There is no strict “Mounjaro diet”, and there are no specific foods you must completely avoid unless your prescriber has told you to. However, some foods and drinks may make side effects such as nausea, bloating, reflux, diarrhoea, or feeling overly full more likely.

Making small food swaps can also help you reduce calories, improve your diet and support long-term weight loss. Looking for some simple ideas? Below, we’ll outline the foods you may want to limit while using Mounjaro and suggest healthier alternatives.

You don’t need to cut out whole food groups while taking Mounjaro. A balanced diet is still important, especially if your appetite is lower than usual.

Mounjaro works by helping you feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite. Because of this, large meals may feel harder to tolerate than they did before. Some people also find that greasy, sugary, spicy, or fizzy foods and drinks make side effects worse.

Instead of thinking about foods as “banned”, it can help to think about what makes you feel well and supports your weight loss goals. For most people, this means eating smaller portions, choosing filling meals, drinking enough fluids, and limiting foods that are high in calories but low in nutritional value.

Although fat is often thought of as unhealthy, you do need some fat in your diet.

Unsaturated fats are generally considered healthier and are found in foods such as avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds. These can be included as part of a balanced diet, but portion sizes are still important because all fats are high in calories.

Foods that are high in saturated fat (fried in oil, for example) can be harder to digest and may make Mounjaro side effects worse for some people. This may include nausea, bloating, reflux, stomach pain, or feeling uncomfortably full. For that reason, you may want to limit foods such as:

• Fried foods, including chips and fried takeaway meals
• Cakes, pastries, and biscuits
• Creamy sauces
• Large portions of cheese
• Fatty cuts of meat
• Processed meats such as sausages and bacon
• Chocolate and desserts

You don’t need to avoid these foods forever, but eating them less often or choosing smaller portions can help support your weight loss. You should also check food labels to compare fat and saturated fat levels.

Foods and drinks high in sugar (such as sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, and sugary drinks) can add calories quickly without keeping you full for long. This can make weight loss harder, even if Mounjaro is helping to reduce your appetite.

If you have diabetes, sugary foods and drinks can also affect your blood sugar levels. If you’re taking Mounjaro alongside diabetes medicines, follow the advice from your prescriber or diabetes clinician.

Adults should try to have no more than 30 grams of free sugars per day. Free sugars include sugars added to food and drinks, as well as sugars found in honey, syrups, fruit juice, and smoothies. Note that this doesn’t include sugars naturally found in whole fruits, vegetables, and milk.

Food labels can help, but they can be confusing because they usually show total sugars. This may include both added sugar and naturally occurring sugar. As a general rule, sugary drinks, sweets, and desserts should be the main foods to cut down on first.

Similarly, whole fruits are usually a better choice than fruit juice because it contains fibre and are more filling.

Alcoholic drinks can be high in calories. It’s easy to forget how many calories you are drinking from wine, beer, cider, spirits, or cocktails, especially when celebrating or socialising.

Alcohol may also make it harder to stick to healthy habits. It can increase snacking, lower your motivation to make healthier food choices, and affect your sleep. Some people also find that alcohol worsens Mounjaro side effects.

If you are taking Mounjaro, you don’t have to stop drinking alcohol completely unless your prescriber has advised you to. However, drinking less can support your weight loss goals and may help reduce side effects.

Some alcohol-free drinks can still be high in sugar, so check the label where possible and choose reduced-sugar or sugar-free options.

Some people taking Mounjaro find that certain foods or drinks make stomach side effects worse. This can vary from person to person, so it may help to keep a simple food diary if you notice a pattern. You may want to limit:

• Large meals, especially late at night
• Very spicy meals
• Greasy or fried foods
• Rich or creamy foods
• Fizzy drinks
• Very acidic foods or drinks, if you experience reflux
• Large amounts of caffeine, if it worsens nausea or sleep

If you feel sick after eating, try eating smaller meals, eating more slowly, and stopping when you feel full. Plainer foods may be easier to manage while your body gets used to treatment or after your dose increases.

Drinking enough fluids is important while using Mounjaro, especially if you experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Try to sip water regularly throughout the day. If you are struggling to drink large amounts, small, frequent sips may be easier to tolerate. You may also find herbal teas, diluted sugar-free squash, or water with fresh fruit easier to manage.

Speak to a pharmacist, GP, or NHS 111 if you cannot keep fluids down, have ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea, or notice signs of dehydration such as dizziness, dark urine, dry mouth, or feeling very weak.

Most stomach side effects from Mounjaro are mild and improve as your body gets used to treatment. However, you should speak to a pharmacist, GP, or NHS 111 if side effects become severe, do not improve, or stop you eating and drinking normally. Get medical advice urgently if you have:

• Severe or ongoing stomach pain
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
• Signs of dehydration
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Symptoms of low blood sugar, especially if you take diabetes medicines

Don’t stop or change your Mounjaro dose without speaking to your prescriber, unless you have been told to do so in an emergency.