Assuming you're banded, and have some fill, can you eat any of the foods below? These are things I've heard very mixed things about. I know they may still be for me, but just wondering if any of you can eat these things, and also if you notice a difference in your ability to eat wheat vs. white.

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?)

- salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?)

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.)

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins)

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...)

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...)

- Hard Cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.)

- Hard cheeses

Ok, please humor the newbie. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this process. I am confused, why do pancakes get stuck and cause problems, but tortillias don't?

Ok, please humor the newbie. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this process. I am confused, why do pancakes get stuck and cause problems, but tortillias don't?

It depends on the tortilla. If the tortilla is toasted or fried and especially if it's a corn tortilla it can't really "dough up" and swell while it's in the pouch and get stuck in the narrowed space caused by the band that we call the stoma. If it's a flour tortilla that is toasted or fried, it may go through, but if it's not it might get stuck also. That's not to say that all can tolerate tortillas, in any form. It depends on the person.

Same with pancakes, muffins, breads, biscuits, and the like. The nature of these items soak up moisture, swell and can literally form dough balls inside your pouch therefore get stuck in that stoma (described above).

Not all banded patients have trouble with this. A lot do. It's a personal thing. Gotta test it out and see.

Dear Wheetsin the Fabulous,

I can eat everyone on your list...on a good day. Yesterday at lunch I had about a half pound of ground meat and then a piece of pizza. But later I woke up from a nap, couldn't get down Water, and PBed on mashed potatoes. I have no explanation for my finicky band. Who the hell knows?

As far as lettuce, the reason you don't have to chew it so well is that it is almost 100% water. I think it just shrinks down when it gets inside your stomach and all the water is absorbed. I also have no problems with any raw vegetables.

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) usually avoid, I have enough trouble, fat carb and calorie-wise with other foods that I just don't bother. Wheat over white, though.

- salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?) All salads fine

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.) Oh yeah. Crspy crunchy is all good. Use care, but good stuff. Tortilla chips are a staple, as are Wheat Thins.

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins) Yep.

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...) Ground is great, no problems with small bites

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...) I haven't tried scallops or mussels, but I like Oysters (steamed) and choose to put that on my "no" list. Not worth attempting. I was surprised I could do shrimp, I just chew well.

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.) Fine, small bites, well-chewed

- Hard cheeses I have this mantra "All cheese is wasted intake, nothing but fat and calories and I can live without it" so it helps me to avoid extra cheese for no good reason. I can eat mozz stick cheese as a snack, any melted cheese, heck, I can eat cheese, but I try to keep it at bay just for diet reasons, not so much band reasons.

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) - Not soft ones, for sure. Hard ones only in very small quantities.

- Salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?) - No salad

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.) - No problem

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins) - Not on my best days

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...) - No problem

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...) - YUM, but not breaded

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.) - No problem

- Hard cheeses - No problem

Remember, not only is everyone different, but we all have days when we can eat something, and days we can't. It's just one of the ways your band keeps reminding you that it's the boss.

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) I can eat all of them, but avoid corn, since it makes me HUNGRY

- Salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?) Any and all kinds, I prefer baby spinach, which isn't really lettuce...

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.) All kinds, but I think everybody gets stuck on Triscuts at some point

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins) well, I think muffins fall under dense breads along with hearty breads like sour dough and rye, but I haven't had much desire for pancakes, waffles or muffins since I've been banded. I can handle some sandwich breads, but only 1/2 a sandwich.

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...) no problems for me, but steak and some cuts of beef are tricky.

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...) Bring it on!

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.) I prefer not to eat gravel.

- Hard cheeses I've never met a cheese I didnt' like

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) NO

- Salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?)NO

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.)YES

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins)Yes Pancakes, No waffles or muffins or cake.

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...)yes

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...)don't know

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.)yes

- Hard cheesesyes__________________

Great post Wheetsin! My band is quite tight, so here goes:

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) NOOOO!! Absolutely no soft tortillas, PB every time. Crunchy tortilla chips, taco shells are fine.

- salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?) Yes. All are fine, but I have to chew, and because they are so fibrous, it is very filling. So I can usually only have a few bites, but sometimes I just crave a good salad.

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.) Yes. Unfortunately it goes down better for me than I would like. Sometimes if I'm really craving bread at a restaurant, I will have just one bite of the outer HARD crust of the roll with lots of butter on it to lube it up. Never the inner soft part though.

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins) NOOO. Absolutely no breads that are crumbly, moist, or that would become moist/doughy if you put it in a glass of Water.

- Ground meants (turkey, chuck, sirloin...) Yes...praise God I didn't lose my ability to eat steak! I just have to get the prime cuts that are juicy and moist. I have trouble with any/all leftovers, as they get pretty dried out in the microwave. I actually sometimes have the most trouble with chicken, but not always.

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...) Yes. Again praise God I can still eat crab legs/lobster! Shrimp is fine too, just have to chew it extra careful as it can be a little tough.

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.) Yes, but don't usually waste the carbs.

- Hard cheeses Yes, but don't usually waste the fats.

I can eat all those foods. Fluffy breads are more work but also equal filling me up wonderfully for much longer so I'm now making an effort to eat a sandwich for lunch, it really helps me avoid the mid afternoon munchies. I only eat good wholemeal breads though, not white bowel cancer bread.

- Tortillas (white, wheat, corn?) To scared to try.

- Salad (what kind of lettuce can you eat?) Yes, spinach, romaine or the regular

- Hard breads (pretzels, crackers, melba, etc.) Never

- "Fluffy" breads (pancakes, waffles, muffins) Never

- Ground meat (turkey, chuck, sirloin) No hambuger or chicken breast

- Shellfish/crustaceans (scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels...) YES on the crabs and shrimps

- Hard cereal (grape nuts, oat bran, etc.) haven't tried, cause I'm usually to tight in the AM

- Hard cheeses--To scared to try