So I thought this was a relevant topic given the upcoming holiday weekend. I'm going to a cookout Friday night and not sure what to eat. I'm still on the soft food phase but at my last appointment was told I could start real food in about 10 days (which would be this Sunday). Do I push it and try to eat meat 2 days early or just stick to soft foods? So far, all I can think of is deviled eggs, baked beans and potato salad.

I had a hard time at first with solid foods. I found I could eat turkey burgers as long as they were not overcooked. I cut them up into small pieces and put a laughing cow light garlic cheese spread over the burger meat helps it go down. Remember to not skip a meal because you are going to the cookout. Plan ahead, because there will be tons of options that you will not be able to eat and if you do it will make you really sick. I take my lunch box with me everywhere. Now my friends and family are also adjusting to my new eating habits.

Good luck..

Maritza

meat can be tricky, especially at first. I'd probably stick to soft stuff, just to be safe. It's no fun to have a stuck incident---especially at a party.

All of the soft party food will taste really good to you--you won't have to feel deprived :biggrin:

Baked beans

hummus

fruit salad

some grilled veggies

grilled tomatoes

Stick with soft stuff and slowly work up to firm proteins, getting stuck in public is no fun and you dont know how you will react so soon after surgery. The flip side is since you have not eaten much of late, anything will taste good! I was able to eat the meat of hotdogs without the casing, if I cut it up small and chewed well, but not hamburgers. Chicken was ok if it was moist, small and well chewed...

Deviled eggs, Beans....Bring a dish to share that you CAN eat. Make chicken salad or the like. meat is till tough for me and I am 7 months out. It is hit or miss. Don't push it.

Bring your own stuff and tell people (if you are not sharing your surgery) that you have developed allergies lately and the doc is putting you on a regulated plan.

I wish I had not been so open. Now people ask me all the time why I am cheating if I have a cracker with cheese at a party. My friend's 90 year old Grandma asked me what my doctor would say if he saw me eating veggies with dip (FF btw). I responded with "Same thing yours would".LOL

I was at a cookout last weekend and they had some crackers, cheese and meats out, so I had a few small pieces of turkey--which worked.

I've also eaten about 1/4 of a hotdog at a cook out before. It worked for me because my son ate the rest and I could just tell people I was sharing with him if they asked me about it.

I always find cookout-esque foods to be the most difficult. I'm fine at almost any kind of restaurant, but have found myself at a friend's barbecue with only hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken and corn to work with. Hopefully at yours there will be some soft stuff but if not, there's always the "just got over the stomach flu" thing I've had to go with a couple times in the early going.

Best of luck!

I feel you, as I had to do a cookout when I was just at the solid food stage and it was all people who don't know. I chose a hotdog, placed it in the bun and covered it with a bit of mustard and a spoon of the beans. At the table, it looked perfectly natural to use a fork and knife as it was all goopy, so no one was the wiser. I made sure to push bun out of the way as I cut it into smaller bits which mixed into the beans. i found the hot dog to be easy to chew and swallow, with no concern about it being over cooked or tough. all in all, it was a sucessful outing that i plan to repeat! good luck!

i wouldn't do meat either, i would do grilled veggies and mashed potatoes, or anything soft.....goodluck and have fun!!!:smile2:

You can always say your going vegetarian!

Chew chew chew chew and eat slowly I have tolerated everything very well, just chew and take your time. Good luck!!

It depends on what you can eat. For instance, it is easier for me to eat a turkey burger than it is for me to eat baked beans or cheesy potatoes. I would take it very, very slow since you are so soon out of surgery, but I could eat just about anything after surgery since I didn't have much of a fill. Once you start eating little bites and chewing well, you will be able to gauge what you can eat. good luck.

I'm only 29 days out of surgery and I started eating real food during the second week slowly and by the beginning of the third week I was totally eating. I've had no trouble with any food at all. When I went back to the doctor at my two week post op checkup, she told me that was fine. I believe it is what your stomach can tolerate. I've had steak, hamburger, shrimp, fish of course, chicken, turkey. So far so good. Just take small bites and chew, chew, chew.

Deviled eggs and baked Beans shouldn't be a problem. I'd stay clear of the potato salad. Too many carbs. I have noticed when I do eat carbs, that I tend to have a few stomach issues, so I try to stay clear of them.

Hope this helps and have a great time at the cookout.

Wanda:smile:

Potato salad is really hard for me...Every time I have tried it I have had a stuck episode. Actually, any potatoes(baked or fried) don't work for me. The baked beans are usually ok if they still have a lot of liquid in them. I usually do not try meat at a cook out. I usually just drink a Muscle Milk shake before I go and eat lightly. I would rather socialize than be uncomfortable with food that will not go down. Make a plate....take a few bites here and there...move the food around with your fork....then put your napkin in your plate. Usually no one really notices unless you bring attention to it. I have had to really work on this because at first I felt really cheated that I couldn't eat. It is a "mind" thing. :cursing:

Probably too late of a suggestion now, but I'd bring a piece of fish and some veggie kabobs to share. Something like salmon can be thrown on the BBQ with delicious results and the kabobs will help fill you up and make you look like you are really eating.

Good luck!

kagead