Question:
What foods are you tolerating.

I cannot tolerate chicken boiled, stewed or roasted even if I chew it until there is no flavor left Ugh!. Refried beans make me full after 2 spoons. I can tolerate steamed salmon, lightly scambled eggs, apples with the skin, cottage cheese with a little peaches, steamed shrimp, baked potato and baked macaroni with cheese. I can eat about 1-2 ounces at a meal and make sure the protein are first so that leaves little room for the potatoes or macaroni (about 1 spoon at a time). I want to try salad tomato and lettuce I never liked dressing so that won't be a problem. I have been afraid of onions because it might give me heartburn (I think, not sure). Another thing I cannot do is have left overs because the food gets too over cooked to eat - so this is going to be a bit expensive - Usually the hubby and boys eat up everything, but they have no interest in my steamed foods - it is hard to steam 2 ounces of food at a time. Any suggestions on other foods to start trying that have protein value. Thanks all.    — Anna M. (posted on December 31, 2003)

January 1, 2004
Try string cheese, peanut butter, lo-fat, sugar free yogurt. It's ok if you can only eat a few bites. I think that's normal at your stage (in fact, I'm sure some people will tell you that you shouldn't be eating food at all. My dr disagreed with liquid diets after surgery but I did use protein shakes (add ice cubes and a little fruit) sometimes and a piece of hi-protein bar, also add a little unflavored protein powder to the combination foods you are eating. I even made homemade turkey chili using ground turkey, chili mix (following instructions), and kidney beans. I put the turkey in the food processor after cooking it. I ate what I wanted and froze small containers (1/2 cup at a time) of the rest. I enjoyed that for several months. A very inexpensive lunch. I also tried some egg drop soup made from Knorr's Hot and Sour soup mix adding Egg Beaters for the protein as the egg drop part. Doesn't hurt to reheat this. Good luck.
   — lharbison

January 1, 2004
Wow! Bummer! I can't imagine being so limited in what I eat. <p> I'm 9.5 months out, eat everything except milk and sugar, I really have to stay away from carbs, in general. I dump BIG TIME, and even a quarter apple with a bunch of cheese or peanut butter will make me take the BIG NAP sometimes. <p> I eat all kinds of meat, love fried chicken, salads, etc. I eat cheese, I especially like the "juicy" ones, as my 3 y/o friend says. Brie, camembert, etc. I haven't met a food I couldn't eat, but most carbs have a price to pay, dumping or gas. <p> My first thought is that because you're dry cooking meats (or cooking without fats), maybe you're having more problems. Has your doc told you you have to eat very low fat? And if so, why? <p> If you have a shorty li'l bypass, you may have to watch your fat intake, but a no-fat diet is not good for anyone. We need about 15% fat in our diets in order to burn fat, and fat provides satisfaction. Carbs and sugars make us crave more. <p> A distal bypass means you don't have to worry about the fat in the diet near as much. I'm so distal, I can't eat enough fat. I take fat supplements! (Coromega, it's good stuff! VitaLady.com) <p> If I were you, I'd try a few bites of grilled, juicy, tender steak. Early on, I ate a little veg to provide a nice bed for the meat first. Then a few bites of meat. And try not to worry about eating much at first, instead try to let your bod get used to the meat. Eat a few more veg. <p> Try meat once or twice a day, a little at a time. I don't eat really processed lunch meats, but good deli meats like natural roast beef or turkey are wonderful. A chicken wing, fried or baked is a staple.
   — RWH G.

January 1, 2004
For some reason, when I answered your post, I thought you had said you were 9 months out. <p> If you're a real newbie, stick to the softer foods for a while . . . we do clear liquids for a month, then we start soft foods, and can eat food as tolerated soon after. Doc says that chewing anything well enough makes it soft food. <p> And are you doing protein shakes? :o)
   — RWH G.

January 1, 2004
I don't know what the nutrition plan your surgeon recommends, but I would follow that. I would focus more on your protein drinks to get your protein intake up and then try adding some in with solids. Most say you need 60 grams of protein at a minimum. And just because chicken does not set well with you now does not mean it wont work next week. I had a problem with scrambled eggs at first, when I was told I could add them into my diet they made me sick. I tried them a few more times over the next few weeks and finally this week they no longer make me sick. So what a week or two and try the chicken again. Cheese and peanut butter and shell fish are also good options to try. I would stay away from beef and prok for awhile, they are harder to digest. I read your profile and I am curious about the vitamin water. You say it has B-12 in it, but I was told after RNY surgery our bodies cannot process B-12 through our digestive system, it must go directly into the blood stream by either subingual or a shot.
   — Tricia S.