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Why no iceberg lettuce?

  • Replies 34
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  • BigViffer
    BigViffer

    Iceberg lettuce literally has so little nutritional value that it is a waste of space. They only time that eating it is a good idea is when you are constipated. For some reason, iceberg lettuce goes t

  • Cape Crooner
    Cape Crooner

    I have migrated to different meat and vegetable combinations. I think a hot meal is emotionally more filling, so I've created a bunch of dishes that are dietetically more like hot salads without lettu

  • janedoe92
    janedoe92

    My NUT said iceberg lettuce is a waste of space (the little we have been) because there's no nutritional value.

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Just wondering why no iceberg lettuce, I'm 5 weeks post op gastric bypass and can eat salad and was just wondering why no iceberg lettuce, anyone know?


I am only 11 post op from a revision but when I had the band, iceberg gave me lots of gas


Just wondering why no iceberg lettuce, I'm 5 weeks post op gastric bypass and can eat salad and was just wondering why no iceberg lettuce, anyone know?


My NUT said iceberg lettuce is a waste of space (the little we have been) because there's no nutritional value.

Iceberg lettuce literally has so little nutritional value that it is a waste of space. They only time that eating it is a good idea is when you are constipated. For some reason, iceberg lettuce goes through most of us like fat through a goose.

If you really miss salads, learn to love kale, spinach and other dark hearty greens. Even then they will be in very small portions. They are very fibrous and can be difficult to digest in the beginning. But they are at least nutritionally dense and worth the space they take up.

Iceberg lettuce literally has so little nutritional value that it is a waste of space. They only time that eating it is a good idea is when you are constipated. For some reason, iceberg lettuce goes through most of us like fat through a goose.
If you really miss salads, learn to love kale, spinach and other dark hearty greens. Even then they will be in very small portions. They are very fibrous and can be difficult to digest in the beginning. But they are at least nutritionally dense and worth the space they take up.

When you say difficult to digest do you mean it may cause stomach aches or like constipation? I like the hearty greens and will be able to try them in a couple of weeks, and I just want to know what to expect/ have an idea of.


Excellent follow up question! They are difficult to digest in the fact that they take longer to break down than something as insubstantial as regular lettuce. If something like kale, mustard greens, collards and/or turnip greens are not chewed thoroughly enough to break the fibrous portions down to a more easily digestible consistency, you will pass undigested foods through your intestines and bowel.

So while the food took up precious real estate in your stomach (or pouch depending on the surgery), you will reap no benefit to the consumption. I do not believe any sort of discomfort is associated with it. I do know that they will not cause constipation. As a matter of fact, they would help with keeping one regular. Regular lettuce could cause the explosive watery stool that leaves us unable to leave the house with any confidence. No joke!

I eat salad mostly as a garnish these days - maybe 2 ounces. The reason is simple. I need protein and watch calories. With few exceptions, salad dressings are high in calories and virtually nothing in a salad has protein.

I'm 19 months out and can eat about 8 ounces of food. That means 6 ounces of protein and 2 ounces of veggies.

Do you know that roasted fingerling potatoes are only about 25 calories each?

When your side dish only weighs 2 ounces, you eat most anything.

That said, I do offend many home chefs when I go to a dinner party and barely touch the 12 ounce gourmet salad they carefully prepared for me!


If salad dressing is your main concern, try your hand at making your own. I'll take fage greek yogut and flavor it with any marinade I think would go well with the salad I am eating. The marinades have very little in the way of calories because they use no thickeners.They are mostly spices and vinegar. The yogurt takes the place of the thickeners and mayo base.

You can also make your own ranch dressing mix and blend it into plain yogurt. It's mostly buttermilk powder, garlic, dill, parsley and a few other things. There are tons of recipes online for yogurt based dressings.

If salad dressing is your main concern, try your hand at making your own. I'll take fage greek yogut and flavor it with any marinade I think would go well with the salad I am eating. The marinades have very little in the way of calories because they use no thickeners.They are mostly spices and vinegar. The yogurt takes the place of the thickeners and mayo base.

You can also make your own ranch dressing mix and blend it into plain yogurt. It's mostly buttermilk powder, garlic, dill, parsley and a few other things. There are tons of recipes online for yogurt based dressings.

I do low cal dressings or make my own, but what's the point if you're only eating 2 ounces and getting no Protein?

I guess I should mention that I am 2 years out. I am hitting 150-200 grams of protein a day. You won't always be limited to 2 ounce meals. There will come a time when you are able to actually eat about two cups (by volume not weight) of salad.

I guess I should mention that I am 2 years out. I am hitting 150-200 grams of Protein a day. You won't always be limited to 2 ounce meals. There will come a time when you are able to actually eat about two cups (by volume not weight) of salad.


I'm 19 months out and I eat 8 ounces of dense food. I can eat 2 cups of skinny pop if I'm drinking!

I just don't find iceberg lettuce to be worth my stomach space. I do eat a lot of arugula on my low cal pastrami sandwiches.


Salads can be full of protein though, no? Less lettuce more meats, eggs, and things like that? At least this is what I plan to do when I am able to eat salads again.


Salads can be full of protein though, no? Less lettuce more meats, eggs, and things like that? At least this is what I plan to do when I am able to eat salads again.





I think you'll change your mind once you find out how little your stomach holds. If you're only eating 6 ounces, why not just eat meat and eggs? Major roughage like chopped lettuce takes up all your stomach capacity in a few bites.

As obese people "trying to eat right", we loved salads because people told us they were healthy and they filled us up.

Post vsg, healthy means something different and getting full is no longer an issue.

A month ago, I went to Rubios and ordered a chopped chicken salad with salsa dressing. Tastes great and low in calories. Lotsa chopped romaine.

I was able to eat 8 bites - the salad bowl still looked full after I finished eating!IMG_6110.JPG


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