Question:
lettuce and tomatoe salad

has anyone had letuce and tomatoe or anykind of salad at this point. how fine do you cut it up so it digests properly. also what salad dressings? craveing a salad now that I am 5 weeks post op.    — Jeffrey G. (posted on April 17, 2003)

April 17, 2003
I am 3 1/2 months post-op and still having trouble with food, but I must say on of the things that does go down easy is salad. I would be careful with tomatos though since they can be bothersome. Advacado's are awsome too. I actually eat them as a meal sometime. Just remember to eat slowly and just a few bites. Good luck!
   — Jennifer J.

April 17, 2003
Our surgeon allowed us to have plain lettuce and tomato salads at 3 weeks post-RNY. We had to wait until the 6-week point to add "crunchy" veggies. Lettuce and tomato pretty much turn to liquid as soon as they are well-chewed, and we tolerated those salads without any problem at all. In fact, they were our absolute favorites and still are! We were told to stay away from low-fat dressings of any kind because they actually contain more sugar than regular dressings, so we used regular salad dressings in moderation...again, no problems. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

April 17, 2003
The first time I tried a salad, I got the BLT from Wendys. Those are one of my favorites (before surgery and since.) When I brought it home I took about 2 handfuls out and put it in my mini processor. A few whisks and it was perfect and so delicious! Chopped up the chicken tomatoe cucumber lettuce bacon cheese into 'doable' pieces. I used the honey mustard dressing that comes with it yum yum! Just be sure not to 'pluse' too much you'll have liquid. Happy eating!
   — Sharon B.

April 17, 2003
I had my first salad at 6 weeks post-op (when my surgeon said I could start eating raw veggies and fruits). I have eaten salad constantly since and I use any kind of dressing that appeals to me - I don't buy the Lite variety. I enjoy the Chicken Mandarin Salad from Wendy's but can eat only part of one at a meal.
   — Patty_Butler

April 18, 2003
At 5 weeks post-op I had my first salad and it was the best thing I had ever tasted! Doc gave me clearance to use soft ingredients, so I had iceberg lettuce, tomato, kidney beans, hard boiled egg, onion,cheese, and mushrooms. About 2 weeks later, I added harder veggies like shredded carrots and cucumbers. I have always used regular salad dressings-I hate the low fat ones.
   — Cindy R.