high protein soups?

I've had a complicated hernia repair and I'm trying to get back to good health, but the eating thing is horrible! It feels like day 2 post op, even though I'm almost 5 years out... pretty standard I've been told and it may take me a while to get back to normal. 

I'm only able to manage greek yogurt and mashed potatoes (I've been eating less than 400 calories a day for the last couple of weeks and dropping weight like crazy, even though I don't want to - I really want to eat!!!) I have no energy because I'm not taking in enough food. Also I'm light headed and dizzy a lot of the time and have to spend a lot of time laying down. 

I'm trying to avoid another trip to the hospital and the feeding tube option - So question - any suggestions on high protein, high calorie liquid's (not pre-packaged as I can't stand all the pre made protein shakes)? Maybe pureed soups with extra protein? Please share any recipes that worked in the liquid stage post op. 

Thanks! 

How about ham and bean soup? You could make it with a ham hock and remove the hock before eating it. Maybe add in some unflavored protein powder afterward -I put about half the beans in a food processor to make it seem "creamy" after it's done cooking, then add them back into the pot. At this stage, add some protein powder. And you could always puree all of it, not just half the beans. Use chicken broth instead of water to add some more protein.

I also make little "protein bites" - cream cheese brick, heavy cream and sugar free pudding mix. Then pipe out little rosettes and freeze them. They're about 8-10 cal each, not sure about the exact protein amount but they're pretty yummy.

I also love nonfat cottage cheese, half cup serving has 15g of protein... and is better for you than the mashed potatoes

"protein bites" is a terribly inaccurate name for whatever you are making unless you left out an ingredient. None of those ingredients contain more than very minimal amounts of protein. Do you add protein powder to them?

You are correct, Maria. Sorry, I posted the original recipe I was given. My nutritionist had me switch the pudding powder for flavored protein powder.

That makes a lot more sense! I tried making something like that once, but all that protein powder hitting my digestive system at once gave me a gurgly upset stomach. Maybe I'll have to try again with smaller bites. I used 1/2 serving of protein powder to make one.

I just had an abdominal hernia repair 7 weeks ago... what was supposed to be a 20 minute repair turned into 2 hours. At some point I did have to force myself to eat higher calorie foods to stop losing... I never had a problem with protein shakes, so I kinda lived on those and bites of things at first. Was never told any special diet...If I am really in the mood for soup I just stir in unflavored protein powder. I like Genepro, buy it on Amazon.... as tasteless as they come... Opens up endless possibilities for flavor...

You said you don't like premade protein drinks... Are you talking ready to drink like Premier? or the powders too? Cottage cheese and greek yogurt can be used in Smoothies to give them protein, as well as unflavored protein powder. Also if you need calories, do a chocolate peanut butter, and add some real peanut butter. I use Fairlife milk in my protein drinks... lower carb and higher protein.

2 of my favorites;

Strawberry cheesecake - Use ricotta or cottage cheese, vanilla, sweetener, small amount cream cheese, strawberries... milk of choice and ice if you are using fresh strawberries.

Pina colada - greek yogurt, crushed pineapple in juice, sweetener, coconut extract or (even better) Bai 5 drink in the coconut flavor. (Can get  grocery store or Target.) If you use extract, add some liquid...and ice.

Again, you can add unflavored protein to boost the protein. I try to keep it around 30g, as they say that is all we can absorb at one time.

You can add SF pudding powders to shakes/smoothies to make them more palatable...

Please do tell more about the strawberry cheesecake that you make!  I'd like to know the exact quantities of the ingredients in this recipe, as well as the directions.  I'm thinking what you initially posted was a general summation of the recipe.

These are both protein Smoothies where you don't have to use protein powder, since OP it seems to not agree...

I didn't write measurements, because everyone is different in stats they are trying to get in to a drink..but I'll take a stab-

1/2c cottage cheese or ricotta, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 Tbsp cream cheese, 6oz Fairlife milk(higher protein, or milk of choice), 5 frozen strawberries. I would start with one packet sweetener, you can always stir in more if needed. Blend and add add some water as needed to get consistency you like. I like my smoothies to have at least 25-30g protein. This would have about 25g as written.

If you want cheesecake. Almost any recipe is easily converted just substituting the sugar. Besides the crust, cheesecake doesn't have a lot of carbs...that is why it is often a go-to dessert.

Here is a really simple one from White Dove on the recipe forum: Cheesecake

Thank you!

what about cream of chicken with quest unflavored protein?