How do I know how much to eat?

[GottaDoSomethin' 31]

I'm two weeks out and starting soft foods. I'm having a hard time gauging how much to eat at once. I have noticed I can eat one boiled egg and half a cheese stick but anything more makes me feel right in my throat. Tonight I tried soft meat and what I thought was a right size portion. I felt good so I ate two more bites and now I have the fullness pressure. We are supposed to stop before this point, right? How do I know when to stop before the pain begins? I'm thinking particularly with new foods. Once I eat it, I get how much I need...

[pik 262]

You need to weigh or measure your food. Your dietitian should have given you some information on how much you should be able to eat in increments and the amount goes up over time. I am not right with my info but when I get to it I will try and post again.

The texture of the food makes a difference as well.

I would say that you should stop before you get to that point. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

[Forsythia 882]

A food scale is quite helpful. There might come a point in time where you can eyeball 2oz of chicken, but to start off, get a food scale that allows you to tare out the weight of your plate/bowl and weigh out 2 to 3 oz of food. Mine is an Ozeri and cost about $20 on Amazon.

You might be able to eat a lot of cheerios, but only a very small portion of chicken or tuna or turkey. Dense foods take up more space and you end up eating less turkey lunch meat than you would that bowl of cream of chicken Soup.

The first two weeks I was home I got a pang when I hit my stop point. Now at almost 3 months I don't get that at all. It's up to me to be mindful of what I am eating, and how fast. And also working past that brain want vs legit stomach need. Brain wants an 8 oz fliet mignon done medium rare with a nice twice baked potato on the side. Stomach says no. LOL.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Forsythia

[Zane's Mom 184]

I bought the scale but haven't used it yet. I'm 6 weeks out. I have to take about three bites and wait. I get the hiccups when I am full. That's my signal.

Wait between bites and let your stomach have time to tell you that's enough.

[tiredmama 137]

For me, 1/4 - 1/2 cup total per meal. I tend to just eat one item but if I wanted to eat more than one I would divide up those ounces between them. I can eat more if it is very liquidy like yogurt or broth.< /p>

[mi75 1,235]

Like Zane's Mom, i bought a scale and it's still in the box. my nut gave me a guide and it's supposed to be about 1/3-1/2 cup each time i eat.

i eat slowly and take 4-5 bites and my sleeve TELLS me when i'm full. i can now gauge the 'full' feeling when i am full but could squeeze one more bite in if i had to. i've tried that a couple times but then am terribly uncomfortable for a good 40 minutes.