Question:
What about eating ketchup, hot sauce, mustard, etc?

My surgery is scheduled for 4/18/01 and I am investigation the do's and dont's after WLS. I have thoroughly read about all of the foods that I can and cannot eat, but what about condiments. No one mentioned condiments! For instance, ketchup, hot sauce, mustard, Miracle Whip/Mayo (I prefer Miracle Whip), relish, etc. These are important in my everyday ingestion of foods. Please advise. In advance, thank you.    — kle713 (posted on March 25, 2001)

March 25, 2001
I had open RNY/fobi style almost a year ago. I can eat any condiment I've tried. However, I had a bad dumping episode early on with sweet n sour sauce (just a tiny bit!). The same thing might happen with ketchup. However, it also may pass so you'll be able to use these later. You should have no problems with low fat Mayo/Miracle Whip, relish, mustard, hot sauce, salsa and such. Just try small amounts the first time.
   — Cindy H.

March 25, 2001
Oh, where would I be without my hot sauce? I have taken to dipping meats, fish and chicken in Louisiana Hot Sauce and skipping fatty gravies and sauces from the cafeteria at work. Had the turkey and dressing special last week (1/2 of it anyway) and dipped the turkey in mustard instead of slathering it all in gravy. Funny thing, from time to time, hot sauces loses their potency, and I can't even taste the hot. I'm currently on a jalepeno salsa kick as I can't taste anything milder.
   — Allie B.

March 25, 2001
The only one in that list I'd worry about AT ALL is ketchup, because of high sugar. I still use it, but not as generously. If you are having RNY,you are going to malabsorb some fats anyway, so that's not a problem. I am assuming you're not talking 1/2C of MW per sandwich, just a nice dollop on things? Mustard is all vinegar, so it may burn, at first. I'd not do these things for a little while, then add them in one at a time to be sure they still agree with your tongue & pouch. I use condiments normally now (and have for 6+ yrs). I just avoid milk & sugar. Always have, always will.
   — vitalady

March 25, 2001
My nutritionist says that mayo is very good after surgery. It can be mixed in tuna and canned chicken or salmon post op so the meat consistency is more moist. Also we NEED some daily fats and we can find these easily in mayo or margarine.....mustard has very little sugar in it and i could cause a little of indigestion at first but always look at the calories and sugar contents of condiments because we are only consuming x-amount of calories a day and make sure your calories are coming from foods useful to your healing and weight loss goals.
   — Tracy L.

March 25, 2001
Ilove mustard mixed with mayo on my sandwiches. At home, I use diet mayo. I've noticed that sauces such as Heinz 57 or A1 steak sauce on meats help you to salavate more so anything baked will go down easier. I'm no longer eating french fries(I was a FF junkie before surgery) so I have not tried it since October.
   — Jan M.

March 26, 2001
Many post-ops find that they have a newly acquired preference for spicier foods. Some of us even carry small bottles of tabasco sauce in the glove compartment. What we don't use on our food, we can always use to de-ice the front window.
   — [Anonymous]