Question:
Looking for sample menus at various post-op intervals :)

I once remember someone saying they had sample menus of what they ate post at certain intervals. Anyone know whom I'm talking of or can direct me to their menus? I'm able to eat real food now but want a good idea of a high protein day of eating (I'm allowed to eat 6 times a day 2 ounces a meal and I can tolerate bread/pasta). Thanks in advance. You all are the best bunch of people on this planet. :)    — Renee V. (posted on April 28, 2002)

April 30, 2002
I am almost 11 weeks post-op, so not that far a head of you, but a couple of weeks at this stage can make a difference. I eat four meals a day and nothing in betweeen. I start my day off with my protein drink, easy to get it out of the way while I am doing my hair and make-up. A typical day is like this, and I find it's working pretty well for me. Breakfast: 1/2 protein bar or 1/4 c. vegetarian or chicken sausage, diced, and 1/4 c. of yogurt or fresh fruit chopped up. Lunch: 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food depending on what. Often it is leftovers...maybe chicken or fish with vegetables, often chili, maybe 1/4 c.tuna fish with 4 low-fat Ritz crackers. I've even had left over steak chopped up into tiny pieces with grilled onions and peppers. If I actually go out to dinner, whatever I had that night will usually be lunch for the rest of the week, although I'll try to vary it somewhat, somehow. The other day I finally had salad greens (mescalin mix) with no trouble! I put a thin slice of ff feta cheese, a litle bit of warmed chicken breast and some ff honey dijon dressing over it. In the afternoon I'll usually have some sort of cheese (cheese is a huge part of my diet), either a reduced fat string cheese, 2 slices of ff American, or one round of new fave mini baby-belle light! With the cheese I'll have 1/4 c of fruit or yogurt, depending on which I had for breakfast. Dinner: I bought a big bag of cooked frozen shrimp that's come in handy. I've thrown it in with stir-fry veggies and low fat/carb asian sesame dressing, topped it with some sauce and ff mozzarella and thrown it under the broiler for a few, sometims I eat it cold with a squeeze of lemon and a little cocktail sauce. I like to make fajitas, minus the tortilla, plus mushrooms. I bought a cookbook called "Low Carb Meals in Minutes" , on Amazon.com, and have prepared several fish, beef, and chciken recipes from there. Except once or twice, and although I can, I choose to not eat pasta, potatoes, rice, or bread. I feel these are trigger foods for me, and for the most part have already gotten used to life with out them. I am pretty creative in the kitchen...nothing fancy, but creative. When I buy chicken or steak, I freeze it in the portions I'll be cooking (I cook just for myself). I'll pull it out of the freezer in the morning and it's waiting for me when I get home with whatever cooking whim I have in store for it. It helps. I hope this has been a bit helpful. Good luck!
   — PaulaM