquids, like chicken-noodle soup or Gatorade. I’m not even supposed to drink water because there is no nutrition in that.
- Make every calorie count: Building off the last point, try and find a balance between foods with nutrition and foods that don’t hurt your stomach. Try to fill up on healthy foods whenever possible.
- Take walks: If I eat too much, moving around usually helps my stomach feel better, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
- Keep a food journal: Basically, write down which foods you ate and how they made you feel. Generally, I keep track of how many calories I am eating per day and how much weight I am losing to easily show my doctor what is going on. This made it so much easier for them to recommend a feeding tube for me as I was clearly not receiving nearly enough nutrition on my own.
- Treat yourself: Even though it’s important to focus on high nutrition foods, it’s also important to eat foods you enjoy. Keep your tastebuds alive! Try to eat really flavourful things if possible. It’s ok to have treats every once in a while, even when you’re sick.
Foods I DO Eat
Easily digestible proteins and other foods that are gentle on the stomach are key to a good diet for gastroparesis. In general, many doctors recommend sticking to plain foods, like white bread or toast and plain pasta.
Foods that I’ve found work well for me:
- Crackers
- Cheese
- Grapes
- Tortilla chips
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Gatorade
Foods I DON’T Eat
Firstly, many people believe that having gastroparesis means that there are foods they need to stop eating. However, this isn’t necessarily true.
For the most part, gastroparesis patients are advised to avoid foods that are high in fat or high in fiber, as both are difficult to digest. Generally, this include things like nuts, apples, bananas, and cheese. However, everyone is different.
While I don’t really avoid fat or fiber – I eat a lot of cheese and nuts – I do follow other rules. Especially now that I have a feeding tube. For example, I’m not supposed to drink water, as it has no calories or nutritional value. Instead, I drink things like Gatorade, or tea with milk and sugar.
There are many other foods that really hurt my stomach whenever I have tried them, including:
- Raw fish or meat, including sushi
- Fatty meats, like bacon
- Milk (including milkshakes, smoothies, etc.)
- Boost or Ensure
- Spicy foods
- Greasy foods
- Things with a lot of powder/seasonings, like flavoured chips
- Carbonated beverages
So, if you think you have gastroparesis or were recently diagnosed, I would recommend that you stop eating the above foods for now. Then, you can slowly re-introduce them into your diet. By identifying and eliminating triggers, you can experience significant relief from symptoms, paving the way for improved digestion and overall well-being.
Crafting a Gastroparesis Meal Plan
The Minnesota Gastroenterology Clinic has created a diet plan specifically for gastroparesis. In short, their 3-phase dietary plan for gastroparesis is “designed for people with gastroparesis to help improve the way food passes through the stomach”.
The diet plan is split into 3 phases:
- Phase 1: Liquid Diet
- Phase 2: Soft Diet
- Phase 3: Maintenance Diet
Duration
Note that the Clinic states the Phase 1 diet should not be used for more than 3 days. If you still can’t eat more, contact your doctor to discuss methods of additional nutritional support.
Phases 2 and 3 can be used for 4-6 weeks at a time, so long as you are checking in with your healthcare provider ever 2-4 weeks.
3 Phase Dietary Plan
The Clinic provides lists of foods the recommend you eat and foods to avoid for each phase. They also provide a sample menu for each phase.
Foods to Embrace and Foods to Avoid:
Recommended | Avoid | |
DAIRY | ||
Phase 1 | Skim milk Fat-free non-dairy milk substitutes Fat-free yogurt without fruit/seeds | All others |
Phase 2 | Skim and 1% milk Fat-free and low-fat non-dairy milk substitutes Fat-free and low-fat yogurt without fruit/seeds Low-fat cheeses & cottage cheese | Whole and 2% milk and milk products Full fat non-dairy substitutes |
Phase 3 | Same as Phase 2 | Same as Phase 2 |
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES | ||
Phase 1 | Vegetable juice: V-8, tomato Juices without pulp: apple, cranberry, grape | All raw and cooked vegetables Citrus juices, juice with pulp, prune juice All fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits |
Phase 2 | Vegetable juice: V-8, tomato Well-cooked vegetables without skins/seeds/hulls (potatoes without skin, carrots, beets, green beans, squash, asparagus, etc.) Juices without pulp: apple, cranberry, grape Canned fruits without skin Fresh ripe banana and seedless melon | Raw vegetables Cooked vegetables with skins/seeds/hulls (corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) Juice with pulp and prune juice Canned fruits with skins All other fresh and dried fruits |
Phase 3 | Raw vegetables without skins/seeds/hulls Juices Fresh and canned fruits without skins | Raw and cooked vegetables with skins/seeds/hulls Fresh fruit with skins Dried fruit |
GRAINS | ||
Phase 1 | Cooked, refined cereals: Cream of rice, cream of wheat, grits, farina Plain saltine, oyster, graham and animal crackers | All Others |
Phase 2 | White bread, English muffins, bagels, biscuits, and other refined bread products Pancakes, waffles, refined dry cereals (Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Special K, etc.) Cooked, refined cereals: Cream of rice, cream of wheat, grits, farina White rice, white pasta & egg noodles Saltine, oyster, graham and animal crackers Pretzels | Whole grain breads and bread products made with bran, rye with seeds, or whole wheat Oatmeal, bran cereals, granola, shredded wheat Brown rice, wild rice, oats, barley, and quinoa, whole wheat pasta Popcorn Breads or rolls with nuts, seeds, or fruit |
Phase 3 | Same as Phase 2 | Same as Phase 2 |
MEATS | ||
Phase 1 | None | All |
Phase 2 | Eggs Creamy peanut butter – limit to 2 tbsp/day Tofu | Beef, poultry, pork, lamb, fish Dried beans, peas & lentils Nuts, seeds & crunchy peanut butter |
Phase 3 | Lean, tender cuts of beef, pork, poultry, and lamb Fish, canned tuna | Fatty cuts of beef, poultry, pork, lamb |
SOUPS | ||
Phase 1 | Fat-free broth & bouillon (beef, chicken, vegetable) Fat-free strained cream soup made with skim milk or water (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of celery, tomato) | Broths containing fat Soups made with cream or whole, 2%, or 1% milk |
Phase 2 | Fat-free or low-fat broth & bouillon Broth soups with rice/noodles and allowed vegetables Cream soups made with skim or 1% milk | Broths containing fat Soups made with cream, whole or 2% milk |
Phase 3 | Fat-free or low-fat broth & bouillon Soups with allowed foods | Broths containing fat Soups made with cream or whole milk |
DESSERTS | ||
Phase 1 | Gelatin (Jell-O) Popsicles, fruit ice Sugar, honey, sugar substitutes Fat-free custard and pudding Milkshakes made with skim milk or fat-free non-dairy substitutes Fat free ice cream and sherbet | All Others |
Phase 2 | Gelatin (Jell-O), Popsicles, fruit ice Sugar, honey, sugar substitutes, jelly and seedless jams, hard candy Fat-free and low-fat custard, pudding, ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt Milkshakes made with skim milk or low-fat milk products/non-dairy substitutes | Full-fat desserts (cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream) Desserts, jams and candies containing nuts, seeds, coconut, dried fruits, or fruits with skins |
Phase 3 | Same as Phase 2 | Same as Phase 2 |
FATS AND OILS | ||
Phase 1 | None | All |
Phase 2 | Any tolerated – limit to 2 tbsp/day | None |
Phase 3 | Same as Phase 2 | Same as Phase 2 |
BEVERAGES | ||
Phase 1 | Gatorade/Powerade Carbonated beverages/soda Crystal Light, Vitamin water, Propel Coffee and tea Nutrition supplements such as Boost, Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast | All Others |
Phase 2 | All | None |
Phase 3 | Same as Phase 2 | Same as Phase 2 |
Sample Gastroparesis Menu
Phase 1
Breakfast | 4 oz juice 1 cup cooked cereal 4 oz skim milk 8 oz coffee or tea |
Lunch | 4 oz juice 1 cup fat-free broth 4 plain saltine crackers ½ fat-free pudding |
Dinner | 4 oz juice 1 cup strained cream soup made with skim milk 4 plain saltine crackers ½ cup gelatin |
Snack Options | 6 oz fat-free yogurt 8 oz nutritional supplement such as Boost or Ensure ½ cup fruit ice |
Phase 2
Breakfast | 1 cup dry cereal 4 oz skim milk 1 small ripe banana 8 oz coffee or tea |
Lunch | 1 cup tomato soup made with skim milk 4 plain saltine crackers ½ cup gelatin 4 oz juice |
Dinner | 1 cup Campbell’s chicken noodle soup 4 plain saltine crackers ½ cup canned fruit (in juice) 4 oz skim milk |
Snack Options | 1 slice white toast + 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter 1 string cheese + 1 oz pretzels ½ cup fat-free sherbert |
Phase 3
Breakfast | 1 slice white toast with 1 tbsp seedless jelly 2 eggs scrambled 4 oz juice 6 oz fat-free Greek yogurt 8 oz coffee or tea |
Lunch | 3 oz canned tuna (packed in water) 2 tbsp light mayonnaise 2 slices white bread ½ cup canned fruit (in juice) 4 oz skim milk |
Dinner | 3 oz baked chicken breast 1 medium skinless baked potato 1 tbsp fat-free sour cream ½ cup cooked carrots 1 white dinner roll with1 tbsp margarine 4 oz juice |
Snack Options | 2 graham cracker squares + 4 oz milk 1 string cheese + 1 ripe banana ½ cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt |
While this menu may be a good option for some, it’s a bit out-of-touch for me. Presently, almost a year after my diagnosis, I would still not be able to follow the phase 1 example menu. In effect, there is no way I would be able to eat 1 cup of cooked cereal or 1 cup of cream soup. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I could eat any of the things on the phase 3 menu.
In the long run, keeping track of exactly what you eat and how many calories you are getting will be extremely beneficial. You can show your doctor how much nutrition you are getting so they can provide tailored recommendations. Not to mention, you can see how far you’ve come. I like keeping track of my calories, weight, and symptoms through a simple paper tracker.
Another Sample Menu
Here is another option of a daily menu for gastroparesis:
Breakfast:
- Scrambled eggs (soft-cooked for easy digestion)
- A small portion of oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Pureed or mashed bananas
- Ginger tea (known for its digestive properties)
Morning Snack:
- Greek yogurt (low-fat or full-fat, depending on tolerance)
- Applesauce (unsweetened)
- Water or herbal tea
Lunch:
- Chicken or turkey soup with well-cooked carrots and potatoes
- White rice (well-cooked and easy to digest)
- Steamed spinach or other leafy greens
- Water with a slice of lemon
Afternoon Snack:
- Cottage cheese (small portion)
- Mashed, ripe papaya or cantaloupe
- Peppermint tea (soothing for digestion)
Dinner:
- Baked or poached white fish (e.g., cod or sole)
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Steamed green beans or zucchini
- Chamomile tea (calming for the stomach)
Evening Snack:
- Pureed or mashed avocado
- A small serving of unsweetened applesauce
This meal plan provides a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and easily digestible foods while avoiding items that tend to exacerbate gastroparesis symptoms. Keep in mind that individual tolerances may vary, so it’s essential to adapt the meal plan based on personal preferences and responses to specific foods.
Basically, a lot of managing gastroparesis is just trial and error. If you don’t like any of the foods above, slowly try out foods you do like to see whether you can handle them. This is just one example, and many other meal plans can be tailored to suit individual needs and preferences while adhering to gastroparesis dietary guidelines.
It’s also important to recognize that you won’t always be able to make meals that are completely nutritionally balanced. That’s ok! It is hard, especially when you’re sick. Even if all you can manage to do is microwave kraft dinner or rice, try that!
Final Thoughts on the Gastroparesis Diet
Managing gastroparesis through a specialized diet is both an art and a science. Moreover, by understanding the nuances of nutritious foods to eat with gastroparesis, I hope you can regain a sense of control over your life and nourish your body effectively.
Lastly, it is possible that none of these meal plans will work for you. In case you can’t keep any liquids or solids down and aren’t getting enough nutrition, you may need a feeding tube. In that case, tube feeding may be a temporary measure. However, for others, like me, it is a longer-term solution.
I know this thought might be really overwhelming. If so, feel free to send me a message if you’d like to talk about it! I know what you’re going through, I’ve been through it too.