need advise on getting protein in

Hi. I had my surgery on 3/10. It will be 3 weeks on Tues. I am now allowed to start eating food, but soft kind of stuff, (fish, tuna, eggs, etc.) I am having such difficulties getting in my protein now.  I drink a protein drink for breakfast, usually could careless about lunch but try to eat something, and the same for supper. If I drink 2 protein drinks a day there is no way I could eat anything. I fixed taco salad for the family and fixed me 3 total oz of ground meat, refried beans, & cheese and didn't eat half of eat. I need suggestions. I know it's early out for me and I'm trying not to stress to hard on it figuring I'll get it all figured out eventually. Thanks in advance for your help.
CyndiK

How much protein are you geting for your drink? I use matrix chocolate powder and mix it with low carb milk and ice and get 33 grams of protein from it.

In the beginning I did this in the morning and drank another glass of the milk at night for 12 more grams of protein.

My protein drinks are about 20-24 grams for powder and like 8 for the milk. So 28-32 depending on which powder I use.

I couldn't eat much at your point so I drank a shake, ate a piece of string cheese, ate some soup or pudding, ate beans and drank more milk. I almost always got the 70. Good luck!

I had my surgery just a few days before you, and am pretty much in the same boat.  it is hard.  I have been using the Oh Yeah shake ... it is 32 grams of protein for one shake ... but just one is all I can get in during the day.  I also bought Unjury unflavored powder (20 grams), and have been adding that to the Oh Yeah shake, split up into about 3 servings.  The Oh Yeah shakes are 14 ounces !

Besides that, I will have the string cheese ... that is good .. 8 grams of protein.  I have also had some thai soup without the fixings, vietnamese beef or chicken broth, miso soup .. soups that are protein based. I am not allowed meat yet ... so it is even harder.

Yesterday, I got to 68 grams.  I took my chicken broth and added some tofu to it.  I also bought some wonderslim hot cocoa online which is really pretty good (and I don't like fake sugar tastes).  It is 12 grams of protein and makes only 6 oz.  I find I can do hot or warm much better than cold or room temperature.  I had just a bite or two of egg beaters and fat free cottage cheese.  Also, I used this recipe for pudding that adds protein, thanks to LORI from Hawaii (thank you Lori) ..

The protein fortified milk is made this way:
Take a cup of Non Fat liquid Milk and add 1/4 cup Non Fat (Carnations or generic) Dry Milk Powder ( powdered milk, in any supermarket) and mix it up. You then use this mixture to make your cream of whatever soups, or boxed SF puddings. It boosts the protein in 1 cup NF milk from 8 g to 12 g.

I used this to make pudding yesterday and got to goal !  SF/FF butterscotch and it was YUMMY although a bit thick (didn't care) !

Lynda

I had surgery the same day as you.  I can eat cottage cheese without any trouble and I make tuna salad--can't eat much of that.  I find that trying to get all my water in makes it hard to have room for food.  My surgeon won't let me count my protein shakes as liquid either.

I have tried ricotta cheese with some marinara sauce mixed in (and warmed up some) and that was good.  Greek yogurt with some splenda and sugar free preserves is good.  I am only supposed to eat 3 meals but I have been adding a snack in order to get my protein in.

It's when I started on softs that I started having problems getting in my protein. I was trying to get all my protein from the food and not doing the protein drinks as much. I ended up in the ER with a kidney stone before I figured out that eating is just supposed to be for fun during this time period and you shouldn't really change what you are doing that much from the liquid phase.

HI,
In the beginning my Dr. told me to worry about fluids and to work on getting 30-40 proteins a day.  Don't stress, you are only 3weeks out, about 6weeks you need to be getting 50-80 proteins.  I drink unjury (unflavored) with my sugar-free crystal light...not the best tasting but it's 20 grams of protein.  I also ate the string cheese, tuna, yogurt, and cottage cheese. I also add special K protien flavoring to my water (5proteins)...you have to drink the water anyway might as well get some protein out of it.
Don't freak out you will be able to get more protein in the further out you are.
Keep up the great work and try not to get overwhelmed.  Remember to log all of your food, it helps out alot!!

Later,
Rachel

 If you have a Fry's, Kroger or Ralphs market, look for Carb Master yogurt. It has 12 grams of protein and goes down good. 3 oz of meat beans and cheese is alot. I'm not sure I could eat it even now. I still use protein drinks 2 to 3 times a day. So if you need them get them. Oh yeah shakes may taste good but its alot of thick drink to get down. Baratric eating has inspire and you can mix it in 4 oz of water and its 30 grams  of protein. Try that. Not so filling but you get in your protein. It is very important.