Being an armchair cook and the gourmet chef out of the house for a few days, I decided to be lazy and see what subway has for options. I heard they used to make any sandwich toppings into a salad. However, tonight I found they have a double chicken chopped salad for only 9 dollars. It is delish and you can put tons of veggies in it and add your own dressing later. I now have enough yummy salad for like 6 meals. Lol. And it is very healthy.

you must have reached your goal weight; right? I didn't think salad (lettuce, etc.) was an option for quite some time after surgery...when were you able to start eating salads like the one you got from Subway?

you must have reached your goal weight; right? I didn't think salad (lettuce' date=' etc.) was an option for quite some time after surgery...when were you able to start eating salads like the one you got from Subway?[/quote']

Yes, I did reach goal in Feb 2013 (DOS: July 2nd, 2012). I did not start eating small side salads until month 5 (caused sliming, uncomfortable feeling before then), but was really only able to enjoy real salad after month 7. Today is the first time I bought this chopped Salad from Subway. Will definitely do it as needed. Love this option!

What types of dressing are you using?

I have been eating 1-2 salads a day as a snack since about 3 months out. Its kinda a slider food for me... I can eat a huge bowl.

Im gonna check out subway tomorrow... they have a nice spread of veggies.

You should try some Kraft asian sesame salad dressing... taste amazing.

Wow...it takes that long before you can have salad? Are you able to eat other veggies early on?

Wow...it takes that long before you can have salad? Are you able to eat other veggies early on?

Yes, it took that long for me. I could not west raw veggies until about month 5 unfortunately. Raw veggies like brocolli, cucumber, red pepper, etc. I can eat any veggie now but do have to be careful on my seaweed salad as the long strands sometimes cause discomfort if eaten after the satiety point.

What types of dressing are you using?

I have been eating 1-2 salads a day as a snack since about 3 months out. Its kinda a slider food for me... I can eat a huge bowl.

Im gonna check out subway tomorrow... they have a nice spread of veggies.

You should try some Kraft asian sesame salad dressing... taste amazing.

I have been using yogurt based dressings lately. They have way less calories and fat then the regular dressings, yet taste so much better then the low fat dressings. Honey mustard is my favorite dressing, but asian sesame sounds good also.

I ate cooked and non-acidic veggies early out, but like Fiddleman, it was quite a while before I could eat salad.

I have Fiddleman's recommended salad dressings on my list. Currently, I use light dressing or make my own. I like greek yogurt with ranch dressing mix. I make a honey mustard dressing by thinning honey mustard with Water or OJ.

One of my fav salads is snow peas, edamame, sliced almonds, lettuce, green onions, chicken, and mandarin orange segments, with Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing. Yum! McDonald's used to offer this salad, but it's no longer on the menu.

So you could eat cooked veggies though?

So you could eat cooked veggies though?

Yes, I could start eating steamed or cooked veggies at around 6-7 weeks. It still wasn't easy with some sliming, but not impossible. As I recall, I ate a lot of steamed brocolli with light cheese on top back then with my dinner serving of Protein.

I've been eating raw baby spinach for a while now. Haven't had a restaurant salad, but can't see why I would hurt. Been eating vegetables all along, my nutritionist is all about getting nutrients from food and not from a box, bottle/can or wrapper so I may be a different mutant.

I old eat iceberg lettuce at 3 months out, no problems. Romane lettuce is a little more challenging.

So you could eat cooked veggies though?

My plan allowed soft cooked veggies after week 2.

I was able to eat a bite or two of cooked veggies really early. Since it's just hubby and me and he doesn't eat veggies, I bought frozen and just shook out a few to cook with lunch and dinner. If I cooked something in the non-stick fry pan, I tossed them in there. Otherwise, I heated them in the microwave. I used the frozen whole green Beans and frozen mixed veggies. Another veggie I ate early out was zucchini. I use a mandolin slicer and just shaved off a few rounds and cooked them in the non-stick pan. I also liked Anderson Split Pea Soup.

Lynda

I've been eating raw baby spinach for a while now. Haven't had a restaurant salad' date=' but can't see why I would hurt. Been eating vegetables all along, my nutritionist is all about getting nutrients from food and not from a box, bottle/can or wrapper so I may be a different mutant.[/quote']

Hey Mike A little off topic, but valid in the envelope of your response: would you encourage us to use full fat dressing on salad and full fat creamer in coffee instead of the low fat varieties? I am curious as I remember a lot of vets saying that they do this while I was still pre op and I thought it is little back wards in my approach to "dieting." Lately, as in last 3 months, I have gone paleo and as natural as possible with some supplementation and as little processed foods as possible ( do violate it on occasion). I do try and cut table sugar and instead take raw honey or natural sugars, but still SF alot in order to avoid processed sugars. Let me hear your thoughts.

I'm not the guy to ask lol. I have never watch the amount of fat I eat. I figured if my Protein, carbs, Fiber and daily calories where met, combined with how little I was eating, that the amount of fat would be at an acceptable level. I have been on somewhat of a keto diet for the last couple months. I figured with so much carb restriction its ok to up the fats a little. I would estimate my fat intake to be below 30g per day which is still more than half whats recommended on a regular diet for a guy.

I can't stand the taste of fat free or low fat items. I choose top sirloin and chicken breast, both pretty lean, as my main protein choice along with whey isolate. I eat at least 1 big bowl of salad a day and add 2 table spoons of dressing. A decent amount of my daily fat intake comes from the salad dressings I use. They are not low carb or fat free but they do have relatively low calories compared to most. A whopping 8g of fat though per tablespoon. I use anywhere from 2-4 daily depending on how much salad I eat.

I use a powdered creamer for my coffee. It has only 1g of fat per heaping tablespoon. I also have a small collection of torani syrups I use to change the flavor in my coffee up a little... also add it to greek yogurt. If your staying below your daily macro requirements I dont see any harm in adding a fresh full fat creamer, although I assume that's a lot of added calories for just a little fresh cream that can easily be substituted with some powdered creamer.

If you can stand the taste of the low fat products by all means... I stay away because I hate the aftertaste and can still maintain my macros while eating full fat foods.

A paleo diet sounds awesome, although I dont like the no grains or dairy most paleo diets restrict. I think the less processed the better. I eat regular meat but my chicken breast and all veggies are organic.

9 bucks for a salad? Dang, that's a pricey salad in my book.. It better be humongous!

BTW, I use Bolthouse Farms yogurt dressing. Tastes the same and only 1/3 the calories.