What are ya'll eating?

I am almost 3 weeks post op, cleared for puree foods and the thought of eating puree food makes me . I am doing good with grits ( I add cheese and use my grandsons baby spoon to measure out a little butter. I am tolerating this just fine) I have taken some tuna and canned chicken and flaked it with my fork to make it mushy and this has gone down well too. Taco Bell pinto n cheese were heavenly! Mashed potatoes with chicken blened in a small amount of gravy was good too and I have tried eggs and corned beef hash. This is about it for now. Just wondering what other foods some of you are able to get in okay? Hugs, Sandy

Hi Sandy, I have been cleared for pureed or blended foods only for the next 4 weeks. I did break down and actually buy some baby food for myself and been having half a jar of some sort of meat or dinner and half a jar of veggies or fruit for both lunch and dinner. That along with three 4 oz protein shakes a day. With 50:50 juice and V-8 and water, it comes out to be between 480 and 580 calories a day and around 55 grams of protein. I'm thinking about changing my protein drink to something that has a higher concentration of protein though. The dietician even wanted me to put small-curd cottage cheese into the blender before ingesting it. Going to do my best to follow their rules. Best wishes, Cele

It is hard at this stage, isnt it. My surgeon did approve the Taco Bell pinto n cheese at this stage so I am at least enjoying those. I can get 3 meals off one serving. Not bad for only 79 cents a serving. I have never eaten out so cheaply! Sandy

Hi Sandy, I'm only 4 days post op and still on a clear liquid diet but that all sounds so good. Can't wait til I can eat some of that stuff. CAn't help you much with what to eat but sounds like you are being quite creative. I am going to use some of your food ideas as soon as I am able to. Thank you for posting this. ((hugs)) Annie

Your welcome Annie! I just stick to my rule of thumb. If I can mu**** with my fork, I will be able to digest it. I have added water to some things, and I have added seasonings for flavor, and I am thinking protein first, as instructed. It isnt easy at this stage but I try to keep in mind, it isnt going to last forever either. Good Luck! Sandy

I've eaten a lot of cream of wheat. I am lucky that I can tolerate eggs so I have scambling eggs with cheese. another is a of mix cheese, fat free refried beans and chicken which is very good. I also make a cheese flan - 1/4 cup ricotta 1/4 cup cheddar 2 tbsp sour cream (I actually use plain yogurt becaue I didn't have sour cream) 1 egg dash of salt and pepper Mix until well blended ( I use my food processor). I put the mixture into 6 ounce custard cups -2/3 full which makes me 4 custard cups. Bake for 20 mins (or until the mixture sets) at 350. I also do a variation which the mozzarella and fontina cheese.

OMG Nancy! This sounds divine. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I am defintely going to try this. I do love ricotta cheese just didnt know what to do with it besides put it in lasagne Sandy

Hi Sandy: Well, I was supposed to start adding things at two weeks, which for me would have been Tuesday, but they also said if you are tolerating things well, go ahead and slowly add things and they gave me a list. 100 calorie yogurt will have 7-8 grams of protein 1% or lower on the milk will have 7-8 grams (lactaid has 8 in 8 oz.) 1 cup of sugar free pudding has 7-8 grams (w/ lactaid it has the 8) 1/4 c. of low-fat cottage cheese has 7 grams 1 cup of cream soup, made with milk 7 - 8 grams and then we can still add one protein drink per day or more if we are having trouble getting that in. We are to get 50-60 grams per day. We can also have some "non-protein" choices: cooked veggies (not the stringy kind like celery) no sugar added applesauce hot cereals (cr. of wheat, oatmeal, grits) mashed or soft-boiled potatoes (I cook them in beef or chicken broth) crackers - saltines or reduced-fat club or townhouse. Haven't tried the crackers yet, still don't feel up to that yet. I did make one tiny potato and 3 baby carrots sliced up in beef broth and I was in heaven! The next move up in diet is around 4 weeks where we can add 1 oz of deli thin sliced meats like turkey, chicken, ham. Then if that works we can try regular meat and canned tuna and chicken mixed with fat-free mayo or Miracle whip. An egg. Some low-fat or non-fat cheese. I am in no hurry to add the cheese since I don't want to get constipated, but man those stinking melted cheese tv commercials are driving me nuts. Been doing great, can get in nearly all the water and the protein. I feel lots of energy, too. I think the fact that I was required to be on a three month diet/exercise/behavior modification program before surgery that I had a head start (so to speak) and have been do so well post-op. Never did do the "last supper" thing either. The last day before the supplements, I had a restaurant meal with mashed potatoes since I thought I'd never be able to again. Funny that I CAN have those 2 weeks post-op now!! Take care, Pam

Hi Pam! You are doing FANTASTIC!!! I have tried a few saltines and they went down okay, no problems so far from them. 5 is one serving, and I never eat more than 2 in a day, just dont have the room for it. My daughter made some chicken enchiladas last night, she didnt use a sauce but made a cheese sauce out of velvetta to go in and on them. The chicken was chunked and very loist so I opened one up and just took out the chicken, mashed them well and had that last night, it was sooooooooooooooooooo good! Weve had rain the last few days and I havent been able to get out and go walk all weekend, so I am going to have to double up on it today and get back on track with some exercise. Keep up the great work! Sandy

I can manage half of a one-egg cheese omelette, string cheese that's chewed to paste, fettucine chewed to paste, sugar free puddings, Pintos n cheese and the frozen Stouffer spinach souffle. I found out last night that I can't do spaghetti no matter how much it's chewed. First time in my life my entire body wanted to throw up. I actually considered just pitching myself into the trash bag. I don't know if it was quantity, sugar in the sauce or what but it'll be awhile before I eat that again. Boy, when you can't do something, you really remember it.