Question:
I'm 8 weeks post op and would LOVE a tossed salad....Is it time yet???

   — sharon S. (posted on June 1, 2000)

June 1, 2000
Hi: I am 8 weeks post op also and have been eating salad for several weeks. It is great. Just chew well.
   — Cindy H.

June 1, 2000
At 8 weeks post op I was able to eat anything my new tummy could handle, including the salads, which were encouraged. Just make sure you stay away from really hard things like carrots, unless they are shredded. Otherwise, they could stop up your outlet if you accidently don't chew it well. Good Luck.... =)
   — Marni

June 1, 2000
Hi Sharon!!! Sally (our mutual nutritionist) said that we could eat salad at 8 weeks. Just be sure it's chewed well. Raw vegies can be grating to the stomach. :)
   — Paula G.

June 1, 2000
Sharon, The day I came home from the hospital, I immediately went to a different(local)hospital to see my mother who was admitted there the day following my surgery. Because I still wasn't super steady on my feet yet, my son wisely found a wheelchair to "roll" me upstairs so I could visit with her, and while we were "traveling" to her room we passed a food cart they used to hand out dinner trays. On those dinner trays were the BIGGEST and FRESHEST chef salads I have ever seen. My mouth just watered for one of them, and of course, my mother had one delivered to her while I was there. She wasn't really hungry and kept trying to "give it" away to me or my son or my sister. It was all I could do to say "no thanks" (of course I knew I couldn't eat any of it...I couldn't eat ANYTHING at that point,) but for weeks afterward, I dreamed about that salad!! I never thought something so simple as a salad could make me crazy, but the thought of that one sure did. I mentioned it to one of the nurses at my surgeon's clinic a few weeks later and she told me that salad was a very good "soft" food that I could try that would help satisfy the need to chew. Well, that was all I needed to hear. The day I was allowed to start on my soft foods diet, guess what was the first thing I had?? You got it! And I've been eating them ever since. I'd suggest checking with your surgeon's diatician before going ahead and trying one yourself, but I just had to tell you my little story because I really can understand how you feel. Good luck and God bless. cj
   — cj T.

June 1, 2000
I am 7 weeks post op. My Dr said I could eat salad after 4 weeks, but to take it slowly & chew well. I have been really enjoying salads. I add grated cheese, garbanzo beans, & kidney beans for added protein. They have been tasting wonderful & altho I have had some problems with some foods, I've had no problems at all with salad. Chew well, go slowly, & enjoy!
   — Kathy W.

June 1, 2000
Hi Sharon! I am 7 weeks post op and I ate a salad last night... I think I ate a little too much, but otherwise it went down really well and tasted SOOOOOO good!
   — kimberly1224

April 8, 2001
My dietician told me I could start but to use softer lettuces.Not iceberg. I have tried romaine and it's ok. I only can eat a very small amount though.Susan G.
   — susan R.