The Butcher’s Block

Recovery doesn’t start after surgery; it starts before you ever enter the operating room. Nurse Dan joins us on the blog to share simple pre- and post-op rituals, from hydration and protein to gentle, nourishing meals, that can help support your body through healing.

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By Nurse Dan | @itsnursedan

As a nurse, I've recovered patients' bedside after hundreds of surgical procedures. One thing I've learned (both clinically and personally) is that healing doesn't begin the moment you wake up in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit). It starts well before you ever get to the OR (operating room).

I call it prehabilitation, and it's one of the most underutilized tools in surgical prep.

What Is Prehabilitation?

Prehabilitation is optimizing your body before a planned procedure, so building the physical and nutritional reserves you'll need to bounce back. Think of it like training for a race you know is coming. The stronger your baseline, the faster your recovery.

Research continues to support the role of nutritional optimization as a key component of prehabilitation. A 2024 review on perioperative nutrition concluded that identifying and addressing nutritional deficits before surgery is one of the most important opportunities to improve surgical care, describing nutritional intervention as a “low-risk, high-reward” strategy for patients undergoing surgery. The authors emphasized that optimizing nutrition in the perioperative period can help patients build the reserves needed to better tolerate surgical stress and support recovery after their procedure. (PMC)

It has been found that patients who go into surgery better nourished and better hydrated tend to experience shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and improved wound healing outcomes. As nurses, we see this play out every single shift.

Nutrition: The Most Overlooked Pre-Op Tool

Most patients focus on what they can't eat before surgery, and rightfully so, NPO (nothing by mouth) guidelines exist for safety. As a nurse, patient education is a core part of my role. I walk patients through what to expect, and how to support healing once they get home. And one of the simplest but most impactful things I can share is this: bone broth is an amazing option. Bone broth alone is able to shift a patient's energy physically and mentally. Suddenly, patients are no longer just indulging in a diet of water and apple juice, but instead they have something warm, satiating, and satisfying to look forward to.  

In the days leading up to a procedure, nutritional status matters enormously. Protein is critical. It's the raw material your body uses to repair tissue, support immune function, and maintain muscle through the catabolic stress of surgery.

This is where something like Butcher's Bone Broth fits naturally into the picture. It's warm, easy to digest, and delivers a simple source of protein and collagen. This is EXACTLY the kind of gentle, nourishing option that feels manageable when you're anxious before a procedure or fatigued in the early days after one.  

Post-Op: The First 72 Hours

The immediate post-op window is where recovery momentum is either built or lost. Pain, nausea, and fatigue make eating hard, but adequate nutrition is exactly what the body is screaming for. Priorities during this phase:

• Hydration first. Anesthesia, fasting, and surgical stress all deplete fluid balance. Start here.

• Protein, early and often. Even small, frequent protein sources help signal tissue repair.

• Gentle warmth. Something warm can ease GI discomfort, especially after abdominal procedures.

Butcher's Bone Broth checks all three of those boxes in a way that feels approachable, when appetite is low, and the body is working hard. With 11 grams of protein per cup across all three flavors, Organic Beef, Organic Chicken, and Ginger & Turmeric with Organic Chicken, it's a substantial nutritional hit in a format that's easy on a healing gut. And that third option is worth calling out specifically. Ginger has well documented anti-nausea properties, which is particularly meaningful in the post-op period when anesthesia-related nausea is one of the most common complaints nurses manage. Turmeric brings its own value as a natural anti-inflammatory, supporting the body's healing response at a time when inflammation is running high. It's a warm mug that's genuinely working for you.

The Nurse Takeaway

Recovery is not passive. Whether you're preparing a patient for discharge or prepping yourself for a planned procedure, the habits in the days before and immediately after surgery shape the trajectory of healing. Bone broth has been used across cultures for centuries as a recovery staple, and the science supports why: the collagen and amino acids released during the slow simmering process provide building blocks that support gut lining integrity, joint health, and tissue repair: all things the post-surgical body is actively working to restore. With Butcher's, that tradition is made effortless. Three flavor options, 11 grams of protein per cup, and ingredients like ginger and turmeric that bring genuine functional value mean there's no reason recovery nutrition has to feel clinical or bland. Stock your kitchen before your procedure. Your body will do the rest.

Nurse Dan is a registered nurse and wellness creator passionate about making real health information more accessible. Everything shared here is based on my clinical experience and current research, but it's meant to inform and inspire, not replace the advice of your own care team. We're all different, and your doctor, surgeon, or dietitian will always know your situation best. When in doubt, ask them first. The views here are my own and don't represent any employer or institution. Follow along @itsnursedan.

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