Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
You have been advised to reduce the amount of fat in your diet. This means fat from both animal and vegetable sources.
Overleaf, a table shows suitable foods to be included in your daily diet.
However, the method of cooking can greatly affect the fat content of the meal, so it is important that foods are not fried even in vegetable oils. Other methods of cooking should be used, e.g. steaming, grilling, poaching, baking and microwaving.
Some foods which are labelled ‘low-fat’, e.g. sausages and cheeses, still contain a lot of fat and should be avoided.
Convenience meals can still be used providing one portion of the meal contains no more than 10g fat.
The grid below may be helpful in interpreting food labels, and understanding the traffic light labelling scheme – for fat content per 100g
|
Low (per 100g) |
Medium (per 100g) | High (per 100g) |
| 3g or less | 3.1 - 20g | More than 20g |
This is a therapeutic diet, and you should not remain on it indefinitely. Check with your doctor or dietitian on your return clinic visit if you’re still required to follow the diet.
| Food | Foods allowed | Foods to avoid |
| Fruit and vegetables |
|
|
| Drinks |
|
|
| Vegetarian |
|
|
| Puddings |
|
|
| Miscellaneous |
|
|
| Meat and meat products |
Average helpings of:
A portion of cooked meat is |
|
| Fish |
All varieties of
|
|
| Eggs |
|
|
| Milk and milk products |
|
|
| Fats |
|
|
| Bread, cereals and potatoes |
|
|
| Cakes and biscuits |
|
|
Sample Menu
Breakfast
- Glass of juice
- Cereal with skimmed milk
- Toast with low fat spread and jam or marmalade
- Porridge with skimmed milk, fruit/honey
Snack Meal
- Lean meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian alternative
- Bread or rolls with low fat spread
- Fruit or low-fat yoghurt
- Salad with fat-free dressing
Main Meal
- Vegetable soup with bread
- Lean meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian alternative
- Cooked vegetable or salad
- Potatoes, rice or pasta
- Jacket potato with low fat cottage cheese
- Pasta with tomato sauce
- Baked beans on toast
- Pudding from ‘allowed’ section
Between Meal Snacks
- Fruit
- Rice cakes
- Homemade popcorn
- Bread sticks
- Bread or toast with low fat spread and preserve
- Cereal and skimmed milk
- Low-fat yoghurt
- Crisp bread with low fat cottage cheese
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
DT/065
Approval date:
1 March 2026
Review date:
1 March 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.