Question:
What volume of salad should I be eating?

I add 3 ounces of grilled chicken or fat free cheese to get my protein, tomoatoes and fat free croutons...a few. How much salad should I be eating. I am 3 mos post-op.RNY    — Lisa P. (posted on June 27, 2004)

June 27, 2004
I was told not to eat salad until 6 month because it will feeling you up and it is hard to digest and you don't get what you should get in protein.
   — poppink

June 27, 2004
I dont really remember when I started eating salad, but if I eat it without chicken, I can eat alot, seems to go right through me. Cant get full from just lettuce. Im 15 months out. 262/145
   — Carrie W.

June 27, 2004
I am 11 months post-op and I have never eaten lettuce since before my WLS. I was told it does not have any nutient value, and feels you up with no protein. I have salads all of the time, but with everything except lettuce and have not missed it yet. I eat cheese, olives, chicken or turkey, peas, red kidney beans, egg, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, bean spouts, and Ranch Dressing, and I do not miss having lettuce at all. Sometimes I will have alittle spinach, but not often, all of the above are protein except for the dressing. They look at me like I am crazy when I order a cobb salad without lettuce, but when I eat at a salad bar there is no problem.
   — cindy

June 27, 2004
I was not allowed lettuce until about 4-5 mos. out. All you're going to get from it is a feeling of fullness because chewed properly it goes down to nearly nothing. I do eat salads now. Of one of those MacDonald's grilled chicken salads, I can eat about 1/3 to 1/2 of those before I'm filled. One of those makes at least 2 meals for me, sometimes more.
   — Cathy S.

June 27, 2004
Lisa- I couldn't really process salad for about 8 months following my gastric bypass. Like the other posters have stated, early on it is not a good choice as there is relatively little protein. Also, as healthy as the tomato is, it is a food relatively high in carbohydrates (as are the croutons, regardless of their fat content).
   — SteveColarossi

June 27, 2004
I ate salad at about two to three months out. I had a tiny bit of greens, one to two pieces of tomato, and the rest was proteins (cheese, nuts, diced meat, etc.) I had no problem tolerating it but could only eat about 1/2 cup. I can eat around a cup to a cup and a half now at nine months out.
   — scbabe

June 27, 2004
I was given the go to eat salad at 8 weeks. You can eat alot of fresh veggies (more than you think you would be able to) because fresh vegetables are made of mostly water, and when you chew them down, they chew to almost nothing. The only vegetables that I avoid is celery, because it has alot of stringy fibers on it that you can't chew down, and they will block your stoma (like Orange juice pulp). Enjoy your salad! Denise 316/158
   — lily1968

June 29, 2004
Basically you can eat salad until you feel full. Depending on what is in the salad, that can be quite alot. Lettuce does chew down to liquid so you can eat more of it. I love salads, and have them several times a week for lunch and I think I had my first one around 6 weeks post-op. Now I put spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, kidney beans, hard boiled egg, carrots, broccoli and either grilled chicken or deli turkey/ham or grilled steak on top. YUM...
   — Cindy R.