Question:
Can someone tell me if it's necessary to chew food (chicken for instance )un

it feels like sand in my mouth?When I do this everything has long lost it's flavor and feels so gritty.Also how long is it until you can eat ahafway normal meal?I'M eating less than a mouse now.I don't mean pig out,I just mean like one taco,for instance?    — A L. (posted on April 6, 2000)

April 6, 2000
I am 6 months out and i eat only one taco. Your stomach will only hold the amount of an egg, and will not stretch too much. I have done is to start to view the amount I eat now as "normal" for me. It is necessary to chew all your food. It has to get down to applesauce consistancy to make it through the openings into and out of your new stomach. Just Monday I had a problem with not chewing my chicken good enough and I was in pain for about an hour. I eat my food with sauces that I can put more of in my mouth if i need to. You might want to try that.
   — [Anonymous]

April 6, 2000
Can't add much to the post below all good advice.. Chicken tends to dry out when over cooked.. Try recipes that have some sort of sauce or dip.. (I have some wonderful low fat dips and sauces if you want them) it will help it go down so much easier.. I'm 4 months post-op..I can even eat steak now, problem... Everyone should actually practicing chewing our food well, however more so for us pouch people..
   — Victoria B.

April 6, 2000
Hi, I am 7 1/2 months post-op and can eat 3/4 of a taco bell taco salad. Sometimes I get full very quickly and other times I can eat quite a bit. I don't know why. I don't really have to think about chewing any more. I just chew like I always did before surgery. If you want to e-mail me my address is [email protected]. Good Luck
   — Cheryl H.

April 6, 2000
Hi Al - I'm 1 month post op. Chicken and turkey are very hard for me to eat. My nutritionist suggested adding a teaspoon or 2 of baby food vegetables - and surprisingly, it made the consistency so much smoother, and more tasty - call it the casserole ala rny. Carrots and sweet potatoes are my preferred veggies to mix with chicken and turkey. I have a much easier time with shellfish than anything else -- crabmeat especially. Fresh crab is about $20/lb here -- but I only need a few ounces for the week! Liver and onions goes down very easy too! I really don't eat much chicken or turkey as it doesn't taste as good, or it gives me discomfort. Hope this helps.
   — Toni B.

April 6, 2000
Hi A - you didn't mention what kind of surgery you had, so it's hard to speculate about when you could begin to eat "normally". I had a BPD/DS, and I ate normally from the very beginning (chicken and mashed potatos at five days post-op). It's probably best to ask your surgeon or dietician about this - what are their recommended guidelines for the kind of surgery you had?
   — Kim H.