Why no iceberg lettuce?

[Lovelyladybee 126]

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?

[erica_ozzy73 241]

I'm sleeved but I have no idea why you've been told not to eat it unless because there is no nutritional value in it??..

[CaliCozyWozy 27]

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

[janedoe92 260]

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.

[erica_ozzy73 241]

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

Yeah I'd say that too..

[BigViffer 3,545]

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.

[janedoe92 260]

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.

[BigViffer 3,545]

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!

[Cape Crooner 589]

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!

[BigViffer 3,545]

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.

[Cape Crooner 589]

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?

[BigViffer 3,545]

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.

[Cape Crooner 589]

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.

[janedoe92 260]

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.

[erica_ozzy73 241]

I never ever do the low calorie dressing or low fat.. full fats are the best for you as long as its coconut oil or olive oil base. No canola or verge oil...
and nooooo sugar