Best foods for getting protein (aside from shakes)

don't forget BACON - most everyone's favorite !

Scallops and canned chicken. egg salad and tuna salad are always good. moist with mayo and seasoning. goes down easy.

Shakes do get old, but count on at least 1 per day for some time. Two scoops of whatever, should give you about 40 - 50 grams of protein. Since u will need about 100grms per day, it's a great start. You can fill in the remaining 50 with food u like.

That's my current plan. Start the day with a shake and fill in the rest with food, liquids and fats. Usually mayo, bacon, salad dressing. Mixed in to make it all go down smoothly.

Warm tea makes it easier to eat early out. U might want to start the day with something to ease your stomach, like tea. It just made eating easier, cause it relaxed me and my stomach. Then I just nibbled and did shakes.

I am 3 years out, almost. And I still have restriction. Your restriction will be major in the beginning. Lucky if you can get 4oz of anything down. So make it count. Protein and fat. Which is why canned chicken or chicken thighs are great. Breasts may be too heavy/dense that early out. I still eat thighs, they are much easier on my stomach.

Just some random thoughts.

Good luck,

Dana

Thanks to everyone *****sponded, but if anyone else wants to chime in, I would welcome it. You all have given me some great advice! I can definately eat all the foods you mentioned.  I am so glad that I don't have to force myself to eat the cottage cheese and yogurt. If I had to, then I would have. I am determined to make the DS a success (~sigh~ as soon as this 6 month diet requirement is over...sometime in August ).

Thanks again,

Beth

I am about 5 weeks post-op and thought I would be able to do eggs, tuna, and cheeses.  Unfortunately, those are difficult to eat right now because I seem to have lost the taste for them.  Strangely enough, I had difficulty with yogurt pre-op and as post-op love eating it. 
The only suggestion I have really is not to buy too many of the foods you eat now for when you come home from the hospital post-op as you may find your tastes change. 

I agree. Isn't it interesting how our tastes change afterwards.

I am over 11 years post-up and I have not had a protein shake in 10.5 years.  I eat my protein in food.  Meat,  eggs, chicken, fish, cheese (taken with lactaid), cottage cheese, yogurt,  avocados,  nuts, rice & beans (not much,  and with beano)...basically I eat everything.  I eat a lot of red meat and eggs.

 Hey there, Beth.  My tastes and food tolerances changed drastically right after surgery.  Some examples:

* I couldn't have artificial sweeteners, after having lived on Splenda for years (I could do it again after about 10 months)
* I couldn't tolerate shakes at all, I think from the artificial sweeteners
* Cilantro, which I ate in batches before surgery, now tastes like soap to me
* Various foods that I loved, I can leave now

Also, I could not in any way go without food for more than two hours early out. None of that skipping breakfast and all-day shopping sprees for me.  

It's so hard to know what to expect!  I spent a tremendous amount of money on food post-op trying to figure out what to eat.  Some things that worked for me:

* Frittatas - crustless quiche baked in the oven.  You can put whatever you want in it.  My favorite is spinach, bacon and mushrooms with tons of cheese.
* Any kind of egg--over easy, boiled, etc.
* Tuna or chicken salad - higher-protein versions with extra eggs, and with cheese 
* Plain meat/no sides or sauce - chicken wings are best for me, but any type of fish is good.  Fried or broiled works
* Coffee protein shakes with lots of half-and-half.  The cream has protein, about 1g/oz.  I use 4 ozs in my double shakes to help me get 50g of protein per shake.

As far as the lactose goes, sometimes your tolerance rebuilds, like mine did for artificial sweeteners.  That rocks!  You have to just be willing to try and re-try foods again every couple/few months to see where it goes.  

I can't believe how similar my experience is to all of the good responses you have gotten so far!

I too developed intolerances for artificial sweeteners and lactose post surgery, and I never much cared for the taste/texture of yogurt. 

While I was still healing eggs were my go to protein.  I couldn't handle tuna fish or chicken salad like some can, and I also had a difficult time with hard cheese if it wasn't melted (like over some eggs.) 

In the 3 month time frame tuna salad/chicken salad, some chicken and meats were okay.  I have some esophageal motility issues and sometimes things just don't go down. 

At almost 6 months most things are great.  I stick to eggs, beef, chicken, cheese and nuts.  If something is dry/too lean I still have difficulties and unfortunately that means many leftovers just don't work well for me. 

Good luck and one thing I've learned is it's great to be prepared, but this experience is like nothing I've ever experienced and an attitude of flexibility will serve you well!

Do you mean early out or longer term?

Elizabeth,

I was thinking about where it seems to be the transitional period where you are getting more foods in and tapering off the shakes. I just was reading a lot of posts where greek yogurt and cottage cheese were discussed as being really good to eat during that time, and I was a little worried, because I bought some to see if I would be able to eat it when I got my DS. I didn't like the flavor or the texture, so I was looking for some more ideas. I have bought some protein samples just trying to be prepared as best as I can.