What Foods Should You Eat Before Surgery?

When you're about to have surgery, your diet may be the furthest thing from your mind. But what you eat before your procedure may help support your recovery.

Your last meal before surgery should include foods filled with nutrients that aid healing. Here's a breakdown of the best foods to eat before surgery, which foods to avoid, and a sample menu to try the day before your procedure.

Best Foods to Eat Before Surgery

The best pre-surgery diet for you can vary based on your procedure and underlying health concerns. Talk to your doctor to determine what you should and shouldn't eat the day before surgery.

You'll likely have to follow a clear liquid diet starting about eight hours before your hospital arrival time (more on that later), according to UCLA Health. This is an important part of any light diet before surgery, because your stomach will need to be empty before the procedure.

If you take GLP-1 agonists, it's advised you start a clear liquid diet beginning at 8 a.m. the day before surgery, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Your doctor may adjust specific guidelines, so be sure to follow their instructions.

Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet in the days and weeks leading up to your procedure can help set you up for a successful recovery. Here’s a closer look at the best foods to eat before surgery, along with what to eat the night before surgery once you start to fast.

1. Lean Protein

Protein is a key part of any pre-surgery diet, according to the American College of Surgeons.

Protein is often referred to as the building block of life, because it's found in every cell, tissue, and organ in your body, according to The Nutrition Source. It also supports immune health, and the amino acids from protein-rich foods help make new blood and tissue.

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should aim to eat 46 to 56 grams of protein per day — including the days leading up to your procedure. Some of the best protein-rich foods to eat before surgery include lean meats like chicken and turkey, fish, eggs, and beans.

2. Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are great light and nutritious foods to eat before surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic. They're full of vitamins and minerals that support your immune system, including vitamins A, B, C, and E.

You should aim to eat at least five servings of fruits and veggies every day, especially in the weeks leading up to your procedure.

If your goal is to follow an anti-inflammatory diet before surgery, fruits and vegetables can help. According to Harvard Health Publishing, some notably anti-inflammatory foods are:

• Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collards
• Tomatoes
• Berries

3. Whole Grains

Whole grains also make the list of what to eat before a surgery, according to the American College of Surgeons. They're rich in B vitamins, which can support your immune system during your recovery.

Eat at least four servings of grains per day in the weeks prior to your procedure. One serving is:

• 1 slice of whole-grain bread
• 1/2 cup cooked grains (whole-grain pasta, brown rice, quinoa)
• 1/2 cup cooked cereal like oatmeal
• 1 cup whole-grain cold cereal

4. Clear Liquids

Typically, you can eat solid foods up until the day before your surgery.

But why shouldn't you eat right before surgery? Well, it's important to undergo your procedure with an empty stomach, which is why most doctors will have you stop eating solid foods about eight hours before your hospital arrival time, according to UCLA Health.

Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions based on your procedure and pre-surgical needs. But in general, you'll follow a clear liquid diet up until about two hours before you arrive at the hospital.

According to UCLA Health, a clear liquid diet includes the following drinks:

• Water
• Clear fruit juices like apple and white cranberry juice
• Plain tea or black coffee (without milk or creamer)
• Clear, electrolyte-replenishing drinks

Foods to Avoid Before Surgery

Now you know what to eat before surgery. But on the flip side, what foods should be avoided before surgery?

Here's a list of what not to eat before surgery to help set yourself up for success.

1. Red Meat

While lean proteins are among the recommended foods to eat before surgery, not all proteins are ideal. Red or processed meats — like beef, bacon, and sausage — should be avoided before surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic.

These meats are harder for your body to break down, which could elevate inflammation going into your procedure.

2. Heavily Processed Foods

Highly processed snacks like sugary cereals, baked goods, and chips are also among the foods to avoid before surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Again, these foods are often more difficult to digest and can increase inflammation before your procedure.

3. Supplements

Some nutritional supplements can interfere with blood clotting and may complicate your surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic.

So if you're taking any nutrition supplements, including vitamin or herbal products, be sure to let your surgeon know. They can tell you if it's best to avoid supplements before surgery.

Additionally, your doctor will likely advise you not to take blood-thinning medicine like aspirin, as they can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

While it's important to avoid these blood-thinning medications (or supplements) for as long as your doctor recommends, there's no evidence to suggest that you should stop eating certain foods due to their blood-thinning properties.

That said, if you are taking herbal supplements — even of everyday foods like cayenne, garlic, and ginger — you should stop prior to surgery, since these supplements can affect bleeding, according to the Stanford University School of Medicine.

4. Non-Clear Liquids

While pulpy juices, smoothies, and dairy products like milk and yogurt are typically fine to eat in the weeks before your procedure, you'll have to avoid them while you follow a clear liquid diet in the hours before you head to the hospital, according to UCLA Health.

Remember, the reason why you aren't supposed to eat before surgery is because your stomach needs to be empty to safely undergo your procedure. As a result, non-clear liquids are among the foods not to eat before surgery, because they may contain pulp, seeds, or other ingredients that fill your stomach.

What to Eat the Night Before Surgery

Your doctor may recommend that you eat a light meal the night before surgery, before you begin following a clear liquid diet.

According to University of Washington Medicine in Seattle, the best foods to eat the night before surgery are nutritious, minimally processed, and lower-fat foods that are easy on your digestive system.

Here are some examples of what to eat the day before surgery:

• Salmon with steamed broccoli
• Baked potato
• Apple with peanut butter
• Eggs on toast

If you're still not sure what to eat for your last meal before surgery, ask your doctor for specific recommendations. And remember, your best meal before surgery might vary based on the type of procedure and your unique health concerns.

Why You Should Follow a Pre-Surgery Diet

Research studies estimate that up to 20 percent of hospitalized patients are malnourished. In fact, about one out of every three patients who enter a hospital are already at a nutritional disadvantage.

Malnutrition may worsen throughout the course of a patient's stay due to increased needs related to their disease, compounded by the potential difficulty of eating enough after surgery. Malnutrition increases the risk of poor recovery and increased time in the hospital.

Fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods in the several weeks leading up to your procedure may help you avoid some of these complications and set you up for the smoothest healing process possible.