Question:
I need more variety!! Only 6 weeks out...

I'm just six weeks out, down 44 pounds today, open RNY. I was always a very picky eater - pre-op, I only ate JUNK! I'm finding it difficult to branch out post op, as I've always been a veggie and seafood hater. A typical day of eating includes low fat string cheese, low fat cottage cheese, Taco Bell pintos and cheese, and some lean meat for dinner. What is weird is that I've always hated all seafood, except albacore tuna mixed with miracle whip. I tried some for dinner with crackers, but man those crackers sure fill you up. So, my question is - what the heck else is good to eat? I don't mind some veggies (of course, my faves are potatoes and corn - starch!), but I like brussel sprouts, pea pods, cauliflower, cabbage. I like lean red meat - either ground and added to like chili beans, or lean steak. I liked chicken pre-op, but most that I've tried post op tastes weird. The only way I could describe it is dead tasting. I know, I know, it IS obviously dead, but that is the only way to describe it. I'm just afraid that my frustration will lead me to start eating more carbs! Also, is it normal to not feel like I've lost anything?    — vittycat (posted on May 2, 2003)

May 2, 2003
very normal to feel like you have not lost anything at first. It took 75 pounds of loosing until I felt like i looked like I had lost anything. But with in the first few weeks, I was sleeping better, cause my snoring had stopped,and I had more energy. Small steps, but they mean alot. For a food: Try Wendy's chili, I still eat lots of chili (16 months out) especially when my stomach is acting up. Chicken and anything "dry" still gets stuck easily. So I eat lots of dark meat chicken (more fat in it and goes down easier). I also do really well with a pot roast, really moist and really easy to cut in small pieces. I also eat alot of maryland crab soup....lots of protien in the crab and goes down easy. It took me until I was close to a year out before I could tolerate protien drinks, but I kept trying. Now I have one that I like, so I do not have to obcess as much about getting protien into my diet. It is a struggle. I am sure it will be the rest of my life! good luck to you.
   — Vicki L.

May 2, 2003
How about turkey? Turkey chili, turkey bologna, turkey bacon, turkey jerky ... etc. etc. etc. And I also like egg beaters with cheese for an easy source of protein.
   — Suzy C.

May 2, 2003
Don't get frustrated- the first 3 months are the worst b/c we can't eat as much and are on a more strict diet, after that you can pretty much eat anything, just smaller quantities, and ofcourse have to follow "protein first" Have you tried eating things you previously hated? I was the same way, didn't like many veggies and hated fish and beef. Now I eat all of them all the time. I love broccoli and eat fish atleast once a week. Many times people report their taste buds change after WLS, so it can work in your favor! Have you tried deli meats like turkey and chicken- the are soft. Also eggs, yogurt are good sources of protein. And you can put cheese on eggs or make and omelette so not so bland. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

May 2, 2003
I am almost 4 weeks post op. We got a puree machine while I was in the hospital, and since it has been puree heaven. My wife has pureed: Chicken Breast, Smoked Turkey, Chili (many varieties), Beef stew, Chicken in Yellow Curry (from our favorite Thai restaurant), Smoked Pork, Ham, Taco Meat (Turkey), Hamburger, Chicken Fetticini Alfredo, and the list goes on and on. I was just like you pre-op when it came to Vegitables, but my wife (per Doc) inists on feeding me vegies. She has pureed just about everything, but my favorites are Brocolli, and Brussel Sprout stir fry (I hated Brussel Sprouts pre-op). Actually, I am finding most of the pureed vegitables tolerable! Also, on the soft food front I found cheese enchilladas to be tolerable, also Chicken Enchalada Suisa (lean cuisine). Hope this gives you some ideas.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 2, 2003
I agree with Vicki on the losing weight issue...as for what to eat when you're picky :>) Hope some of the following help. I love the guts of steak fajitas. Have your store butcher slice 1/2 pound beef bottom roast into paper thin sheets, then when you get home cut it into strips and then cut those into pieces. Basically swallow size so there's very little need to chew well, but you still get the pleasure of chewing. Cut 1/4 a green pepper and 1/4 a red pepper into thin strips. Toss the meat and peppers with 2 tablespoons of minced (I used dehydrated) onions, 1 tsp. minced garlic, 1/2 tsp. of Schillings Fajita seasoning and 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let sit marinating in the fridge from 1/2 and hour to up to 2 hours. Heat a pan to med-high heat and stir-fry the mix until the meat is just done. Top with some shredded cheese and low-fat (I like full fat :>) sour cream. Yummm! Other things to eat are canned corned beef steamed with chopped cabbage. The canned corned beef is very tender and tiny in size so easy to consume. Brussel sprouts - cut fresh sprouts into quarters and saute in a hot pan with a bit of butter or olive oil. I do this with fresh spinach as well - and add a bit of garlic. Cauliflower steamed and mashed with butter and milk is a great substitute for mashed potatoes and very low carb. The only way I could stomach chicken prior to the six month mark was boiled in chicken stock along with some diced celery, onions, carrots and seasoning - a noodleless chicken soup. I had a lot of trouble with eggs early on (still do on occasion) but found that scrambling one or two with a bit of mustard made them more tolerable. I liked peanut butter, cream cheese or tuna on a cracker, just make sure you heat the topping on just a couple or three crackers to get the most protein for your buck :>) I enjoy fried way more than scrambled though. I still eat 4 sticks of moz string cheese nearly every morning for breakfast. Great protein start for the day! Congrats on 44 pounds gone!
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 2, 2003
Speech error below. I meant heaP the toppings on crackers, not heat them. Ooops...sorry!
   — [Deactivated Member]