I have really been struggling with variety on the mush stage. I don't know if anyone else is but here are a couple of suggestions I found.

First I take about 3T of cottage cheese and mix about 1T of ricotta cheese with it. Then I add one of the little individual cups of s/f Jello. After I've stirred those together I add a tablespoon or 2 of Cool Whip Free. It is really delicious. Of course I chew and chew.

The other thing I've found (and I've heard of this all my life, just didn't have the nerve to try it) is potted meat. Sounds yuk, I know, but when you are really wanting a meat flavor you resort to most anything that was previously not too palatable. I really love (yes,love.) The Underwoods White chicken Meat Spread. Comes in a little can wrapped in paper in the tuna aisle. I was duly impressed. I bought the roast beef, too. But it is real salty and there are no little pieces in it. The chicken is very soft and the small,small, pieces are easily chewed to mush consistency.

Dr. Rodriguez's coordinator also told me that I could use the food chopper thing that Pampered Chef has (or one like it) to chop any meat up along with apples, nuts, whatever.......mix a little mayo or mustard and have a neat little salad. She did say to be sure and use the little baby spoon to eat with and chew,chew, chew.

Just thought I'd pass these little tidbits along. Anyone have any other suggestions on Protein mush?

Becki

Dr. Jose Rodriguez

11/05/04

340/330/185

Braunshweiger or liverwurst with mustard worked mustard for me during the mush stage and has lots of protein..also another thing to help with the sweet tooth is riccotta cheese and peanut butter mixed together, tastes like cheese cake it also has lots of protein..refreid beans and hummus are great sources of mush protein too.

Anything can be put through a blender and eaten at the mushy stage. I would just blend whatever I had made for my family and enjoy it. No deprivation at all!

Here's another one I just found out about:

A little spaghetti sauce, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and some mozarella cheese. Microwave and it supposed to taste just like lasagna sans pasta. Faux Lasagna!! I will try that one tomorrow. I Just had about an ounce of monterrey jack cheese and a ritz cracker..........chewed up real mushy. tiny little bites. Took me about 20 min to eat it and I feel full. I still have to drink one or two protein drinks a day to get enough protein in. What kind of vitamins are you all taking. I'm not taking any. Maybe that's why I get these charlie horses in my calves and toes. LOL

Becki

I guess I have taken the mushie stage a little too far. I have been eating jsut about anything and everything except "hard" foods such as breads, crackers, and things like that. I have not had any trouble with foods at all. Tonight I actually ate the toppings off of one piece of pizza. I am almost 5 weeks out. I get my first fill on the 30th.

I hope that I am not over doing it and stretching out my new tummy. But nothing has bothered me and no PB.

Did any of you eat like this on mushie stage? Or just stay to mushie? I eat chicken ( very soft - hormel micro chicken breast with gravey - very muchie) and beef - fliet only, cut up very small an chew chew chew. I made tuna steaks, very soft, and vegetables cooked really good. My list was very short and I was told it was ok to eat eat, vegetables and cooked, soft, items.

The only thing that I find now is that I am eating way more then 2 oz of food. With the weight that I have lost and the swelling going down my restriction is loosing up.

Just a funny memory..about 20 years ago my dh had an ostiodimy done (jaw broken to fix overbite) and was wired shut for 6 weeks. He had it done before the holidays. I remember Christmas he was caught squishing deviled eggs through any opening in his teeth he could find. His favorite mush food was Hardees sausage gravy, probably not on the doctors top 10 list. He would bring it home and have me blender it.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Check out the "Food" thread for some additional mushy suggestions. I love the faux lasagna recipe! I ate pizza toppings -- just cheese and sauce, really -- while I was on mushies and had no trouble.

Hey Harleynana

Looks like me and you are getting our bands done on the same day!!!!

So good luck and i will be thinking of you when they wheel me down to theatre. Im having mine done in Lyon France as i live in the Uk. I am soooo counting the days down now. Like a child waiting for Christmas day!!1

warmest regards

Tracey

xx

My most favorite mushy was the pintos and cheese from Taco Bell. They were so good! Have you all tried the new Country Crock mashed potatoes? They were a life saver on my mushy stage. I didn't have to peel not 1 potato because they were so good. They come in a butter tub and you just have to microwave them. Don't forget the oatmeal ya'll!