Hi everybody. I'm 8 days post-op and my doctor wants me to start a diet consisting of protein shake, then soup for lunch and dinner. She wants me to eat a pureed soup with chicken and vegetables. She mentioned pulsing it in a food processor so that it's not totally pureed, but said that if I wanted to, I could. She suggested chicken thighs as they are juicier, but man, I am a quasi-vegetarian and am basically forcing myself to eat chicken. She did say I could use breast if I insisted. So, I'm asking if any of you have tips. Would a completely pureed CHICKEN soup seem bizarre, or do you think that I can get the chicken breast in small enough pieces? Ideas?

Can I do something like this photo, or are the chicken pieces too big?

Thank you.

Edited December 8, 20214 yr by LouLouM

I could not stomach the thought of "normal" foods pureed into oblivion. Things like mashed potatoes and refried beans were fine, but I couldn't imagine eating pureed meat or veggies that should have had texture/form. Instead I made soup by chopping everything into a very fine dice and then just chewed the hell out of it. That was much more palatable to me than something taking on an unnatural texture. I also found that using rotisserie chicken or chicken cooked in a crockpot, shredded very fine, worked well.

If you aren't keen on chicken, could you substitute fish, shellfish, or some other protein? I'm not sure what the justification is for specifically using chicken. Seems like any healthy, lean, protein you are able/willing to eat should do just fine. Of course, I'm not saying to disregard your Drs directions, just wondering what other options you might have.

6 minutes ago, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

I could not stomach the thought of "normal" foods pureed into oblivion. Things like mashed potatoes and refried Beans were fine, but I couldn't imagine eating pureed meat or veggies that should have had texture/form. Instead I made Soup by chopping everything into a very fine dice and then just chewed the hell out of it. That was much more palatable to me than something taking on an unnatural texture. I also found that using rotisserie chicken or chicken cooked in a crockpot, shredded very fine, worked well.

If you aren't keen on chicken, could you substitute fish, shellfish, or some other Protein? I'm not sure what the justification is for specifically using chicken. Seems like any healthy, lean, protein you are able/willing to eat should do just fine. Of course, I'm not saying to disregard your Drs directions, just wondering what other options you might have.

I've been a vegetarian (mostly) for 34 years and the only meat I can stand eating is chicken. Do you think at this phase (8 days post-op) I can eat finely shredded rotisserie chicken? I guess I don't really understand the degree to how soft things must be and why.

Edited December 8, 20214 yr by LouLouM

I can't see that some tofu or even tempeh pureed in your soup would be any different to pureed chicken. I suspect either might end up a bit grainy. I definitely was not allowed shredded chicken at 8 days - programs really do seem to vary hugely though. I did puree some very soft lamb with veg for my first pureed dinners and it was gorgeous (but I don't have a problem with texture). I am 3 weeks post op today and just had my first soft food (fish pie filling without the potato topping).

I love so called medical people who don’t understand what being a vegetarian (even quasi) is. ??‍♀️?.

Try beans & lentils as a source of protein, like you probably often did. Add them to your soups & blend them up till super smooth (strain after to be super sure). Many find anything that’s not super smooth too harsh to swallow & tolerate at first so go slowly.

As a quasi vegetarian do you eat meat stocks? If so bone broths & the broths in pho, wonton soups, etc are also good protein options but only drink the broth part of course.

Generally you can purée most things if you add enough liquids (stock, broth, gravy, milk, water).. Just doesn’t always taste pleasant but it’s only two weeks.

On 12/8/2021 at 11:37 AM, LouLouM said:

I've been a vegetarian (mostly) for 34 years and the only meat I can stand eating is chicken. Do you think at this phase (8 days post-op) I can eat finely shredded rotisserie chicken? I guess I don't really understand the degree to how soft things must be and why.

Hi, everyone seems to receive different advice from their NUT (post op). I started introducing meats back into my diet 2 weeks post op. I used my natural food processors (my chompers) so I wouldn't loose that natural texture. So, while shredding that rotisserie chicken is fine, your teeth should be doing the remaining work to make it puréed.

The only advice my NUT gave me which was weird was to drink fluid while I ate.

6 hours ago, WildWill said:

Hi, everyone seems to receive different advice from their NUT (post op). I started introducing meats back into my diet 2 weeks post op. I used my natural food processors (my chompers) so I wouldn't loose that natural texture. So, while shredding that rotisserie chicken is fine, your teeth should be doing the remaining work to make it puréed.

The only advice my NUT gave me which was weird was to drink Fluid while I ate.

That’s really weird because we are mostly all told not to drink while we eat??

I believe it was because I moved to include meats 2 weeks post op and mashed foods (FF refried beans and right rice) and cheese.