New foods

Tomorrow I'll be 3 months post op so I've been looking at my yellow sheets trying to figure out new meals and such.  It says I can now start having some raw veggies, salad, pasta and rice and more seafoods. I still don't do well with meats.  The thought of eating rice scares me to death.  Salads and raw veggies sound pretty good though. I'm wondering how others have done with these new foods.   Blessings, Jacqui

I have done well with raw veggies, pastas & rice.  I still find myself eating most of the foods on phase 2 though.  I have eaten salad with shaved turkey on it with the salad spritzer dressing stuff.  That is pretty good.  I made a turkey meatloaf one time and it was really good.  My nut said I was allowed to have spaghetti sauce, so I tried to eat some spaghetti the other day before I knew about my ulcer and I couldnt eat it.  It hurt my stomach too much.  Get you some whole wheat pasta and some light Ragu that would be good.  Good luck!

I am 14 months out. I love rice, but if I eat more than just a little bit, I get sick from it,.. I think it fills me too much. I would go slow on rice. Pasta doesn't bother me, and I was SOOO happy to have a crunchy cucumber at that stage!

I love cucumbers too!  We usually have a nice garden and eat out of it all summer.  Cucumbers, yellow squash and aparagus are my favs.  I may have to break down and buy one at the store though.  You've made my mouth water! Thanks so much. Jacqui

This was the time that I discovered pickling my own vegetables was a great treat.  I go to GFS and get a frozen bag each of carrots, cauliflower, zucchini and pickle them in a gallon jar.  Boy what a great low calorie high fiber snack.

This sounds great!  I love veggies.  I need more info on pickling though.  I do make pickles, bread and butter, but I'm thinking there's way way too much sugar for that.  I'd love for you to share your recipe!  The cauliflower sounds delicious.

Thanks,

Jacqui

Thanks for the tips Jenny.  My NUT said I could have spaghetti sauce on phase 2 so I've been eating the lite ragu on yellow squash.  I put ground turkey in it to give it some protein.  It's been pretty good.  I'll try the whole wheat pasta though.  It sounds yummy.

A few questions if you don't mind...does the pasta/rice swell in your tummy?  Do you just put tiny amounts in and eat mostly the sauce? I make this killer minestrone that I've been picking out the pasta.  Now I guess I won't have to pick it out.  I don't put a lot of pasta in it and it's usually whole wheat since Troy is diabetic.  I'll have to make a big pot this weekend for lunches next week. Thanks again Jenny.  YOU ROCK! Jacqui

I use Barilla PLUS pasta or dreamfields theyre both whole grain wheat and I KNOW Barilla Plus has added protein (like 13 g per serving). I don't do so well with rice, brown or white or mexican or any way. It feels like it sits heavy but with pasta if its cooked really good and chewed really well I usually do decent with it. Definitely watch if it's a trigger food for you. I have pasta once every 2 weeks and thats fine and dandy enough to satisfy my craving for it. I made a baked Ziti a couple weeks ago with ziti pasta and ricotta and mozarella and lean ground beef and it was soo tasty and like the 2-3 oz I ate had like 17 g of protein in it. As far as raw veggies I haven't ventured much with them but I have done fruits and they've been fine. Also have not tried lettuce because I just try and eat protein more than anything.

Eating rice and pasta doesnt feel any different then regular foods.  I dont notice anything different, maybe I just dont eat enough of it.

Jacqui, Congrats on getting that first 3 months behind you! Yay!  Myself, I had a very hard time with anything tomatoe-y...ketup, spaghetti sauce, etc. It was an ulcer-maker for me..and that was after it was 'allowed'.  I did better with the low carb alfredo sauce instead. I had & have a hard time with pasta. It just kinda sets in my pouch forever. Very uncomfortable. I enjoy the alfredo over spaghetti squash.  I never had any problem with rice as far as how it sets in my tummy. I tend to be hypoglycemic though to where pasta, potatoes, and rice can all cause my sugar to plummet. It's giving me a break right now because of my other issues so I've been able to enjoy rice. I really enjoy the Rice-a-roni's. The Ben's heat up in the microwave for 90 seconds ones though are yuck!  I did great with veggies as long as I steered away from carrots (made me choke), potatoes/peas/corn (the hypoglycemic thing), and tomatoes (the ulcer thing). I absolutely love salads though!!! Enjoy..and don't forget to get your protein in first! Sherir