Question:
Has anyone postop ever had those little 7.5 oz bowls of Chef Boyardee ravioli?

and also be able to eat the whole thing...or at least eat most of it? Yeah I know...carbs, but I dont have them on a regular basis. I have had a craving for them recently. I still am real good about drinking my water, taking my vitamins, getting in my protein and exercise. I was just wondering if I wasnt the only one who did this. I am almost 8 months postop.    — Kris T. (posted on September 9, 2003)


September 9, 2003
This is the second Chef Boy R Dee question I've seen today and my curiousity forces me to ask: Chef Boy R Dee? How could anyone crave Chef Boy R Freakin' Dee? In all seriousness, you should be very careful about giving in to head hunger for a high carb food. Ask yourself if it might trigger greater carb cravings. Ask yourself how you will feel having given in to a craving for something that just isn't that good for you. And lastly, ask yourself if you want to be controlled by cravings in the future. They are all very individual decisions that only you can make for yourself. As someone who knows he is a food addict, I stay far away from sweets as I know that they are my triggers-- but we are all different. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

September 9, 2003
Yes, I had them several months post-op but they were the mini-ravs with beef. That did the trick and I haven't had them since. There's something to be said about satisfying the occasional craving vs. eating your way around it.
   — kelleykeith

September 9, 2003
For some people chef boyardee is a comfort food and I don't see anything wrong with having it occasionally.I know that I had this surgery to live and eat more normally.Which means eating things in moderation.Besides it may be high in carbs but it does have 6 grams of protein per serving.I've had it once or twice in the 3 months since I've had surgery and it hasn't hindered my weightloss at all.It's a sad day when chef boyardee is considered junk food right along side the ice cream,cookies ,candy,soda,chips etc.
   — jennifer A.

September 9, 2003
I eat them from time to time. Some of them have up to 9 grams of protein, the Beef-o-gettis I think. Now, these are exactly fine Italian cuisine, but will do in a pinch and do have some nutritional value, I can think of worse things. If I have one at home, I still a couple of tablespoons of cottage cheese in with it and make 2 servings. This ups the protein count, makes it tastier and more nutritious and cost less. Just watch out that you don't them all the time. Best! Marla, post RNY at goal!
   — Marla H.

September 9, 2003
Thank you Steve I was not quite sure how to put that. While the Chef Boyardee (isn't that is a mortal sin? hee hee) has 9 grams of protein it also has 11 grams of fat- 1050mg of sodium- 34g of carbs and 270 calories and I would seriously doubt that it keeps you full for a good long time with all of that "pasta" (I use that term loosely). Oh yeah and it has 8g of sugar. As Steve said we make our own choices and have to set our own guidelines but this would be at the bottom of my choice list. I have to just say no to carb laden goodies or I become totally obsessed with finding more more more.
   — Carol S.

September 9, 2003
i was able to eat on of those little bowls of ravioli at about 4 months out...scared me! but it is awfully mushy and full of sauce, so it's really not surprising that I was able to eat it.
   — thekatinthehat

September 9, 2003
I also ate the Chef Boy R Dee brand and found them good when I was in the soft foods phase. Some people on the board may be "italian food snobs", but who are they to criticize what you crave? Anyway, we had the surgery to be normal and there is nothing wrong with this food once in a while. Have fun!
   — Jamie R.

September 10, 2003
Whenever I read an answer to a post like Steves, I kind of chuckle to myself and think, "Let he who is without sin..." I'm over 2 years post op, and have been known to indulge in such sinful things as Chef Boyardee on a few occasions. I've even had some Ice Cream, Chocolate, bread sticks, pizza, cheesecake, movie theater popcorn, pepsi and even an occasional potato chip. I guess that makes me a terrible person who is trying to sabotage my surgery, who isn't making the right choices, who is going against everything that is Holy in the book of WLS... No, not really, it makes me a normal person who eats a "normal" portion of "forbidden" foods. I didn't get to 240+ pounds by eating an occasional bite of candy, or some pasta, I got that way by eating it all the time, and not exercising. I would hope that in the last 2+ years I've learned something, and that is to eat in moderation, to make good choices, but also to realize that I'm not going to go through life never having the "forbidden" foods. I have a sister who has eaten "forbidden" foods in moderation all her life, she is all of 110lbs. NOTE>>>""The above commentary is just my opinion, and as with anything, you should use your own judgement and follow the plan that suits you.""... Now I'll get off my soapbox and back to work. :)
   — Gail M.

September 10, 2003
I just want to thank you for all the answers you all gave me. You know, its not like I eat these every day all the time, Ive only had these a few times out of the almost eight months Ive been postop. Im real good the rest of the time. This is only an occasional thing. Im not perfect. Nobody's perfect! I must be doing something right because Ive lost 120 lbs in almost 8 months. Gail, what you said was right on!
   — Kris T.

September 10, 2003
Kris- could you be any more normal? : ) We all have times like this (If we're being honset with ourselves) some give in others find it in them not to. I personally make choices that may not be the best from time to time. Oh well- I'm human too. I applaud you for having the bravery to ask this question. Maybe I can give you a tip that you will find helpful. As an example- potato chips are my DEMON! I love them and am sure I could eat a ton if I let myself. So, instead of buying a whole bag (or God forbid- the double bag!)I only buy a single serve bag when I absolutely must. THis way I minimize the 'damage' and still get to 'give in' a bit to my craving. Perhaps you can do the same? I know the chef-boy-ardee comes in mini pacakges too. Good luck to you and congrats on your great success!
   — LMCLILLY

September 10, 2003
I'm 8 months out and I usually can't eat much of anything pasta-y (just a few bites will fill me right up). As for cravings and giving in, no, you're not the only one who does this. I think we're all different and that it is very hard to tell another person what they should or should not do when cravings arise. I watch my protein and take my vitamins but for the most part, I eat fairly "normal" on a day to day basis. I find that if a craving for a "bad" food comes up, it will either pass quickly or if I give in, the craving goes away and stays away. For example, I was 6 months out and tried some vanilla ice cream because I wasn't feeling well, couldn't eat much of anything and that is what I wanted. I had 2 small bowls of it while I was sick (on two different days) and I had feared it because ice cream was a binge food for me. I used to plow through gallons if I had so much as a taste of it. However, those 2 small bowls that week I was ill satisfied me and I haven't had any since (nor have I craved any). I can name a dozen foods I've had since surgery that might be considered "bad" but if I have a bite or two I can just "move on" and not have it again. I think that everyone needs to know what their limits are and how they react to foods they crave. I eat fairly "normally" now and am off the diet hamster wheel. If giving into a craving would set me off, I would avoid it and I'm sure it could change in the future for me, but everyone is different and everyone needs to monitor themselves and do what works for their food plan and situation.
   — susanje

September 10, 2003
Ok. so chef boy r dee is not gourmet. I personally hate tehm. However it is not like you ate a whole bag of peanut m&ms like somebody near and dear to me ;-0 (Like me for example) ate just the other day. thank God the food police didn't see me. No body here will tell will they??????????
   — **willow**

September 10, 2003
Ha ha. I love that you asked the question. In wk 3 when I was just released to pureed foods, I had trouble not grossing out on everything. Nothing came up but mentally, I "couldn't eat" anything. I, too, craved those. I bought the 7.5 oz Beefaroni which actually had a good protein count. I ate it at home, alone and this was because I ate it one "macaroni elbow" at a time and then spit them back on the spoon so I got the craving taken care of, got the protein and didn't eat the carbs. My kitty ate some of them. It may sound gross and unlady-like but I thik it got me over a hump and I wasn't soooooooo bad.
   — Donya P.




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