non solid foods

[Soft*Silver]

I have a little over a week before my surgery. I am told no solid food for one month...then semi solid food for two months after that. Liquid diet? There is no aisle in the grocery store that is for liquid diets!

so...is yogurt a non solid food?

is a milkshake?

how am I suppose to get my veggies? DONT say V8. Hate it. I might tolerate the splash stuff they make. What about protein? I can do without carbs so thats ok.

I was given a blender..that has a small food processor attachment also.

I need your help...some of you are really good foodmasters and mistresses...

I want to eat a balanced diet..help me figure this out please?

[Jesse]

They will give you a list of what you can eat, but generally speaking nonsolid post surgery diets allow the following; jello, applesauce, pudding, ice cream, protein shakes, broth, Ensure, oatmeal, yogurt and just about anything you can put in a blender. If you don't use yogurt be sure and add a good protein powder to your shakes and stuff or you will likely stay hungry.

Jesse

[Liam]

I have a little over a week before my surgery. I am told no solid food for one month...then semi solid food for two months after that. Liquid diet? There is no aisle in the grocery store that is for liquid diets!

so...is yogurt a non solid food?

is a milkshake?

how am I suppose to get my veggies? DONT say V8. Hate it. I might tolerate the splash stuff they make. What about protein? I can do without carbs so thats ok.

I was given a blender..that has a small food processor attachment also.

I need your help...some of you are really good foodmasters and mistresses...

I want to eat a balanced diet..help me figure this out please?

Jello, applesauce, pudding, ice cream, protein drinks, broth, oatmeal, and just about anything you can put in a blender.

You should receive a list of things you can eat, when your surgeon discharges you.

[Gayla]

For fruits and veggies, juicing is a good option. Depending on the type of surgery, you may have to experiment with different kinds of juice. High acidity can cause some problems and certain things like broccoli can result in bloating which could be extra uncomfortable. Don't forget about smoothies with some protein powder or soft tofu thrown in. Google should give you a ton of juicing and smoothie recipes.

Good luck with your surgery. :)

[Laerkin]

I think these other posts have covered most of my ideas. I will say that when my sister's best friend broke her jaw (it involved drinking) and had it wired shut, she could only eat non-solid foods for 6 weeks...

She LIVED off her blender. She got pretty good at putting things in the blender and liquefying them and then mixing them into mashed potatoes and other soft foods to make yummy tasting meals.

My very favorite thing is my juicer. If you know anyone with a juicer they'd loan you, you would LOVE it. You can juice pretty much any fruit or vegetable (except potatoes and bananas) to get a huge dose of vitamins and minerals with a great taste. There are a ton of recipes online for using a juicer. I've juiced celery, garlic, onion, etc and when you mix it with apples and pears it masks the flavor while still delivering the powerful goodness of the veggies.

Good luck!

[Laerkin]

HAHA. Gayla - I totally missed your post.

Sorry for the doubling up folks! ;)

It must be past my bedtime...

[Soft*Silver]

since this is stumach surgery, no foods that will cause bloating should be eaten...

I am glad you all suggested a juicer. I will look for one.

Ensure? mmmm...when I was working with the HIV coalitions, we gave out ensure. It tasted like crap, they said. Has it changed any? Are there any flavors better than others?

[Rockinonahigh]

Oh my,girl I know how u r feeling,been there and done that.A fue years ago I had 5 dental surgeries in 6 weeks..now u know how I like to eat??I was one pissed off fool till I bought a blender and made smoothies,pureed stuff to make soup,made fruit slushies then froze them cause its better than ice cream.Mashed taters can be a base for many things just find what u like that will work.

[PearlsNLace]

If protein shakes are in your list of allowed foods-

Today we found a VERY AFFORDABLE (this is rare) protein powder at Trader Joes, under their brand name.

It was 24 grams of protein, and depending on flavor only one or even NO carbs. This is a good thing- it allows you to add protein to liquids your drinking, and on a liquid diet, finding enough protein can be difficult.

Pearls

[Gayla]

HAHA. Gayla - I totally missed your post.

Sorry for the doubling up folks! ;)

It must be past my bedtime...

:) There can never be too much juice info!

softness - I pretty much lived on mashed potatoes after my recent surgery. I was only on non solids for a few days but they were like the best thing ever. The instant one's in the cups, they're quick and easy and oddly satisfying. Di also made me some with cream cheese so I could at least tell myself it was a little bit of protein.

Since it's stomach surgery, you may find that you react to things differently than before surgery. I'd say stock up on easy stuff until you're up and around - applesauce, jello, etc. - and then try things a little bit at a time until you see what works for you.

I don't know if Ensure tastes better than it used to but there are other options and they are usually available in a regular grocery store. I liked the chocolate Boost but any of the meal replacement drinks would probably work.

[Rockinonahigh]

I agree with Pearls,the protein shakes are pretty good.The fremch vanilla and double dutch chocolate is good..it wasnt enshure tho..cant think of the name at the moment.

[Luv]

Campbells makes Soup On Hand,,its soup already pureed and its actually pretty good. Also sugar free jello and pudding,,sugar free popsicles. I found also that Atkins has some tasty protein drinks,,2 types of chocolate.reg vanilla and creamy vanilla and strawberry..has 1 gram of sugar and 15 g of protein in them..

I had gastric bypass 2 1/2 yrs ago and these are what I used.

Whey also has protein powder you can use and even some un-flavored that you can put into chili before your puree it..I used to get a small Wendys chili and put a teaspoon full of protein powder and puree it in the blender..you can always add a little low fat cheese.

[WhiteTigress]

If you like yogurt, I would suggest Greek yogurt. It's higher in protein, and it will hold you over a lot better.

You mentioned veggies, and then later said you are fine with skipping carbs. Be aware, veggies, grains, potatoes, fruit (including juices) are ALL carbs. You may be talking about skipping starches or free sugars, but you need to remember what many forget...carbs are everywhere.

WT

[Soft*Silver]

exactly! This is what I am worried about, getting enough protein. I dont want to blast my body with carbs. I know mashed pots are a good base but it cant be the main staple of my diet.

I am going to call them and ask them for a list of foods I can and cannot eat.


If protein shakes are in your list of allowed foods-

Today we found a VERY AFFORDABLE (this is rare) protein powder at Trader Joes, under their brand name.

It was 24 grams of protein, and depending on flavor only one or even NO carbs. This is a good thing- it allows you to add protein to liquids your drinking, and on a liquid diet, finding enough protein can be difficult.

Pearls

[Soft*Silver]

oooo...I eat almost nothing that comes in a box or an instant package mix. I am really worried that this alone is going to affect me. I want to try to blend and juice as much as I can. My stumach is quite sensitive. but then, maybe after surgery it wont be.

[QUOTE=gayla;180105]:) There can never be too much juice info!

softness - I pretty much lived on mashed potatoes after my recent surgery. I was only on non solids for a few days but they were like the best thing ever. The instant one's in the cups, they're quick and easy and oddly satisfying. Di also made me some with cream cheese so I could at least tell myself it was a little bit of protein.

[Soft*Silver]

whats going to make this very hard on me is that I NEED my food to have a crunch to it. Textures are important. I am a very oral person and to sip liquid for three months is going to make me crazy... :|

[Sachita]

juicing for sure. your'll feel great too. try soy milk with hemp protein powder. stay away from sugary protein shakes. Linus posted a link some time ago for

Amazon.com: Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer Chocolate By Vega - 37.8 Ounces: Beauty

its a complete vegan meal replacement. I think it taste ok. you could live on it. its pricey but has everything you need vitamin wise, probotics, fiber. But remember you'll feel more full with good proteins like this and veggies- juicing and staying away from carbs. also the juicing will seriously jumpstart your healing.

kiss

[Gayla]

oooo...I eat almost nothing that comes in a box or an instant package mix. I am really worried that this alone is going to affect me. I want to try to blend and juice as much as I can. My stumach is quite sensitive. but then, maybe after surgery it wont be.

Yeah, I ate way too much packaged stuff after my thyroid surgery in January but I spent a lot of time awake in the middle of the night and it was the easiest thing for me to eat when I couldn't stand up long enough to even really nuke stuff.

Di suggested Instant Breakfast, which has lots of vitamins, some protein and if you make it with soy or almond milk there isn't the lactose issue that might be an issue. It was one of her staples. She also did this weird thing where she pureed a hard boiled egg with a little bit of water. She said it was almost like egg salad. And she liked cream of wheat.

[Toughy]

I think these other posts have covered most of my ideas. I will say that when my sister's best friend broke her jaw (it involved drinking) and had it wired shut, she could only eat non-solid foods for 6 weeks...

She LIVED off her blender. She got pretty good at putting things in the blender and liquefying them and then mixing them into mashed potatoes and other soft foods to make yummy tasting meals.

My very favorite thing is my juicer. If you know anyone with a juicer they'd loan you, you would LOVE it. You can juice pretty much any fruit or vegetable (except potatoes and bananas) to get a huge dose of vitamins and minerals with a great taste. There are a ton of recipes online for using a juicer. I've juiced celery, garlic, onion, etc and when you mix it with apples and pears it masks the flavor while still delivering the powerful goodness of the veggies.

Good luck!

I had my jaw wired shut for 6 weeks (it's a good story....laughin.......) and I have to tell you............a blender and a juicer will save your life. Everything I ate had to be sucked through a straw. I actually had Thanksgiving dinner through a straw.......turkey, dressing, taters, cranberry sauce and gravy blended smoothly and sucked through a straw. It was tasty!!!!

I did loose about 25-30 lbs...which I did not have to loose. I could not get enough calories in my system.....I was 26yrs old, a jock and could eat enormous amounts of food (think 16 yr old boy) and never gain weight....and I'm still that way.

So get a blender and a juicer.........and remember you need protein every day.

[T D]

Pure Protein makes a very tasty shake. I mix the chocolate and banana together, it's yummmmy. Something like 2 grams of sugar, 3 grams of carbs, and 35 grams of protein. They also make the powder so that you can mix up your own batch of protein. Check it out!

[Outlaw]

since this is stumach surgery, no foods that will cause bloating should be eaten...

I am glad you all suggested a juicer. I will look for one.

Ensure? mmmm...when I was working with the HIV coalitions, we gave out ensure. It tasted like crap, they said. Has it changed any? Are there any flavors better than others?


Ensure tastes better with ice, lots and lots of ice, I would add crushed ice or even put a can in the freezer to make it as cold as possible without freezing!

[Soft*Silver]

I did get a blender/food processor from someone on freecycle!

Yeah my Dr said I will lose weight. And the tummy roll I have had for a couple years (that came on suddenly) will also disappear. Its caused by my hernia. No wonder now matter how much I exercised,I couldnt get rid of it. People kept telling me my body was changing because I was getting older. Not so!


I had my jaw wired shut for 6 weeks (it's a good story....laughin.......) and I have to tell you............a blender and a juicer will save your life. Everything I ate had to be sucked through a straw. I actually had Thanksgiving dinner through a straw.......turkey, dressing, taters, cranberry sauce and gravy blended smoothly and sucked through a straw. It was tasty!!!!

I did loose about 25-30 lbs...which I did not have to loose. I could not get enough calories in my system.....I was 26yrs old, a jock and could eat enormous amounts of food (think 16 yr old boy) and never gain weight....and I'm still that way.

So get a blender and a juicer.........and remember you need protein every day.

[Sachita]

oh if you ever get a juicer get a breville ? is that right? its only 89.00 and I went through a few before finding this. It has a container to hold and cover but honestly you should drink juice as soon as its ready to get the benefits.

I'm sure you have tons of stuff you can juice in your garden. Green tomatoes are great juiced and healthy, juice sweet potatos, greens anything.

Honestly if I had to do this and wanted to heal I would not put any processed chemical based drinks in my mouth. If you can have more then clear liquids just make your shake, use soy milk, fresh raw organic eggs, fruit, black strap molasses, maybe hemp oil and hemp seed or protein, all stuff you can buy cheap, natural.

more later

[ComparedToWhom]

I, too, had my jaws wired+additional surgeries due to an athletic injury when I was younger and lived off a liquid diet for over 4 months (and continued to compete in my sport at that!). You CAN eat a balanced diet as just about anything can be liquefied. Since I have the metabolism of a hummingbird I consume a significant amount of calories via shakes on a daily basis. In fact, I begin everyday with a shake that includes milk, fruit, protein powder, lots of steel cut oatmeal, sometimes even high fiber cereal thrown in if needed. As far as protein specifics, I'd suggest obtaining both Whey and Casein if your doc allows, as well as stocking your fridge with no-salt cottage cheese. I can't stand cc by itself but I eat cups of it everyday blended in my shakes (I know, sound gross, but blends & tastes great, especially with flavored protein powder). I say no-salt since regular CC is loaded with sodium. I'd also suggest adding Blackstrap Molasses (again, if doc allows) as it's loaded with vitamins, particularly iron, which is something that can be challenging to get on a liquid diet. Best of wishes to you and hope all goes well!:goodluck:

[MsTinkerbelly]

since this is stumach surgery, no foods that will cause bloating should be eaten...

I am glad you all suggested a juicer. I will look for one.

Ensure? mmmm...when I was working with the HIV coalitions, we gave out ensure. It tasted like crap, they said. Has it changed any? Are there any flavors better than others?


My Mom LOVED the strawberries and cream flavor, and I drink one when I wake up with low blood sugar and they aren't half bad. Buy the store brand though...less money, tastes the same.

[Abigail Crabby]

I had surgery that required me to stay on liquids, then mushy stuff for a few weeks.

The blender didn't cut it for me - I missed having stuff I liked to taste.

So I eBay'd and found voila

http://www.crossfitinvictus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the-magic-bullet.jpg

Best 30.00 I ever spent. You can pulverize almost everything into mushy yummmmmmy goodness with this lol

[Soft*Silver]

Iwill post it on freecycle and see if I can nab one! Thanks Abbie!

[iamkeri1]

Hi Softness,
Found this link for non solid food for post gastric bypass surgery, it's oretty detailed.

http://www.coastalobesity.com/redesign/Patient_Login/post_operative_guidelines_gastric_bypass.asp

Also for protein, when I was on a low carb diet, I drank slim-fast low-carb drinks (NOT the protein drink, the low carb drink) 20 grams of protein per drink which I personally found delicious.
Good luck and speedy recovery
Smooches,
Keri

PS Adkins also has a low carb drink with 15 grams of protein, but they caused me a lot of gas and other stomach distress (plus they have an after taste that stays with you all day) The slim fast caused me none of these problems.

[Miss Scarlett]

I agree with White Tigress. If you can have yogurt then definitely go with the Greek yogurts made by Fage or Dannon. The Yoplait version is not the same - they added milk protein concentrate, kosher gelatin, vitamin A acetate and vitamin D3. Also it has 100 cal, 10g carbs and only 14g protein in a 6oz cup.

The Fage and Dannon are just the milk and cultures with no additives. Fage Total 0% Plain has 90 ca, 15g protein, 6.7g carbs in a 6oz cup. It's very good but pricey - about $1.59 - $1.99 each depending on the store (Target and Trader Joe's having the lowest prices). The Dannon Plain has 80 cal, 15 g protein and 6g carbs in a 5.3 oz cup. It runs between $1 and $1.29 each here - the lowest price found at WalMart.

Flavour wise - Fage is not as tart as the Dannon. Both are very good. The Dannon tastes pretty much like their regular plain yogurt. Both brands have flavoured versions too but watch out for the added sugars.

I have had a container for breakfast every morning since late October 2007. Doesn't sound like much but it really stays with me - I don't get hungry until right before lunch and my blood sugar doesn't crash like it used to.