Cleared for regular food

[anna9/15 93]

Is there really any food restrictions?

[Trinn 139]

You're going to find them on your own, some of them. For example, I'm on regular food, and last night we had chili for the first time since my surgery. I didn't even try to eat the beef in it -- just spooned some of the liquid part and some Beans over a little chicken breast piece. Had a few bites and nope, nope, it wasn't happening. I felt queasy and gross and couldn't manage much more of it.

In general, what "regular food" has meant for me is really simple foods -- chicken breast, turkey slice, fresh mozzarella -- and not complicated mixes of foods.

[Trinn 139]

Oh, and in general, "regular food" means "regular food as listed in your dietary guidelines." So, you probably have some nutritional info provided, and regular foods are going to be listed on that. It doesn't mean "whatever you ate before" -- it means, "things on this list, and you don't have to puree them in advance."

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

For me the only food restrictions I have are self imposed. I don't eat much bread, white rice, regular Pasta, crackers, etc... I'm vegetarian so I don't eat beef, poultry, fish or pork but everything I like I can eat with no problems. I don't eat a lot of processed foods or fast foods. Spicy foods are no trouble. I put hot sauce on darn near everything

[anna9/15 93]

The reason im asking is my nut gave me a list of high protien foods for my intake but also said i can eat what i had beforr just in lesser amounts since i have a smaller tummy, so if i was in a bind and had to run to a drive thru and ordered a chicken sandwich and removed the bun would that be ok...just trying to see if i can find some balance in this lifestyle change

[anna9/15 93]

Or if i went to jimmy johns..would a unwhich be ok..i understand staying away from carbs and things just trying to balance my old habits and new life until i mentally get things together

Like if we ordered chinese i can order chicken and broccli instead of something heavier

[Trinn 139]

Your nutritionist is the best place to start. I have no idea what the menu of Jimmy Johns is like. What I'm going to tell you is that initially, you will not want to try raw veggies -- lettuce and like that, and extra chunky/crunchy vegetables like broccoli. They're just hard to chew into tiny pieces, and take extra effort to digest. You can try them, but remember, you are going to want to eat the Protein first, and after you've had the right amount of that (2 oz, probably, right now), then you can try a bite of the vegetable. Lots of folks have problems getting to the vegetables at all.

Look, the bottom line is that while you will probably be able to eat small amounts of those things eventually, right now you need to be gradually adding foods, sticking mostly to lean Protein with not a lot of veggies, and no raw veggies. So, it looks like the Jimmy John's unwich is a sandwich wrapped in lettuce -- you can probably eat the lean meats and cheese, but the lettuce is going to be a problem. It gets stuck really easily.

For chinese, when I first had that, I stuck with the Soup (hot & sour) and ate the *inside* of one pot sticker -- just meat part, no wrapper -- and that was plenty. You need to remember that at this point, chicken and broccoli *is* "something heavier" than what you can eat for a while.

[Trinn 139]

For me the only food restrictions I have are self imposed. I don't eat much bread, white rice, regular Pasta, crackers, etc... I'm vegetarian so I don't eat beef, poultry, fish or pork but everything I like I can eat with no problems. I don't eat a lot of processed foods or fast foods. Spicy foods are no trouble. I put hot sauce on darn near everything

Were you eating spicy foods as soon as you got cleared for regular food? Because you know, I love spicy stuff, but at 8 weeks out, I can't do that right now. It makes me really queasy.

[anna9/15 93]

Your nutritionist is the best place to start. I have no idea what the menu of Jimmy Johns is like. What I'm going to tell you is that initially, you will not want to try raw veggies -- lettuce and like that, and extra chunky/crunchy vegetables like broccoli. They're just hard to chew into tiny pieces, and take extra effort to digest. You can try them, but remember, you are going to want to eat the Protein first, and after you've had the right amount of that (2 oz, probably, right now), then you can try a bite of the vegetable. Lots of folks have problems getting to the vegetables at all.

Look, the bottom line is that while you will probably be able to eat small amounts of those things eventually, right now you need to be gradually adding foods, sticking mostly to lean Protein with not a lot of veggies, and no raw veggies. So, it looks like the Jimmy John's unwich is a sandwich wrapped in lettuce -- you can probably eat the lean meats and cheese, but the lettuce is going to be a problem. It gets stuck really easily.

For chinese, when I first had that, I stuck with the Soup (hot & sour) and ate the *inside* of one pot sticker -- just meat part, no wrapper -- and that was plenty. You need to remember that at this point, chicken and broccoli *is* "something heavier" than what you can eat for a while.

I keep hearing about this soup and maybe egg drop soup. .

[magtart 603]

Egg drop Soup is good. Maybe something with shrimp.

[Trinn 139]

Egg drop was on my allowed for Clear liquids, and it made me so happy to eat it! Hot and sour often has tofu (which I don't really like, but it's okay in tiny cubes in the soup) and is tangy. Other than that, I would suggest egg foo yung, which is sort of omelet-like, and things that are simple stirfried meats with simple veggies that are not fiberous. Pumpkin/squash/sweet potato are easier to eat than broccoli. :-) And like I said, I got creative and ate the inside of the pot sticker. As a warning, though, when I tried to eat the outside, I ended up getting sick and barfing -- the Gummy texture of the dough was just too much.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@anna9/15 - I would try a plain fast food chicken sandwich over Jimmy Johns unless you just plan to eat the lunch meat only. Just be careful because sometimes when meat are too dry they can be difficult to digest. Just be careful that fast food is not a main part of your daily diet. Even sleeved you can regain if you eat too much of the wrong thing. You would be better off cooking a chicken breast at home and eating it with a little light gravy to keep it moist. Also remember to eat slow and take small bites. Eventually you'll be able to bite and chew normally but as you re-introduce food you want to take it slow.

@@Trinn - I was using Sriracha probably around week 3 or 4. I just added a splash to my Soup or veg broth. I just didn't use as much as I usually do. I pulled back when I had issues with acid around month 3 - 6 but other than that time period I use it all the time.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

The reason im asking is my nut gave me a list of high protien foods for my intake but also said i can eat what i had beforr just in lesser amounts since i have a smaller tummy, so if i was in a bind and had to run to a drive thru and ordered a chicken sandwich and removed the bun would that be ok...just trying to see if i can find some balance in this lifestyle change

I try to keep a stash of Snacks in my car so I don't make bad food choices. I keep Protein bars and single serving packs of nuts, usually pistachios, almonds or cashews. I've heard others also keep Jerky or dried meats.

My go to fast food is a Dunkin Donuts egg & cheese wake up wrap. I peel off half the tortilla so I'm mostly eating egg and cheese.< /p>

The next time your NUT gives you a list, ask her these same questions and write the answers on the list so you have it for future reference.

[magtart 603]

I hesitate to bring this up, but the owner of Jimmy John's is a notorious big game trophy hunter. I can't bring myself to buy food from him.

[umo 86]

Hey,

I find that regular food just means what my stomach can tolerate now and is not in a puree state. Some foods I ate before just can't stay down so while the fast food you had before might still seem acceptable in your head, the stomach might not cooperate when you try it. Like someone said keep Snacks that you have already tried and are sure you can eat.