Has anyone tried salads?

HELLO I was wondering if anyone has tried iceburg lettuce salads yet? I am going to subway fri night and was wondering what I could eat there. I am craving a salad with onions and fatfree ranch dressing. What do you think I know we are to wait for 6 months. Has anyone tried it? THANK YOU Angel

Hi Angel. My Dr. will let me try salads now but I am a little scared so I haven't yet. Have you tried onions in anything else? I have had cooked onions in 2 different dishes and that so far has been the only thing that has upset my stomach. My suggestion is to try it at home first when you don't have anything planned that way if it does upset your stomach then you won't be changing your plans. Courtney 10 weeks out - 49 lbs

Angel Once again, every surgeon is different has different requirements. I have been able to have salads and raw veggies since 7 weeks post-op. I have had no problems at all with anything I have consumed except chicken (every pouch is different-LOL). Whatever you decide, I would take it slow and chew really well (of course). Raw veggies have been known to give some of us post-ops excessive gas and loose stools. As in everything else with this WL journey, it's kinda trial and error...ya know HTH Tanya Lap RNY 11/17/05 327/275

Angel; I've tried a bite or two of salad on a several occasions and have only kept it down once. Beware of dressing - for me, I think that's more the problem than the actual salad. I've tried vinagrette and fat free ranch and had problems with both. Let me know how you do. I'm a little skitish to try again, so someone else's good experience may give me the confidence I need to try again. Blessings, Jennifer 253 / 200 / ???

I was terrified to eat salad at first. I just wasn't sure how all of that stuff would chew up or down (whichever way you look at it). I finally gave in and had a couple of bites at a dinner party where it was the first dish served. I have found that the crunchier the better. The hunks of crunchy lettuce, cuccumbers, cabbage, carrots, etc. seem to chew up better. The softer, leafier lettuce just takes a lot longer to chew. I have had several salads now and they go down fine. I like to soak mine in some dressing though, which probably isn't the greatest- but I do look for fat free, low sugar dressings like ranch and honey mustard. I haven't tried onions though, since I never liked them anyway... I love a Wendys side salad drenched in chili Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Carla 9 weeks out 284/243/165

Carla; As we've all said about 100 times, every surgeon and nutritionist is different, but mine doesn't ever recommend raw carrots and for the first 6 months, I'm not allowed to have skin on any vegetables or fruits. The nutritionist told me that the texture of carrots and veggie/fruit skins is difficult to chew enough to break down and they've had several occasions where a patient has gotten them stuck. I have tried a bite of shredded carrots, but for the most part I'm kind of afraid of them now. I haven't tried any veggie or fruit skins. I'm definitely afraid of those. Have you had any bad experiences with the carrots and cucumbers? Blessings, Jennifer

Jennifer, My NUT is always requiring me to be careful when eating fruits and veggies. I only had a few grated/shredded carrots not the whole thing, but I have had cuccumbers with no skin. I even tried some small pieces of califlower. I just chew, chew, chew, and chew some more. I am loving salad right now. I have had no problem with tangerines and I have eaten the pulp stuff, but I am very careful. My NUT and Dr. want me to be careful, but have told me to try new things and take it slow. I think my Dr. and NUT are pretty conservative about most of this, so I value their opinion. Good luck, Carla

angel, ive had salads. i dont have a problem with them. if u decide to try them just take it slow and chew well. lisa

Hi Angel, Ive had many salads and love them, it one of my fav foods to eat!!!! I would try a salad at home just to make sure your little pouchie can handle it........ Good luck and let us know how it goes!!! I had the Chick breast spinach salad at Subway with the Italian dressing............very yummy!!! Bethany 266/206/??

I've had several of them with no problems. Raw carrots, onions, and cucumbers haven't bothered me either. I don't do the fat free dressings because they usually are loaded with sugar. I just go extra light on regular dressing. Take it slow, enjoy, and keep in mind every dr. has a different protocol. Didi