This probably sounds dumb, but I'm confused about whether I should consider my protein shakes a liquid, which I could drink throughout the day, or food, which I can eat if I wait 25 minutes before and after to drink. Also, should I be limiting how much protein shake I have like I limit my food? I can get down almost 3 ounces of puréed food when I eat my "meal" but when I'm sipping water throughout the day I just keep sip sip sipping. Should I sip with the protein shake or eat it like food?

liquids have little to no calories. Anything else is food and is not unlimited.

It's not about nutritional value or calories....soda and fruit juice and koolaid have loads of calories but they are definitely liquid.

It's about physical state and how it passes through your sleeve. My surgeon said if I can drink it through a straw it is a liquid. For example, drinkable yogurt like Siggis or kefir were liquids but Greek yogurt was a puree.

Protein shakes are liquids, and you will actually absorb the protein better if you drink them slowly throughout the day.