In 3rd week post-op, so many qs about food

At only 3 weeks out, I was barely eating pureed at all... maybe a couple of Tablespoons full and I was done.

All plans are different, but one thing I do know is that while your doctor's office may approve and 'bless' things like fruits, whole grain toasts, crackers, oatmeal... etc... I found it impossible to meet my protein requirements using high carb foods.

Plus, the consensus around here, from the Vets that have been around for years is, carbs are not our friend. They will keep your cravings high for more of that later on.

Personally, I stuck with nothing but protein forward foods.

At any case, no matter what you do decide to do... just measure your foods very carefully and don't look for a 'full' feeling. Your stomach has been cut, the nerves are not working, and things are swollen. Just eat what is measured out and stop.

I still only eat 4 ounces MAX of protein at one meal, and I'm over a year out. Most of the time my meals consist of 3-3.5 ounces of a dense protein... if I DO add a veggie, I still keep it under 5 ounces.

You will not go into starvation mode. Your job right now is to sip, sip, sip... water and protein drinks. The 'food' you are having now is more for your brain's happiness than anything else.

Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

Thank you all for the info. Just to be clear I am eating 2 oz of puréed chicken "tendered" with 1/4 cup mashed veggies. I haven't even looked at crackers or breads so far and don't even desire them. I am NOT hungry at all during the day/night but I am eating because I need to hit a certain protein quota. After reading all your comments I'll be calling the nutritionist office to make sure I am not eating too much. Thanks again for your feedback.

You won't stretch anything on purees.

Concentrate on protein. The only things your body needs right now is protein and vitamins. Anything else, especially the fruit, is just wasted calories. It will slow down your loss, and all that sugar will make you crazy with cravings. And adding fruit to smoothies is just a slippery slope you don't want to go down.