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Let's talk a little about nutrition! Surgery and recovery put a lot of stress on your body, and good nutrition can really make a difference — it helps you heal faster, lowers the chance of complications like infections, and gives you more energy to feel like yourself sooner. There are three important building blocks your body needs right now: Calories — this is the energy your body uses to heal and keep you going each day. Protein — this is especially important because it helps your body repair old tissue and make new tissue. Try to include protein at every meal, like eggs, lean meat or fish, beans, tofu, Greek yogurt, or even a handful of nuts. And Vitamins & minerals — these help your immune system fight infection and help your cells grow. Foods like colorful fruits and veggies give you Vitamin C, carrots, eggs, and dairy have Vitamin A, and foods like meats, beans, and whole grains have zinc and iron. You can scroll down to make a grocery list that includes these items and more! Staying hydrated is also really important — drinking enough water helps your body recover and reduces the risk of complications like blood clots. And if you have diabetes or are watching your blood sugar, keeping your sugar in your target range can also help your wounds heal faster. Cutting back on sugary drinks and processed foods can help with that. If you’ve had unintended weight loss, poor appetite, or trouble eating, please let your doctor know — they can talk to you about ways to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition.

Boost your immune system and build new tissue through diet

When you undergo surgery, your body is put under a lot of stress. To manage this stress and heal properly, your body needs extra energy and nutrients. Now’s the time to equip your body with everything it needs to recover before you even set foot in the hospital. 

A diet rich in calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals gives your body the strength it needs to recover quickly and helps reduce your risk of complications, such as infections or hospital readmission. Poor nutrition before or during recovery can delay wound healing, slow your recovery time, and increase the length of your hospital stay.

Key Recovery Goals

  • Support tissue repair and wound healing
  • Boost immune function to fight infection
  • Prevent muscle loss
  • Control blood sugar levels

Healing your surgical wound starts with three nutritional building blocks:

CALORIES:

Gives you the energy to heal and function

PROTEIN:

Helps you repair old tissue and create new tissue

VITAMINS & MINERALS:

Combats infection and helps your cells regenerate

Focus on these fundamentals:

Eat enough protein

Protein is critical to healing after surgery. Make sure to add lots of protein-rich foods to your diet and try to eat at least 50g of protein per day (1.0-1.5g/kg).

Focus on foods that help you heal

Vitamin C: Boosts your immune system, reduces the chance of infection, and helps build collagen. 
Vitamin A: Helps speed up healing by increasing collagen development.
Zinc and Iron: Supports the growth of new cells and strong, healthy tissue.
Antioxidants: Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, helps build collagen, and enhances overall healing during recovery.

Hydrate

Drinking enough water helps your body replace fluid losses, bounce back after surgery and prevents complications like blood clots.

Manage blood sugar

Keeping your blood sugar “in range” will help you feel better, have more energy, and can even help prevent infection. Try to avoid or reduce highly processed and sugary foods or drinks in your diet.

Are you at risk of malnutrition? 

Before surgery, it is helpful to screen for malnutrition. Malnutrition significantly increases the risk of postoperative complications and longer recovery times. If you have lost weight without trying, had trouble eating, or decreased appetite, talk to your doctor before surgery.

Calculate your risk

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is a quick check of your current risk of malnutrition. This calculator is for adults; this screener is not a diagnosis. Please talk to your care team about your results or any concerns you have related to your weight or diet.

Step 1

BMI score

Step 2

Unplanned weight loss (past 3–6 months)

If you’re not sure, use your best estimate.

—

Formula: (previous − current) ÷ previous × 100.

Step 3

Acute disease effect

This situation is uncommon outside of the hospital.

Your MUST result

Total score

0 Risk
Step 1 — BMI
Step 2 — Weight loss
Step 3 — Acute illness

This tool follows the MUST method (BMI, unplanned weight loss, acute disease effect). Results are an estimate and not a diagnosis. If you have concerns about eating, weight loss, or illness, contact your care team. To learn more about MUST visit https://www.bapen.org.uk/must-and-self-screening/introducing-must/.

Tip: Re-check your score if your health changes or you notice weight loss.

Build a surgical healing grocery list

Use the form below to build a surgical healing grocery list that you can download and take with you to the store.

“When my doctor first told me to focus on nutrition before surgery, I honestly thought it wouldn’t make a big difference. But as I started eating more protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and staying on top of my meals, I began to feel stronger and more prepared.

After my operation, I could tell right away—I had more energy, my incision healed faster than I expected, and I bounced back sooner. Taking care of my nutrition beforehand really helped me feel like I was actively part of my own recovery.”

Making the fundamentals digestible:

Quick and easy nutrition tips for better healing

Eat enough protein

    • Plan your meals around high-quality protein sources like eggs, tofu, lean meat, beans, or fish. Eat your protein first in case you get full.  
    • Add a handful of nuts or seeds to your meals (like yogurt, salads, cereals) for an extra boost of protein and fiber. 
    • Stock your kitchen with high-protein snacks that you can eat throughout the day, like peanut butter, cottage cheese, protein bars, and Greek yogurt. 
    • Talk to your care team about adding protein supplements like protein shakes or powders to your diet.

Hydrate

    • Drink plenty of fluids after your surgery to maintain your skin’s elasticity and help wounds heal. Good options include water (add some lemon or sugar-free flavoring for taste), herbal teas, or broth if you are nauseous.
    • Keep fluids nearby so you can take frequent sips throughout the day rather than trying to drink an entire glass at once.
    • Avoid alcohol and limit caffeine, as they can dehydrate the body and may hinder healing.

Focus on foods that help you heal

    • Vitamin C: Eat citrus fruits, berries, red peppers, broccoli, raw spinach, and tomatoes.
    • Zinc: Found in animal products like red meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, and poultry. Whole grains also contain zinc, along with fiber and B vitamins.
    • Vitamin A: Add foods like carrots, eggs, milk, cheese, apricots, mango, and pumpkin to your diet to get your fill of Vitamin A.
    • Consider using turmeric in your cooking, as its active compound, curcumin, is recognized for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Add to curries, stews, or try making a turmeric latte with warm milk blended with a dash of turmeric, cinnamon powder, and maple syrup.

Managing your blood sugar

Keeping your blood sugar “in range” (generally below 180 mg/dL) and maintaining an A1C of 7.0% or lower can drastically improve how fast your wounds heal and prevent complications after your surgery. If you have diabetes, talk to your care team about ways to manage your blood sugar and reduce your A1C before your surgery. 

What does it mean to be “in range”?
Being “in range” means your blood sugar level is staying within the healthy target range set for you by your healthcare provider.

Standard healthy ranges:

Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL 

Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL

Target blood sugars vary by person and situation.

What can I do to help keep my blood sugars in range?

  • Eat vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and lean proteins like chicken and fish.
  • Avoid or reduce highly processed and sugary foods or drinks in your diet.
  • Reduce the amount of carbohydrates you eat every day and be mindful of portions.
  • Be physically active and walk for 10 minutes or more after meals.

What makes your blood sugar go up and down?

  • Glucose: The carbs and sugars in the food you eat break down into glucose, which is a type of sugar, in your stomach. This glucose sugar then enters your bloodstream for your body to use as energy.
  • Insulin: Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which helps your cells take in glucose from your blood. This process helps lower your blood sugar levels.

How do I measure my blood sugar?
Talk to your care team about how closely you should track your blood sugar at home. There are several options, including a glucometer (“finger prick” method), or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). If you have diabetes, your insurance may help cover the cost of these devices.

Interested in learning more?
Check out this resource from the American Heart Association.
Visit Resource

What’s the proof any of this works?

All the recommendations on this page are backed by clinical evidence. If you are interested in reading the studies, click the button!

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