Hey all, I'm sure this has been asked a bazillion times, but the wife, adult son and I are leaving next week for a vacation/family visit. The road trip is 1,000 miles. I feel great right now and we take turns driving, so that's not the issue. We make this trip annually and will likely have 2-3 fuel stops and will stop another couple times to eat. When we leave, I'll be four weeks post-op, so I'm looking at my week 5 and 6 menu items, and I am asking for your tips and tricks when going on a long trip

Drinks: I will bring coffee, water and pre-mixed protein shakes for fluids. Maybe a Gatorade Zero for a change in pace.

Snacks: What snacks are suggested? According to my nutrition plan, about the only things I could have thru week 4 are the protein drinks, string cheese and some peeled fruit. I'll be right at the start of Week 5 which mentions up to 3 Multi-grain crackers a day, but I ordered some of the Quest Protein Chips. (I purchase $95 worth, so hope they are good). ?

Restaurants: This is probably where I'm looking for the most tips and tricks most. What restaurants have good menu items to choose from and food items should I be looking for? For example, a Big Mac, minus the bun, (which does not sound good right now), LOL.

*Full disclosure, my nutrition plan really does not mention meat or salads until week 6 when I can have tuna and baked fish and then add baked chicken, lean ground beef, ground turkey and salads. But, I'm not against trying some of this (in moderation of course), if other plans allow these items sooner. I realize my nutrition plan is exageratingly conservative.

Edited August 4, 20224 yr by KevinS62
Change title to be an Eating/Drinking-type topic

Hmmmm, brain storm time.

No meat for 6 weeks? Never heard that one before. Whew.

Snacks: Yogurts, cheeses, hard boil eggs? That's about the only thing I can think of that would travel.

You could order soups and not eat certain things depending on what is in the soup?

Charcuterie appetizer and your family could eat the things that you can't?

Egg salad, don't eat the bread? Or get crackers if you are allowed.

I ate taco bell refried beans and black beans a few times.

That's about all I can think of, I was allowed meat at the pureed stage (pureed obviously).

It is also so close to allowing the meat, maybe reach out to your team and see if you could try softer meats a few days early? That would REALLY open up your options.

PS: I don't care for the quest chips but a lot of people do so I hope you are one of them who like them after taking that plunge. I like the popcorners flex protein chips the best.

Good luck and safe travels!

2 hours ago, kcuster83 said:

Hmmmm, brain storm time.

No meat for 6 weeks? Never heard that one before. Whew.

Egg salad, don't eat the bread? Or get crackers if you are allowed.

I ate taco bell refried Beans and black beans a few times.

It is also so close to allowing the meat, maybe reach out to your team and see if you could try softer meats a few days early? That would REALLY open up your options.

PS: I don't care for the Quest chips but a lot of people do so I hope you are one of them who like them after taking that plunge. I like the popcorners flex Protein chips the best.

Good luck and safe travels!

@kcuster83 Thanks for your tips. Yeah, as I said, my diet plan is exageratingly conservative. It has no puree stage and very slowly introduces soft foods and meats (they say chew, chew, chew). It's probably a week or three behind others and I'm not skeert to reach into the week 6-7 menu for an item or two to try in weeks 5-6. In moderation, of course.

I have learned NOT to ask the dietician anything. I won't like her answer. She goes strictly by the written guide. When I was able to speak to the surgeon, he was more open and basically said the menu was conservative to work for all patients and I could try something off plan, but to stop if it doesn't work.

I'm not a huge egg salad person but I may try a light tuna or chicken salad. Taco Bell beans is a great idea.

Edited August 4, 20224 yr by KevinS62

For restaurants, soup is pretty much always a safe choice early on. You could also do something like a meat loaf and just chew the tar out of it, chicken breast, similarly chewed to oblivion, or maybe something like tacos that you just eat the meat/beans and toppings of. For snacks - cheese, protein shakes or bars, soft fruit, yogurt, and eggs are all good bets. As always, just be very careful. I had a similarly restrictive post-op plan and stuck to it fairly closely, but did make the occasional concession when needed.

1 hour ago, KevinS62 said:

@kcuster83 Thanks for your tips. Yeah, as I said, my diet plan is exageratingly conservative. It has no puree stage and very slowly introduces soft foods and meats (they say chew, chew, chew). It's probably a week or three behind others and I'm not skert to reach into the week 6-7 menu for an item or two to try in weeks 5-6. In moderation, of course.

I have learned NOT to ask the dietician anything. I won't like her answer. She goes strictly by the written guide. When I was able to speak to the surgeon, he was more honest and basically said the menu was for conservative to work for all patients and I could try something off plan, but to stop if it doesn't work.

I'm not a huge egg salad person but I may try a light tuna salad. Taco Bell beans is a great idea.

Just try tiny bites of very soft meats and chew to an oblivion. Take 1 bite and wait a few minutes and see how it feels before continuing.

Ground meat (turkey or beef) is easy and where I started. It is already almost pureed and then chewed to meat pudding consistency. haha

Good luck, you got it!

47 minutes ago, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

For restaurants, Soup is pretty much always a safe choice early on. You could also do something like a meat loaf and just chew the tar out of it, chicken breast, similarly chewed to oblivion, or maybe something like tacos that you just eat the meat/beans and toppings of. For Snacks - cheese, Protein Shakes or bars, soft fruit, yogurt, and eggs are all good bets. As always, just be very careful. I had a similarly restrictive post-op plan and stuck to it fairly closely, but did make the occasional concession when needed.

Thanks for your response. Very good tips. Love the Chew the tar out of it.

30 minutes ago, kcuster83 said:

Ground meat (turkey or beef) is easy and where I started. It is already almost pureed and then chewed to meat pudding consistency. haha

Good luck, you got it!

Meat pudding. You all are cracking me up today. Thanks.

Gas station finds- Cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes, cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, peanut butter or nut butters, and maybe pecans chewed really well (they’re a softer nut to tolerate). Travel plazas compared to regular gas stations will have more options to choose from.

Taco Bell/taco places- refried beans with cheese or maybe taco meat

Panera or Subway- scoop of tuna salad. Panera also has yogurt tubes, bananas, oatmeal, and smoothies (although high in sugar)

KFC- chicken pot pie (remove the crust and either really chew or don’t eat the chicken

McDonald’s- during breakfast you can get just scrambled eggs. They also have sausage patties you can order individually as well but that might need more time.

Wendy’s- chili might be okay

Tropical smoothie cafe- they have wraps and stuff for everyone else to choose from but you can get protein powder in a smoothie there and reduce or omit sugar in them as well.

Sit down places- baked fish, some soups, and maybe spinach dip without the chips would be ok choices I’d think. If you go Italian you could order lasagna and just not eat the noodles.

As always, try things before you go if possible because unexpected dumping on a road trip isn’t fun.

17 minutes ago, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

As always, try things before you go if possible because unexpected dumping on a road trip isn’t fun.

More good tips. Hadn't thought of Chicken pot pie at KFC. I could go for some Wendy's chili. Thanks.

Taco bell black beans (50 cal) for a side are my favorite. Tony but filling. I put hot sauce on it. Chipotle has some really good choices too. Wendy's has a nice black bean chili.

I use a hot logic mini oven (there is one for the car) that you can either keep warm or actually cook things on the road. It will keep it warm for 12 hours if you can't eat all of it. Great for leftovers and cooking healthier options for our every 3 hr small meals. For example, can put raw salmon in there with herbs and it'll cook it in the car.

I am in my 8th week and Tuna Salad is a lifesaver. Easy to make, full of protein and has flavor! Also very easy to just put extra mayo to make it more... liquidy? I would try the new stuff before you leave that way you know what you can tolerate. At Taco Bell I get a chicken soft Taco with Pico and no Lettuce and don't eat the tortilla. It's filling, has FLAVOR (I've missed flavor! ) and good source of protein. When I went on a road trip I survived on scrambled eggs and protein Shakes.

I would definitely try the new things before you leave.

57 minutes ago, Tomo said:

I use a hot logic mini oven (there is one for the car) that you can either keep warm or actually cook things on the road.

I just checked those out on Amazon. I didn't know. I guess I better show the wife.

38 minutes ago, flamingolady1408 said:

I am in my 8th week and tuna salad is a lifesaver.

That and a chicken salad. Might pack a little of both. Thanks.