I am looking for a general opinion on salads - and the difficulty or not - of eating them. I am just starting to incorporate solids and was wondering how the rest of the LP group handled them. All input appreciated. Thanks!:whoo:

I started solids on Oct 5. I have not had any problems with any food yet. I have had salads several times and not a problem. I just chew,chew,chew & chew some more. I had a salad today & I find that romaine lettuce is easier than iceburg. Iceburg can get a little stringy & I have to spit it out when it becomes stringy.

I was just givin the go ahead to start any solids that I thought I could handle. Have tried several veggies, but not lettuce yet, it kinda frightens me. Haven't had any trouble with anything so far, (fingers crossed). I keep reading about PB/slime, can anyone tell me what that is?

Mine is touch and go. Certain salads go down, others are expelled. I've found Olive Garden's salad will go down. Perhaps it's the coating of the dressing versus 1000 Island that doesn't cover the lettuce.

I can do iceberg and romaine but not light leafy things such as butter lettuce. I chew well and the heavier types go down well.

I love, love, some salads. When I go out to Ruby Tuesday's I prefer to make mine out of spinach and romaine. I don't care for the iceburg, not much there in the nutritional value.

Just chew, chew, and chew some more.

Thanks to all of you who replied! I can't wait for my first salad - how funny that would be one of the only things I have really craved after almost a month of mushies!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!!!!

salad is hit or miss for me. I don't remember ever PBing on salad, but I know I've slimed on it. Oh wait, I do remember one salad PB, but I think that was more a chunk of bleu cheese in the dressing. Who knows.

It's one of the foods that, pre-op, I couldn't understand how it would go down. I mean - you never really chew it, you crush it at best, and 4 hours later you can have a piece of lettuce come out that had been hiding behind (on) your teeth. How could something like that get through the stoma? I didn't get it.

I used to eat salad every day. Now I eat it maybe once every few months. It doesn't do much for me anymore. Salad was always a "healthy" way to shove as much cheese, bleu cheese dressing, bacon bits, chopped egg, and whatever else looked good down my gullet while still telling myself it was "healthy." In reality it's crunchy Water (iceburg anyway).

I don't have any problem eating salads (luckily, it seems that the only food that gives me trouble is bread). I just usually view it as a waste of the very limited space in my pouch, so unless it's a REALLY tasty looking salad, I ignore it. I do occasionally steal a bite from someone else's plate (had a bite of my mom's lettuce with pico de gallo and a bit of cheese at a Mexican restaurant yesterday), but most of the time I focus on the other foods available (had 3/4 of a small beef enchilada at the Mexican restaurant).

I do fine with salad, just watch out for heavy dressings cause the have alotta fat and calories.

Just a side note, I love love love ranch dressing. I can't justify vinegarette cause it is so oily. I have started just using balamic vinegar with no oil and find that that is really satisfying. Also store bought vinegarettes that are light just means they don't have as much oil as the regular. But if you like them keep in mind that it is olive oil which is a healthy fat and alot better for you than creamy dressings.

I love a good salad as well and have done find with them. I have not had a fill yet, so I really havent had a problem with anything yet. If you are worried about the calories , my Dr suggest the dressings that you spray on.

I do extremely well with salad I just chew it very well and watch the amount of dressing!!

I love love love salads. More than I ever did pre-band. My favorite salads are:

1.baby spinach, goat cheese, dried cranberries, smoked deli turkey or chopped chicken and balasamic viniagrette. YUM.

2. iceburg lettuce shredded, cooked chicken in my food processor with Ken's Buffalo sauce (makes a chicken salad consistency)chopped cukes and red onions. A little REAL blue cheese dressing.

I have no problem justifying the occasional creamy dressings. I count the calories and I am within my daily amounts. Plus, I HATE fake dressings and the fat keeps me satisfied a lot longer than just the vinegars. Some fat is good, and moderation is key. Enjoy.