Help with Sample Menu for PMRI

I only have 2 Lifeskills classes left and I am really struggling with completing these pureed and regular menus. I used some of the examples out of the book but how do I know how many grams of protein each item is? I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent woman but for some reason I just can't get this !! I never have been good at counting and keeping track of things like this and everyone who has taken these classes knows its a REQUIREMENT in order to pass. I refuse to let this be an obstacle. Can anyone give me any help? I don't consider this cheating - it's more like SHARING!! Simply Gawjus

I looked on the paper and every serving of food that has protien for ex. cheese, meat, milk, etc... has 7grams of protien and I used the paper that you can order protien productsand I used that to add up my protien for ex. I put a 4 0z glass of 1 % milk with chocolate shake protien powder. I put 19 grams of protien because the protien powder that PMRI sells is 15 g., and the sample part on the menu says that 4 oz of 1 % milk is 4 g. So that is how I did it I just used the papers that they gave me. I hope I have helped you at least a little bit. If not I'm sorry. I have surgery tomorrow so I couldn't explain it more until I get home. Shirley J.

Perhaps FITDAY site might help you with your protein requirements...you could develop the menu and check out what each of the items are in counts on it. I did not have to do classes but as a post op person I really do see the importance in them. Good luck. Debbie

Did you get it figured out? I did not take the classes, but like many here, we can help you figure it all out if you give us specific examples of what they are asking. Or we can give you "real life" protein examples???

Simply, I've completed the menus. With regard to the protein, PMRI considers 7 grams of protein 1 serving. So if you've eaten something that's 21 grams, it's 3 proteins. As for your fruits & vegetables, refer to the documentation in the book you received as to portion sizes. You can either purchase a book or use Fitday.com to determine the nutritional value of the food you eat. Also, look on the label of any packaged food. I use fitday.com for my food diary, exercise log and for determining nutritional values of foods. It's great because you can add custom foods that you purchase, but that might not necessary match their generic items. Be sure to space out your times between your meals. You need to allow 30-60 minutes to eat, then wait 30-60 minutes before you drink. I used 45 minutes as it was right in the middle. For example, I start breakfast at 7, it takes me 45 minutes to eat (7:45), then I wait 45 minutes before I drink (8:30), it takes me 45 minutes to drink 12oz (9:15)... Here's a sample of my timeline: 7:00AM Meal 8:30AM Beverage 10:00AM Meal 11:30AM Beverage 1:00PM Meal 2:30PM Beverage 4:00PM Meal 5:30PM Beverage 7:00PM Meal 8:30PM Beverage Don't get hung up on feeling like you'll never be able to eat that often or drink that much...they just want to see that you can plan your menu. You'll have plenty of time to work out the logistics later. Remember that milk, water, non-carbonated, non-caffeinated & unsweetened beverages count toward your fluid intake. So if you have a protein shake for one of your meals, that counts toward your fluids. Good luck! Joni