What is everyone eating for dinner? Are you really eating a meal, albeit small, or is "dinner" a misnomer? I am 7 weeks post-op and still struggling to hit my Fluid and Protein goals every day. I eat a slice of cheese for Breakfast, then have a Protein shake throughout the morning. I usually cannot finish it before it's time to stop drinking before lunch. I bring 3T of protein for lunch (either leftovers from my husband's dinner the previous evening, or something like tuna or chicken salad) and a couple T of greek yogurt (80 cal Dannon), but I can't finish either of these. More drinking during the afternoon, maybe another protein shake or maybe just liquid. Dinner turns out to be a couple of tablespoons of protein... and then I'm full. TOO full, uncomfortably so. My surgeon and nut both say just keep trying, so I do, but I'm really struggling.

Honestly, this isn't what I expected. I want to eat a meal. Not huge, generous portions of high carb, high fat foods, but just a balanced meal. Each evening I make myself a little plate, with a few T of protein and a couple T of something else (veggies mostly, but sometimes mashed or baked white or sweet potato). The problem is, I can't eat it. By the time I eat my protein first, I'm more than done. I am eating protein and nothing else, and it's not making me happy. Does this ever get better, or is having a "real meal" really never happen? I expected it would be hard at the beginning, but thought this would be getting easier with the passing weeks, not harder. I'm really feeling pretty demoralized right now.

I am also 7 weeks out. dinner is interesting - definitely doesn't seem like dinner. I have my lunch leftovers a lot. Soups and slices of cheese and deli meat. Old dinners were always carbs - you'd find 5 different Stouffers meals every week in my freezer.

I just printed a bunch of recipes to try next week. Hopefully it'll seem more dinner-ish soon. Until then, at least I have cheese

Yes, it will get better. It's a slow process, slower for some than others. I am about 7.5 months post op and am just getting to the place where I have what I consider a "real meal". Still small, but very satisfying.

As an example, I had about 1.5 ounces of pork roast (two small slices) and a small sweet potato (yes, I'm allowed this on my plan) for dinner. It's not a ton, but very satisfying.

For lunch I had 6 cherry tomatoes and a cup of homemade bean/ham Soup.

For breakfast I had .5 cups of steel cut oatmeal with half a mashed banana (yes, I'm allowed bananas) and some peanut powder.

I consider these all "normal" meals.

All those items in total gave me 884 calories and 61g of Protein.

Edited November 4, 20169 yr by msujester

Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich and cup of tomato soup. My grilled cheese was on Aldi's Fit & Active wheat bread (11 net carbs per 2 slices due to the high fiber), 2 ounces of cheese and a pat of butter, and the soup was Progresso light tomato basil. I didn't finish my sandwich until about an hour later tho (ate half, then heated the other half up a little and ate it after getting back in from a walk).

Dinner: Large chicken drumstick (baked BBQ) with almost a cup of roasted brussel sprouts dressed in olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and honey.

I'm stuffed (okay, pleasantly full - stuffed isn't what I aim for now), happy and feel just fine with my portions. .

I'm almost 2 years out.

Edited November 4, 20169 yr by FrankiesGirl

My dinner last night was an egg with mushroom and sausage. I had the same thing for breakfast. Lunch was 1/2 of a large chili from Wendy's. I usually have Greek yogurt for breakfast. A favorite lunch is shrimp with old bay and lemon juice topped with a slice of havarti cheese and 2 slices of tomato then it goes in the microwave. Essentially a shrimp melt without the bread. Bacon is awesome! Bacon with tomato and lettuce... I did shrimp with bell peppers, onion, garlic and a light orange sauce a few nights ago.

You have to get used to a new normal. I am excited when a real meal is about 1/2 cup of food or so. I eat 5 or 7 times a day -- a portion that used to be far less than a snack.

Eating great food for fuel instead of for fun and enjoyment is definitely a mind screw. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, you just have to learn to appreciate and savor a new portion size.

Im only 13 days and sometimes I can already eat a meal and it scares me. I mean no where near what i used to eat. Then other days i eat very little.

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I'm 5 weeks out. A big pleasure in my adult life has been spending time in the kitchen creating meals that are unique, visually pleasing. Like chicken piccata with wine garlic sauce, etc. I would take pleasure creating it then enjoying a long dinner with my husband and a glass of wine.

These days, I am back to creating these meals (but substituting healthier ingredients). The thing that bothers me is to have this lovely meal with all the aromas, sit down and only be able to eat literally two bites.

I am happy to read that it gets better with time. Eventually I hope to be able to eat at least 4 oz or a cup.

I'm 5 weeks out. A big pleasure in my adult life has been spending time in the kitchen creating meals that are unique, visually pleasing. Like chicken piccata with wine garlic sauce, etc. I would take pleasure creating it then enjoying a long dinner with my husband and a glass of wine.

These days, I am back to creating these meals (but substituting healthier ingredients). The thing that bothers me is to have this lovely meal with all the aromas, sit down and only be able to eat literally two bites.

I am happy to read that it gets better with time. Eventually I hope to be able to eat at least 4 oz or a cup.

That's where i am, too. By the time I can eat a couple of T of Protein, i'm too full to eat anything else. It's sad... I don't miss crap food, I don't miss huge portions, but I sure do miss variety (and salad).

dinner tonight is the Zuni Cafe roast chicken recipe (I'll have some without the bread salad that goes along with it) and Brussels sprouts roasted with olive oil and garlic. I'll have about an ounce and a half of chicken, three sprouts and I'll be full.

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