I'm finishing my first week post-op liquid diet today and will transition to pureed food tomorrow. The past week has been quite easy because there is essentially no choice involved. However, I'm a bit worried about constructing my own diet from now on that ensures enough protein. Did any of you find that difficult at first? Does it get easier?

Edited March 11, 20197 yr by Recidivist

Typically, you continue doing what you were before, getting most of your protein from the protein drinks, and add in more of the thicker and more solid foods allowed, but the protein drinks are usually a staple for a while. You can try adding unflavored protein powder into jello, make instant pudding with protein powder added; sloppy oatmeal or cream of wheat are often allowed at this point (check with your doc's plan on what exactly they allow when.)

Our program was basically a month long transition into "real" food, with liquids, purees, mushies and soft foods allowed whenever they were tolerated - the basic rule was to try new foods one at a time to test for your tolerance and if they worked ok, then great. If not, go back to known foods and try that one again in a week or two. Then try something else the next meal, etc. Over time, the protein drinks were fully replaced with real food, but given the small amounts that we typically can eat at a time, particularly as things get more solid, the drinks may be there for a while.

Definitely, follow the recommendations, if you were given some type of manual. Also, I find that journaling, or using MyFitnessPal, Baritastic, etc., have been helpful as well. Not to mention lots on the internet.

Protein powder just went in everything when I was at that stage. High protein yogurt, soup with protein, applesauce with protein, jello with protein, hummus with protein.. you get the idea. I bought and still buy bariatric food items from the bariatricpal store. The points I get participating in forums helps get it discounted and I can always hit the free shipping if I include purchasing my vitamins through them as well.