I was banded on 2/4/11 and I'm in the mushy food stage. I've been able to handle any new food really well. I'm looking for high Protein choices to add to the riccotta cheese that I started eating today. I'm really hungry this week, and I think that I may not be eating enough protein. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I'm also wondering how often I should be eating during the day. I'm finding that I get hungry every 2 hours, and I eat about 2 oz of food, or drink 2 oz of a Protein shake. Thanks.

I was banded on 2/7 and also just started the mushies. For Protein I eat tuna, mashed hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese and greek yogurt. I eat about every 3hrs but I also drink Protein drinks between meals. That seems to help. I also eat SF frozen fruit pops if i'm feeling hungry.

Good luck!

Ally

I liked chili the best, oatmeal (not that much Protein but it's filling), bean Soup, I also ate the filling from chicken lettuce wraps (if I was at a restaurant) because it's ground up really small.

I'd do 3 meals, at meal times, if you are hungry have a little more.. i know the information says eat like 1/4 of a cup but thats ridiculous, you can up that a little bit. Then in between supplement with Protein shakes, or have some cottage cheese stuff like that. For me, I was anxious to not have protein shakes anymore so i didn't

It's been a while for me, but I drank MUSCLE MILK LIGHT. I order on ebay just type in muscle milk, and you will get people that have flavors galore. It comes in a powder form, so you need a shaker bottle. I still buy Cookies N CREAM, chocolate Peanut Butter BLEND, strawberry CREAM, vanilla CREAM. That's for my Protein, and it's good for you. Also I get my best prices there threw dealers, and occasionally you will see something that is going to expire with the date, "it's still good." so you will see some cheap prices then.

I bought sugar free pudding cups, cottage cheese, oatmeal, scrambled egg, mashed potatoes/gravy, thicker Soups, trust me you have things in your kitchen that you have hearty to eat.

Another good one is cook 1 cup of rice, when it's done, just kill the heat, and add a can of cream of mushroom soup to it, and mix well. No Water at all. This will last you a while, and any cream of soup will work. Just don't eat to much stuff.

Banded 10/31/2006

Henry Ford Hospital

Greek Yoghurt is good for this stage becuase it has twice the protein of reg. I also add half scoop vanilla whey protein up the level. FYI I add splendra otherwise it's to sour. Are you also eating Low/fat free cottage cheese (chive is nice). Can you have egg whites? I would make egg whites and add cottage cheese at the very end.

Greek Yoghurt is good for this stage becuase it has twice the Protein of reg. I also add half scoop vanilla whey protein up the level. FYI I add splendra otherwise it's to sour. Are you also eating Low/fat free cottage cheese (chive is nice). Can you have egg whites? I would make egg whites and add cottage cheese at the very end.

I agree - Greek yogurt is a great protein source. If it is too tangy for you - try and add a packet of Stevia to it. Add a Tbsp of Peanut Butter for added protein along with the Protein Powder.

And remember you can always try and blend more solid food to puree - add a light gravy to some chicken and blend - or any chunky soup (Beans = protein).

2 oz per meal really isn't much. I don't think I could have lived on that. No wonder you're getting hungry! You should be pretty safe at 4 oz of mushy and then wait awhile before you drink anything.

Thanks for all of the info. I chopped up chicken and added low fat mayo and made chicken salad the other night. It was really good.

Refried beans with a little salsa!

I could not have lived without chili made with both Beans and ground hamburger. I ran it through my food processor until it was pureed together/no chewable chunks and ate it like crazy. High in Protein and it tasted like "real food", so it was satisfying to me.

When I introduced eggs (can't remember which stage-- it was early), I made a crustless quiche by mixing eggs with some cream and soft cheese and baking it for 20 minutes or so. It made the eggs really fluffy and soft and easy to go down (I even think I added some pureed artichoke dip once to give it extra zip). The ricotta-or-cottage cheese topped with marinara is a much quoted goodie- tastes like comfort food.

The hardest thing for me during these early stages was that I tend to be a low-carber and all of the foods you're allowed to eat in the beginning are high in carbs. It was mentally challenging for me. Just remember that this stage is about healing and learning new eating habits (like not drinking while eating, etc.) and give yourself a break on the weight loss until you're back to regular foods and have a good handle on habits.

If you can have canned chicken (my doctor had a week of cottage cheese mushies and the next week I could add canned chicken); adding a wedge of laughing cow low fat cheese is nice. I esp. like that you can microwave it for a few seconds to heat it up.

What helps me, even now, is my Vitamix blender. Or any other high quality food processor blender like Blendtec. I can blend anything in it.

You can make great Soups, smoothies and well, just about anything in it. This way you don't have to rely on canned soups or simple cottage cheese.

They are sort of pricey but worth it in the long run.

I make whole vegetable smoothies, fruit smoothies, home made nut butters, soups, Protein shakes, shaved ice, sorbet, low cal ice cream, hummus, chicken salads...well, the list goes on. I use mine about 4 times a day for myself and my family. I often add in tofu for extra protein without changing the taste.

I got my Vitamix because I simply couldn't get enough greens & nutrients in. The option to make green smoothies & vegetable drinks helps me get in vital nutrition without stretching my pouch, which at one point I did. I'm a vegetarian so I needed ways to get in other Proteins besides shakes. A mixer will help you do that.

You still have to watch calories and intake but a mixer give you some variety and keeps you from getting sick of Protein Shakes.