First Week veterans - what are you eating now?

We early May folks are now about three weeks post-op. Who's eating what? My official food list for the next two weeks is absolutely vile - I'll have to live on oatmeal and SF yogurt, because I honestly don't recognize the other items as food! The list includes overcooked canned vegetables, overcooked pasta with no sauce except fat-free cheese (which is the single most vile substance sold as "food"), fake eggs with fake butter, and mashed or baked potatoes with fake butter... oh, and the ever-so-appetizing cold unsweetened cereal that's completely soggy with milk. Fat-free cottage cheese is also on the list but I was allowed that during the full liquid phase, when I re-discovered just how much I despise cottage cheese. The real disappointment came when I was handed this list, which is a bit different from the one I was given during our pre-op nutrition class. That one included soft-cooked fish and pureed meats. I'd been fantasizing about steamed fish and braised tofu for the last couple weeks, and now all I'm supposed to eat is fake food and starch? Ugh. I'm off to the supermarket to get a two-week supply of low-carb yogurt and some more sugar-free preserves to go with my oatmeal. I {bleepedy bleep} well better be able to eat fish after my next followup appointment, or there will be screams of rage echoing from my little world. What culinary wonders are YOU eating?

Okay... The pouch and I have come to the conclusion that if we have to have another drop of creamed soup, we will on whomever offered it. So, that's out then! For the last few days, I've been living on Dannon Light n Fit yogurt... unsweetened applesauce... broth W/protein powder... SF popsicles... jello... tuna salad... string cheese... chicken salad... low sugar oatmeal with pureed peaches... Carnation Instant breakfast with lactose-free skim milk... egg beaters w/cheese... grits... and lots and lots of water. I had my fill on cottage cheese on my second day home. The stuff is VILE! By Sunday evening, I was depressed and crying on my husband's shoulder about how everything makes me sick. Even my trusted SF drinks (crystal Light and such) began to taste like artificial sweetner and gave me headaches. I was soooooooooo not a happy camper. Then today I went to my surgeon's office (I'm down 20#s, by the way! ) and bargained to get some soft foods added to my "mostly mush" diet. He agreed, so guess what I had for lunch? Half a soft taco with salsa!!!!! I have never been so happy in my life!!! I chewed it thoroughly, and ate slowly... and it stayed down!!! I have never been so happy. Now... if I can just figure out how to make a tasty, not-to-sweet protein drink! I may take a page from your book, though, on the cereal with milk. I could go for a bowl of Special K. I usually eat it without sugar anyway, so that would be FINE with me! Tiffany 327/313.5/293/150

Oh boy, do I ever agree with you about the cream soup! My pouch is fine with it. My pouch is fine with everything so far. My *tastebuds*, on the other hand, are in full rebellion mode. Before surgery I pretty much lived on Korean, Thai, and Sichuan food. Cottage cheese is not exactly an adequate substitute... I threw the container away, just couldn't stand another bite. According to my official list, I can't even have the chicken salad or tuna salad yet. Boo! Okay, so maybe I've eaten a few soft proteins here and there that aren't on the official list... shhhh... but I've decided to stick strictly to the script until the next appointment. I loved Special K as a pre-op. But soggy? Ugh. Grape Nuts cooked in milk would be pretty good, though! I'd better add that to the shopping list. The chocolate and vanilla protein drinks all taste too sweet now, so I stick with Nectar Lemon Iced Tea mixed with Crystal Light plain iced tea. It has that tannic tea flavor which balances out the sweetness, and I could (and do!) drink it all day long. A soft taco with salsa... or even just some salsa... Sigh.

Hello there, we had surgery on the same day!!! The first week was two meals of broth and suger free jello. The second week was one meal of broth and suger free jello, and one meal of a soft egg and a piece of lightly buttered toast without the crusts. I am now eating only proteins. When I do have lunch it is a scrambled egg with some sprinkeled cheese and a piece of turkey bacon. If I don't have lunch it's a string cheese. For dinner, I usually have chicken, salmon, or fish with some cottage cheese. Occasionally instead, sometimes for dinner I will have 1 South beach diet chicken wrap man those are good!

wow Danielle you can eat that? I thought that we were suppose to stick to just full liquids!! Oh! I like you guys,now I dont feel to guilty. I still stick to the SF pops,jello, and I live of of frozen gatorade 1/2 water of course. I had monterrey cheese about 2 weeks after my surgery and it got stuck in my chest,I had to force myself to throw up. I chewed as much as I could and it came back out like if I never chewed it up.yuk! Can't we stretch out our pouches if we eat so soon? I thank you all for being so honest with what your eating. I told people and they all got mad at me for eating so soon. I try to stick to liquids but its soooo hard.I crave soda pop so bad ut the nutritionist told us to stay away from all carbonated drinks. Have any of you tried drinking diet soda? xoxoxox Rosie

What type of milk did you use for the cereal? Is 2% ok? And how come you cant use sauce with the pasta? And we can have pasta? Do you think that Raisin brand is ok to eat? I would love to eat chicken or tuna pasta with mayo,do you think thats ok? Sorry so many questions but its pretty hard to get a hold of my Nutritionist. I do welcome any type of advice and suggestions from all of you. I love to hear what all of you are eating. xoxoxo Rosie

It all depends upon your surgeon's instructions. Mine is very conservative about food - my list still doesn't include any kind of meats or seafood, not even tuna salad! I don't know why he allows pasta, it's probably because of the soft texture; other surgeons don't allow pasta or other wheat products this early, and still others have you eating toast already. Did your nutritionist give you any list of foods? It's important that you have clear instructions from your surgeon's office so you know what to eat and when. My list states skim milk, but I drink 1% because my husband and I share the milk. I'll probably switch to Carb Countdown skim, which tastes a lot better (richer flavor) than regular skim and has more protein/fewer carbs. My guess is that Raisin Bran would be a bad choice because of the raisins, which are high in sugar and difficult to chew into mush. Regular Cheerios or bran flakes would be better. (I hate soggy cereal, so this food option is out!)

Cool Thanks. Rosie

WOW WHY DO ALL OUR SURGERY DATES SAY 1995???

xoxoxo Rosie