Good Morning!

Today I am finally able to chew food!! I am having ground been in gravy for lunch, and I couldn't be happier. I am trying to broaden my food choices, so I bought some tuna and canned chicken breast. However, I always so used to eating it on a toasted sandwich with pickles and chips inside for crunch. I am one of those people that need my food to crunch. I obviousley can't do the toast and chips, but do you think I could put the tuna or chicken on a cracker? I know people have said crackers and bread are hard to eat after banding, but I figured if I only gave myself like 4 crackers, and really chewed it to mush, how that would be. Any thoughts?

My doctor told me to have WASA crackers (crackerbread) only. They are in the cracker section and come in different varities. I have enjoyed them and so has my son. Perfect subsitute for bread and crackers.

You might be able to do toast, especially if you haven't had a fill yet. I've even seen some people say that they can do toast but they can't do regular bread.

I've had 1 fill (going for my next fill this afternoon)and I can eat whole wheat ritz crackers without any problems as long as I chew well. I cannot eat bread or chicken since it gets stuck (OUCH)

Are you on mushies? If so, then crackers are not mushie food. The stages of food progression are there for a reason. Although I know doctors vary on this, each doctor puts us on what he or she has found in their individual practice to be best.

During the healing phase they want our stomachs to grind as little as possible and they phase solids in slowly to keep the grinding to a minimum. Adding in cruchy/more solid foods means that your pouch has to grind more to make it go down. This puts more pressure on the stitches put in place to anchor your band down.

I remember that hunger, but I also knew I'd be horrified to get something stuck, and have to go to my surgeon to have it removed or my band loosened because I could not follow his instructions.

I read here somewhere that toast is doable as long as its toasted (has no moisture). I haven't tried that, but I have done ritz crackers inbetween (1-2) and told dr (in guilt) but he said it was ok. Another cute thing I saw last week was cut cucumbers into slices and put tuna/chicken salad on top of that. I ate one with no problem but I grabbed off the wrong plate and got one with hot spices, (spit spit) I was done for the night.. good luck)

i have not have fill yet and i can eat crackers 2 or 3 of them and have even tryed a few bites of wheat bread and was ok i evn added a few crackers in soup on liquid diet and did ok

I'm off of mushed as of today. I followed the diet profession to a T! I am just looking for a good crunch to add.

I'm off of mushed as of today. I followed the diet profession to a T! I am just looking for a good crunch to add.

Ooohhhh, real food!! Sorry for the lecture then. :-)

Yes, crackers are a good choice for not getting stuck. Also toasted whole grain bread goes down well. But remember, little bites, chew well, wait in between bites to be sure all is well.

Are you on solids now? If so I recommend romaine lettuce leaves as a substitute for bread. Put the meat down the spine and fold the leaf over to make a wrap. Did you have mindfull eatting sessions with a therapist pre surgery? I learned in those sessions that crunchy processed carbs are my trigger foods. You mentioned toasted bread (which for me would include butter), chips, pickes; first thing I though of was the fat, calories and salt. My though would be that you should try cutting that relationship with processed carbs and try replaceing them with healthier versions.

Love the lettuce wrap idea. I don't do low carb, never would have thought of it. DOH! But heading for summer, it sounds very refreshing. Plus my band has been tight lately, I think it will make a great option for me, too. Thanks Honk!

I have a sad, sad addiction to Saltines. Sad, because they have almost no nutritional value, but they go down just fine. Of course, I am paranoid about chewing everything to the point of it being next to liquid, so that might help. If you're back on solids, then well-chewed crackers eaten in small bites should not be a problem. Bon appetit!

Love the lettuce wrap idea. I don't do low carb, never would have thought of it. DOH! But heading for summer, it sounds very refreshing. Plus my band has been tight lately, I think it will make a great option for me, too. Thanks Honk!

No pickles???

No pickles???

After my last fill, I have trouble with pickles, of all things! I keep trying them, and they keep getting stuck. My dog, however, loves them. He takes what I don't eat. I do fine with cucumbers, but pickles, nope.

I would sometimes toast half of an Orowheat thin and thats pretty good. They are thin and get pretty crunchy so they go down easy. And at 50 calories, not bad. Thanks for reminding me about them, hvaen't had them for awhile!

I have no trouble with pickles. I don't eat them much anymore because of the salt content. My Nut. actually recommended them as a good snack because they are so low in calorie.