I'm struggling really hard right now with getting in enough calories and protein. I'm on soft foods, supposed to eat 2 oz every 2 hours, and I'm still averaging under 500 calories and maybe about 40 grams of protein if I'm lucky. So I'm asking, those of you who are successful at getting in enough calories and protein... what are you eating? Can I please see a daily food plan? It would be ever so helpful.

I had a hard time on puree/soft to get enough food and Protein in. I started adding unflavored Protein powder to anything that it would mix into. I froze Syntrax Protein drinks into ice-pop tubes to boost fluids and protein intake. I kept up with the Protein shakes to give myself a good protein base to work from, and added the puree/soft foods on top of that. I ate stuff like refried Beans with cheese, lots of greek yogurt, and made up protein powder with 1/2 the liquid to make pudding. I also found later that Fairlife milk has quite a bit more protein than regular milk, so I've switched to that to boost my intake. It's hard to get all the protein in to start with, and the calories stayed very low for me until I was on a full diet. My doc said my #1 priority is fluids, and my #2 priority is protein, and for the first 2-3 months post-op that's all she wanted me worried about.

Keep supplementing with protein shakes, unflavored protein protein waters, etc. I don't hAve a menu to share but in soft foods I had 2 shakes and alternated tuna salad, chicken salad, deli turkey cheese, ground beef flavored as taco meat, scrambled eggs, cheese. I have been on solids for 6 mths and still eat those foods along with other dense proteins. Don't worry about calories at this point.

My plan on soft foods was 3 meals per day of a maximum 3 ounces of food -- but in reality the max I could eat for most of it was 2 ounces. I was to supplement with protein shakes and that was the only way I got in enough protein. I basically focused on high protein foods for my meals: 2 meals of primarily meat (tuna salad, turkey burger, mashed sardines, braised beef, etc) and 1 meal of high protein vegetarian food such as cottage cheese, eggs, Greek yogurt or refried beans. Minimum of 2 protein shakes per day.

I'm struggling really hard right now with getting in enough calories and Protein. I'm on soft foods, supposed to eat 2 oz every 2 hours, and I'm still averaging under 500 calories and maybe about 40 grams of protein if I'm lucky. So I'm asking, those of you who are successful at getting in enough calories and protein... what are you eating? Can I please see a daily food plan? It would be ever so helpful.

Me too.

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I'm travelher on my fitnesspal. If you want to add me you can go back to the beginning and see what I was eating In The early days. My surgery date was oct 4. I'm assuming you are around a month out so take a look at November.

I made an awesome Protein shake for lunch today, super simple, it was Cherry Dannon light and fit, with almond milk, a half packet of sugar free hot cocoa mix, a tablespoon of sugar free cool whip and a scoop of protein powder. It was super yummy and creamy. It had lots of protein and made me super full.

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I think part of my issue is I can no longer tolerate Protein power or protein shakes at all. Makes me gag even at the smell, and yes I've tried many different brands including GENEPRO. I have a lot of sensory issues and this is suffering for it. I can't tolerate yogurt either due to my sensory problems.

So I need to find a way to get in my calories and protein through food alone. Oh, did I mention I have a lot of food allergies too (including, but not limited to, legumes (for ex - peanuts, Beans, peas, etc), almonds, and all fish (yes all, not just seafood). *sigh* Yeah, it's difficult right now.

So keep the menus coming, I need ideas. Have to get creative.

@@WitchySar So what are you eating? I'm a little stumped with your sensory issues and allergies.

Scrambled egg with cheese, chicken salad, turkey lunch meat, soft meatballs... that's about it for now.

I think part of my issue is I can no longer tolerate Protein power or Protein shakes at all. Makes me gag even at the smell, and yes I've tried many different brands including GENEPRO. I have a lot of sensory issues and this is suffering for it. I can't tolerate yogurt either due to my sensory problems.

So I need to find a way to get in my calories and protein through food alone. Oh, did I mention I have a lot of food allergies too (including, but not limited to, legumes (for ex - peanuts, Beans, peas, etc), almonds, and all fish (yes all, not just seafood). *sigh* Yeah, it's difficult right now.

So keep the menus coming, I need ideas. Have to get creative.

Do you still have genepro and have you tried fairlife milk? Together they make a pretty decent Protein shake.

I have what we jokingly refer to as "pregnancy nose" ALL THE TIME. It sucks, and makes drinking protein shakes icky because all I smell is the protein. I discover that the fairlufe chocolate covers the protein taste and smell really well and is ~200cals and 43g protein in an 8oz shake, thou I like to add 5-8oz ice to make it more shake like.

Another option is bariatric food. WonderSlim is a brand I like. I will sometimes​ use 8 oz fairlife non fat with their creamy hot chocolate. It is also ~200 Cal's and is 30g protein.

I can also hide half a serving of genepro into a container of oikios triple zero.

HW 385 SW 359 CW 305 Sleeved 10/5/16

Fairlife milk is too high in carbs for me but I do have the Carb Master milk. I do have Genepro still as well but just opening the container makes me gag. I literally can't drink or eat anything in it. I tried having my husband make me things and not tell me what had it in it. Nope, as soon as I put it in my mouth I would start gagging if the protein powder was in it. I tried a couple other ones as well aside from Genepro. Same problem.

I made an awesome Protein shake for lunch today, super simple, it was Cherry Dannon light and fit, with almond milk, a half packet of sugar free hot cocoa mix, a tablespoon of sugar free cool whip and a scoop of Protein Powder. It was super yummy and creamy. It had lots of protein and made me super full.

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What? Sugar free cool whip? Never dawned on me. Yeeees! Thats why i stay on here for all the helpfull ideas. Thank you NWjill

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@@WitchySar what I say may fly in the face of common advice here, but I think you are doing well with your eating, given that you can't tolerate protein powder. I think you should keep doing what you are doing. Eat small meals that focus strongly on the high protein foods you can tolerate and don't worry so much about getting "enough" calories or protein. Keep on top of your follow up blood work so you can make sure you don't have any nutritional deficiencies. As long as your blood work is good and you are making good eating choices* I think you should stress less.

*I have seen some people claim they have food sensitivities that leave them unable to eat anything but, say, peanut butter crackers, or French toast, or mashed potatoes -- that does not seem to be you! You are making good choices among the food available to you. In the absence of evidence of an actual nutritional problem, don't assume you have one with your current diet.

I think part of my issue is I can no longer tolerate Protein power or protein shakes at all. Makes me gag even at the smell, and yes I've tried many different brands including GENEPRO. I have a lot of sensory issues and this is suffering for it. I can't tolerate yogurt either due to my sensory problems.

So I need to find a way to get in my calories and protein through food alone. Oh, did I mention I have a lot of food allergies too (including, but not limited to, legumes (for ex - peanuts, Beans, peas, etc), almonds, and all fish (yes all, not just seafood). *sigh* Yeah, it's difficult right now

So keep the menus coming, I need ideas. Have to get creative.

Did you discuss your food allergies and sensory issues with your surgeon and nutritionist prior to surgery? They can help with foods and/or menus to help you accommodate your unique issues.

@@WitchySar You've found foods that work for you, so since you're pretty limited in your range, eating more of those same foods is probably your best bet. 500 calories a day isn't sustainable long-term, the side effects from eating so few calories will outweigh (har har) any good that you'll see in the form of weight loss.