Need ideas for diet planning

What is your typical meal day like, what'cha eatin' t'day? Do you do quick snacks or small meal or 3 basic ones combined? I am 2 1/2 months out, doing six small meals a day, one protein shake, and one bar included in that 6. staying focussed al

here is a pretty typical day for me start w a 20oz coffee on the way to work (1 hour drive) fat free yogurt once i get to work 20 oz of water handful of some type of peanuts around 9:30 water and 8 oz of skim milk around 10:15 lunch is a crapshoot  (sometimes a sandwich, sometimes more yogurt, sometimes a slice of pizza, sometimes some turkey jerky, etc.) more water in the afternoon and a another handful of nuts around 2:30 water on the way home from work supper is usually a small chicken breast or a turkey burger around 5 cup of skim milk around 7 (sometimes with a couple graham crackers) bed at 9 hope it helps al

Depends on where you're at on your recovery and your surgeon's game plan.  My surgeon's paln was 3 meals with protein snacks and water n bewtween.  At 8 months out, that is still pretty much what I'm doing.   Morning: Pills and vitamins, get ready for work, Quaker Oats Oatmeal-to-Go Banana Bread oatmeal square and protein bars with a bit of cold water or a protein fruit smoothie **** OJ, skim milk, fruit, protein powder, more ice).  Occassionaly 2-3 eggs instead. Mid-morning snack: two protein bars and 1 or 2 16-20 oz waters Lunch:  stuff like Wendy's Chili, Taco Bell crunchy taco (2), or a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli Mid-afternoon snack: banana, protein bar and 1 or 2 16-20 oz water.  Sometimes a SoBe Lean energy drink instead of a water and an occassional swallow of OJ for the vitamin C to help absorbtion with my afternoon dose of iron pills and a bit of sugar for the blood. Dinner:  Baked tostitos with salsa, or some kinda of meat (chicken, fish, grilled and drained ground beef), cheddar cheese melted on whatever (for protein and dairy intake), or a fruit smoothie with protein.  If I'm busy and don't have time to sit and eat slowly, I may substitute 2-3 protein bars and water while I'm driving or working at my desk or on a work site (I will take a six-pack size cooler with me of water and protein bars). Evening snack: SF Fat-Free Weigh****chers ice cream bars (2), or a slim-cow ice cream sandwich, or an oatmeal to-go square, or a protein bar,..and another bottle water. Getting the 60+ and more useful, 120+ gms of protein and a min 64 oz of water everyday is vital to your body not consuming muscle tissue, keeping the kidneys moving and the burnt body waste exiting.  Not getting in the protein and water slows the weight loss too. Hope that helps.  Do what works for you. Joe

Well Al, Quite a while back (over a year) Someone on the Mainboard asked – "How in the World" could someone Get in the amount of protein needed without relying on constant supplements? I tracked what I actually ate for a few weeks And typed out my "Typical Intake" back then- (sort of a -"What Ya’ll Eat Today" answer.) I had it typed so thought I’d use it here too. Since then? I have added more Veggies and Fruits and cut back some on my Meat intake. (more Beans, and salad stuff) I, and many other Post-Ops, eat multiple meals/feedings per my nutritionist’s recommendation. If Your Doc or Nutritionist recommends that, it seems right in line with many others. If they recommend otherwise- (and there are some the are adamant about 3 "shakes" a day!) Then DO That! But, In answer to "How in the World can anyone get in their Protein?"- And thus- "Typical Days eating?" This is what works for me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pre-Breakfast De-Caf Coffee with SlimFastLowCarbVanillaCream as creamer -10gms Protein Breakfast- 1 CarbControlYogurt with Total Protein Cereal (or Atkins) and 2 Tbsp Flaxseed Meal -21gms Protein (sometimes/ often add in Strawberries or Blueberries) Mid Morning snack- an apple and handful of SoyNutz -12gms Protein Pre-Lunch De-Caf Coffee with SlimFastLowCarbVanillaCream as creamer -10gms Protein Lunch- 6oz Tuna and a boiled egg -51gms Protein (often some more low-cal veggie here like squash or Chop-Suey Veggies) Mid-Afternoon Snack- Handful of Soy Nutz and a String cheese -19gms Protein (often just an Ostrim Meat stick and/or Caprese or Cucumber salad) Dinner- 6oz hamburger meatballs with chopped tomato (or canned Rotel) with Textured Vegetable Protein ½ onion and 2 stalks of celery-58 gms Protein Cup of Skim Milk later that evening with bell pepper slices 14 gms Protein ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That brings me to 195gms of Protein for a Typical Day Even Leaving off any coffee with SlimFast (in case one would view creamer as shake) Still leaves me at an easy 175 gms of Protein a day. And calories? With the Coffee creamer substitute it comes to approx. 2100 A little lower than my goal of 2200 to 2400. I use a calculator to get my target. http://annecollins.com/calories/calorie-needs-men.htm Obviously there are many days where I have closer to 120gms of protein But generally I’m able to stay above that with no problem. And to this I add Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, B-12 shot every month, And enough water to bath in daily. But no potatoes? Noodles? Rice? Nope. Protein First, then Veggies, then… I think that the simple Directive that we see every day Over Here – Protein First! Is sort of a core value that will serve one well. At Least, This is what has Worked for Me! "Your Mileage may vary…" How has this "simple idea" Without the Supplement Industry’s Support worked for me thus far? Started at 385lbs, I’ve been at or below goal for coming up on 3 years now, without struggle. 179lbs. to 185lbs. -Perfect Labs, perfect Blood Pressure, Better than Great Cholesterol numbers, etc… Healthier now than I was 20 years ago. Lucky? OH Yeah. I Started a bit rougher than most would refer to as lucky. (profile) And maybe I’ve done well "In SpitE Of" my typical Dietary intake…

But, "How can Anyone Get Enough Protein Without Shakes?" Easy! Enough it Seems, To Me… Sorry to "Copy/Paste from old reply, but it saves a hell of a lot of typing time J Best Wishes- Dx