soft food ideas

I am starting soft foods on Monday...HOORAY! I am looking for new and yummy ideas to add to the list I got from Barix. I really could use some tips on "family friendly" food...I already have one child with an eating issue (no, not anorexia or anything like that) so cooking 3-4 different meals is getting old fast...not to mention all the extra pots and pans! Any ideas will be greatly appreciated! Christine

hi Chris, I do not have any ideas yet but wanted to say hi. I had surgery by Dr. Brader too. Mine was on the 16th. How are you doing? I am down about 25 pounda already. If I think of any recipes to share I will post. I start soft next Saturday. WHoo Hoo !!

Christine, Got this idea off the main message board awhile back. Slice potatoes flat not real thick or to thin either. Bake in the oven till potatoe is about done. Then add shredded cheese and bacon bits on it. I ate one and the kids alot. So it was a hit.

Hi Christine, I know what you mean about having to cook different meals for your family, my husband is pickier than my 2 year old. The best family meal we have had so far that everyone enjoyed was meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. Another favorite is tuna patties, there are so many things you can do with it and it has way less fat than hamburger patties. You can make the kids sandwiches or crumble it up and put it in a salad or lay it on top of some potatoes au gratin. One of the things that I eat because it is loaded with protein and it's so easy when I can't enjoy the family dinner (and I know it doesn't sound appetizing) is Beenie Weenie! It has 15 grams of protein and the portion size is perfect, 1 can. It's a little high in calories and fat but since I consider it a meal then jus****ch what I eat for the rest of the day. I began soft foods last week so I totally know what you are going through. Smiles, Belinda

One of my favorites is the boxed instant potatoes. There's a four-cheese that is just melt-in-your-mouth delicious!!! 1/4 cup and I'm full. Experiment with different protein drinks, too. Also at this stage you should be able to eat creamy soups like clam chowder, tomatoe soup and split pea soup. They can be a great change. I'd also order soup at restaurants but once I had the spinach and artichoke cheese nachos and just ate the dip. That was sooo yummy!!! You're mostly eating the side-dishes of the meal at this point since meat is still out. If you do things like beef stroganoff or spaghetti you can have the noodles and sauce, just don't eat the meat yet. I've made a meal out of green beans and mashed potatoes several times. Good luck! Blessings, Teresa

I made some fat free, sugar free jello pudding with a scoop of unflavored protein powder. It is so delicious, my whole family is scarfing it down. I made the vanilla flavor (I was getting really tired of chocolate flavored everything). If you want it to be "special" for the kids, put a squirt of whip cream from the can on theirs... There are some calories there, but with the protein, it's a good compromise. 8 grams for 2 oz!