Lettuce and broccoli

At 6 mos (which will be June 5), I'm able to add lettuce to my diet. Other raw veges are doing fine, although I eat small amounts. The paperwork I received from my Nut (who I don't go to now because she had no idea what being a RNY patient was all about) has been good to follow, says (1) start adding lettuce at 6 months and (2) I should be eating 2 1/2 cups of veges and fruits per day, along with all the protein first. I do good to eat 1 cup total per day of the veges/fruits because I get full from the protein.

What are your thoughts on (1) lettuce, (2) amount of fruit/veges and (3) raw veges and how they settle? I know everyone is different, but looking forward to the responses.

Also.....celebrating 100 lbs gone! Can't believe it and have so much more energy :)

My thoughts are not the norm.

Lettuce is not food. It's what my food eats. 2-1/2 cups of veggies and fruits . . . per day???!!! I haven't eaten that much in the last 5 years. The last green thing I ate was some iffy cheese.

My personal, unscientific observation is that no one likes lettuce. Honestly. If you just went around giving plain lettuce to people, it would all end up in the trash. But people loooooove the crap they can pile on top of lettuce. It becomes a dressing and crouton delivery system.

Applebees has 3 salads that each have more calories than 2 McDonald's double quarter pounders with cheese. 2 of them! Yet 99.9 percent of the world would tell you the salad is much healthier. I say nay.

So, just stay a little mindful of the "healthy eating" trap. Everyone knows that fruits and veggies are healthy, and necessary, right? But they can end up doubling your daily calories if you aren't careful.

If I had room for an extra 2-1/2 cups of food per day, I'd have another steak. Maybe some ham.

The last green thing I ate was some iffy cheese.

I wouldn't try to eat more. Eat protein, then veggies. I usually make crockpot stew once per week with lentils or beans, vegetables and meat. I have a cup a day. I try to eat a salad for one of my snacks. I put cheese or seeds or meat on the salad. I wll make a1 egg omelet w/spinach & sometimes feta. So, I get a lot of veggies but I am in maintenance and I would never push veggies if I am too full. I only eat fruit about twice a week. Last week I had 1/2 grapefuit and 1/2 apple w/peanut butter. Fruit is a trigger for me, it makes me want more sugar.

I would not try to woof them down. I mostly use lettuce as a way to eat meat other than bread and as side dish. And I usually can't get more than a few ounces in before I'm full. Lettuce you can eat more of because it grinds down to nothing.

I am growing romaine and loos leaf lettuce in the garden though this year so I'm swimming in it and have been changing up my meal plans to incorporate this.

My gut hates most raw veggies now. I can eat some - but lettuce and broccoli are not on that list. Raw veggies can be hard to digest for a normal gut.

I don't like the gas that raw veggies can cause. Way too much gas. Some veggies are really better for you if they are at least steamed. Broccoli is one of them.

I eat raw cucumbers, pickles, avocado, pepper. Not a lot. If I eat my proteins - there is really not much space for too many veggies.

Fruits =sugar. Lots of sugar. I eat fruits to gain weight. Or to stop losing. Probably 1-2 cups a day. Mostly berries.

lettuce and raw veggies didn't sit well with me the first few months. Some days they still don't, although I eat them now (just not when my pouch is feeling iffy). I eat a fruit serving every day (although I'm not very carb sensitive). I probably eat one or two vegetable servings every day. But then, I am in maintenance. While losing, I just got in what I could (and sometimes I couldn't...) after eating my protein.

I wish I could eat lots of veggies. Pre-surgery, I ate tons of fruits and vegetables, and I do miss that...

Sounds like we eat alot alike. Protein first, then about 1 oz of fruit either at breakfast or lunch, and 1-2 oz of veges at lunch and dinner (breakfast too if I eat an omelet). Sometimes the protein just fills me up first!

I ate lots of veges and fruits pre-surgery and miss them :(

Plus....the fruit keeps me moving (LOL), so to speak!

Skip the fruits and use Miralax. Much better weight wise for you. Loving them before surgery is what got you TO the surgery :)

Ceci