Question:
I'll be returning to work soon, 6 weeks post op - and I was wondering how

others handle eating at work? Do you bring everything you need or eat in the cafeteria at work? Could you give me an example of your daily routine? Many thanks for your help!    — mama kay K. (posted on September 19, 2003)

September 18, 2003
When I returned to work it was 2 weeks after my surgery and I was still on pureed food. I usually brought in everything I wanted for the day and I remember I made some chicken soup and put it in the blender. A co-worker looked at it and asked, "What's THAT??" I replyed, "It's soup that I made!" If people are rude enough to comment on another person's food then I think they deserve any type of answer they get. No one at my office, except for my boss, knew I had the surgery. I just didn't want to go through all the chatter early on. Now that I am 6 months out and down 75 lbs. I have spoken about it openly. Getting back to the food issue, due whatever is more convenient for you. You may want to bring your food simply because you know everything that's in it and it will be there for you whenever you are hungry during the day. Cafeteria food can be good if there are good choices for you but there might be some hidden sugar or carbs that may not agree with you. I also bought a small refrig. for my office to keep bottled water, Crystal Lite, yogert, protein shakes (canned) and cottage cheese for a snack.I like having food around (some things never change!) and it's been easier for me. Now for lunch I usually open a 3 0z. pouch of tuna and mix in a little low fat mayo and have that with 1 matzo or some melba toast. Good luck to you!
   — Phyllis H.

September 19, 2003
Hi, I too worried about eating at work. My group eats out everyday. I will still go out once a week for the company and order soup. My co workers are great and each give me a bite of their food.On Monday I pack a lunch box with string cheese, apple sauce,protein drinks and leave it in the refrig. I cleared a drawer in my office and filled it with soup,protein bars,peanut butter crackers. I just want to make sure I have healthy choices to keep myself away from the chip machine.I thought it was going to be an issue but it really is not. I am sure you have some healthy choices in the cafeteria, but be careful. How a food is perpared can change it from healthy to unhealthy.
   — Debra W.

September 19, 2003
When I first went back to work, I used Lipton's Cup-A-Soup. Two packages of that in a big coffee mug with hot water out of the coffee machine makes a nice cup of soup and filled me up for lunch. I think it even has 3 grams of protein per packet. Campbell's makes some nice microwave type soups that are good too. String cheese works nicely as well.
   — Cathy S.

September 19, 2003
I went back to work 3 weeks post-op and am still on soft/pureed foods (although starting to transition to other things). I brought my Carnation Instant Breakfast and Designer Whey Protein powder to work, bought a 1/2 gallon of skim milk which I keep in the refigerator and a hand blender and make a shake for breakfast in the morning. I've been bringing my lunch (one day I bought Wendy's chili) and its been working out fine. We have a water cooler so I get my water from there. I've told everyone here that I've had the surgery so I don't get any raised eyebrows just words of encouragement. Good luck to you.
   — Eric D.

September 19, 2003
I returned to work at two weeks post-op and brought my lunch. I still do unless I plan to go to Wendy's and get Chili or a salad or plan to order Chinese. If I order Chinese, one entree lasts the entire week. I usually eat cottage cheese with diced vegetables now. But when I first came back, I ate canned salmon with red wine vinegar, frozen fish filets that I nuked in the microwave, tuna salad or something like that. I was allowed to start eating raw veggies and fruit at 6 weeks so that broadened my diet a great bit. I bring my food usually since it is so much less expensive than getting something from the deli in our building. I have a protein drink at 10:30 every morning and lunch at one. Then I have a snack, either jerky, nuts, peanut butter and crackers or a piece of fruit at 3:30. Dinner is at home and is ususally about 7. If you like or can tolerate sardines, they are tremendously high in protein and easy to take to work. I buy the 44 cent ones at WalMart.
   — Patty_Butler

September 19, 2003
Probably the only "take-away" message I learned from all those times I joined Weight Watchers was PREPARDNESS. I take my all-day food in a zipper nylon container, mid-morning meal, lunch and mid-afternoon yogart. I cannot count on the cafeteria having "my" food or even know if there are hidden sugars in what they stock. I can't afford to get weak at work because I have to perform my duties. PREPARDNESS is the secret to effortless weight loss at my desk.
   — Margaret G.

September 20, 2003
I bring my lunch without fail. I drink my Carnation Instant Breakfast in the car then have water at my desk until lunch. I bring either dinner leftovers, a "rollup" of meat and cheese or cottage cheese. later, I started to bring cut up fruit for snack. Good luck!
   — Laura B.

September 20, 2003
I would bring cheese and eat tuna. I would drink water all day. I keep it with me so I could eat it when I was suppose to.
   — spring A.