Question:
What about baby food (meats) - are they high enough in protein?

I am still waiting for my surgery date & would like to get all of the needed protein in the foods that I will eat. I don't want to have to use the protein shakes. I have read enough to know that it is in eggs - cheese & meat. So what about baby food meat - is it high enough in protein to do the job?    — Susan W. (posted on October 7, 2002)

October 7, 2002
If you have a blender or a food processor, you don't need baby food which, by the way, is so bland and insipid that I don't wonder why my kid used to spit it back at me. As for the protein content, it would vary from item to item. An ounce of pureed beef from a baby food jar would have no more no less grams of protein than an ounce of beef you pureed yourself.
   — Chuck O.

October 7, 2002
Just a thought here - don't buy much baby food. Lots of pre ops buy it and VERY few post ops eat it. It's genuinely nasty. There are lots of high protein foods that are flavorful and made for adults such as refried beans, scrambled eggs, Underwood chicken spread, cottage cheese, etc. Everyone knows I'm a huge advocate of protein shakes but if you choose not to use them I'd suggest looking for grown up foods. Baby food is just plain GROSS! Best wishes to you!
   — ronascott

October 8, 2002
hiya! have a question for you...how come you are set against the protein shakes? i don't know about your doc says but what are you planning on eating/drinking for the first 3-4 weeks while your pouch is healing? i don't see how you can get enough protein/nutrition in those first few weeks without the protein shakes. i agree that most are pretty icky but your new stomach cannot tolerate food so soon after surgery. i know that at two weeks post op you can do soft solids (yogurt, cottage cheese, pureed meats, soft scrambled eggs, pureed canned fruits/vegs) but even that is not enough to get in the nutrition/protein that your body needs. please email me if you have any other questions but i urge you to talk with a wls nutritionist or your doctor about the decision to eat immediately post op. {hugs} kate open rny 6-14-01 pre op: 268lbs goal weight: 135lbs current: 126lbs
   — jkb