Eating well

Eating well before your operation helps your body heal, reduces the risk of complications, and supports a quicker recovery. You do not need special foods or expensive ingredients.

Try to eat a variety of foods each day. 

GOV.UK’s The Eatwell Guide shows how much of your overall diet should come from each food group.

Eatwell Guide Simple (1)
Protein

Include Protein at Each Meal

Protein helps your body repair itself after surgery.

Low‑cost, easy protein options

  • Eggs
  • Beans, lentils, chickpeas (tinned or dried)
  • Tinned fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel)
  • Milk, yoghurt, cheese
  • Peanut butter
  • Chicken, mince, sausages
  • Meat‑free options like tofu or Quorn

Red and processed meat

Red meat (beef, lamb, pork) can be part of a healthy diet, as it provides protein and iron.
However, eating too much red or processed meat can increase the risk of health problems.

Processed meat includes meat that has been:

  • Smoked
  • Cured
  • Salted
  • Preserved with chemicals

Examples:

  • Bacon
  • Ham
  • Hot dogs
  • Salami

These should be eaten only in small amounts.

Healthier choices: chicken, turkey, beans, lentils, fish, or plant‑based proteins.

Carbohydrates

Eat Enough Starchy Foods for Energy

Starchy foods give your body energy. They are filling and often budget‑friendly.

Good options:

  • Bread or toast
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Potatoes or jacket potatoes
  • Porridge or oats
  • Breakfast cereals
Fruit and vegetables

Have Some Fruit and Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables provide vitamins that help your body fight infection and provide fibre to help your digestion.

Try to eat a range of colours - the more the better!

Affordable choices:

  • Frozen vegetables
  • Tinned vegetables or tinned tomatoes
  • Carrots, onions, cabbage
  • Apples, bananas, oranges

Fresh, frozen, dried or tinned all count.

Fluids

Drink Enough Fluids

Drinking helps prevent dehydration and constipation.

Aim for 6–8 drinks a day, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

What counts:

  • Water
  • Tea or coffee
  • Milk
  • Squash or fruit juice

Here is a video from a dietitian about how healthy eating can help you before and after your surgery:

 

Looking for new meal ideas?

  • Explore NHS Better Health for delicious, budget‑friendly recipes the whole family can enjoy.
  • Take a look at Kirkby Kitchen to explore recipes as well as tips and tricks from professionals in the community.

 

Weight and surgery

Being very underweight or overweight can affect your long‑term health.
You can check if you are a healthy weight using the NHS body mass index (BMI) calculator.

Keeping your weight steady helps your body stay strong. It also helps you have enough energy to recover well.

If you are overweight, doing regular physical activity and eating healthy foods can help you lose weight safely.

These healthy habits can also help make your muscles stronger.

The malnutrition pathway has created a ‘prehab’ resource for those preparing for surgery. You can view it on their website.

 

Eat little and often if your appetite is low

If you are struggling to eat full meals, try small meals or snacks every few hours.

Easy meal and snack ideas:

  • Beans on toast
  • Egg sandwiches
  • Porridge made with milk
  • Jacket potato with cheese or beans
  • Tuna or peanut butter sandwiches
  • Yoghurt and fruit
  • Soup with bread

Ready meals, tinned foods and simple sandwiches are all fine if they help you eat enough.

If you are:

  • struggling to eat
  • losing weight without meaning to

You may be at risk of malnutrition, which means your body is not getting enough of the food or nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Please speak to a healthcare professional.

You can complete a self-assessment screening for malnutrition on the BAPEN website.

If you are finding it hard to eat well or have a poor appetite, you can visit the British Dietetic Association website. Their page on appetite and malnutrition offers simple tips and ideas to help you manage your diet.

 

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