When did you start to reintroduce salads and raw vegetables? I was given any guidance except to introduce slowly.

If I remember right, my plan started introducing raw veggies around 8 weeks, but I also had a very long, very conservative post-op plan comparatively. I think I started with less fibrous items like tomatoes, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, etc. and slowly worked my way to raw broccoli, carrots, and so on. Thankfully, I never had any issues with fruits/veggies, raw or cooked, but it is good to introduce them one at a time in case you have any trouble.

Just now, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

If I remember right, my plan started introducing raw veggies around 8 weeks, but I also had a very long, very conservative post-op plan comparatively. I think I started with less fibrous items like tomatoes, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, etc. and slowly worked my way to raw broccoli, carrots, and so on. Thankfully, I never had any issues with fruits/veggies, raw or cooked, but it is good to introduce them one at a time in case you have any trouble.

I hit 8 weeks July 1st. So I may try to introduce some more raw vegetables. I have done all kinds of cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, and raw cucumbers and tomatoes with no issues. I miss salads.

1 minute ago, LindsayT said:

I hit 8 weeks July 1st. So I may try to introduce some more raw vegetables. I have done all kinds of cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, and raw cucumbers and tomatoes with no issues. I miss salads.

If your plan doesn't prohibit it and you've not had any issues so far, I say go for it! Just go slow and listen to your body. ❤️

Just now, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

If your plan doesn't prohibit it and you've not had any issues so far, I say go for it! Just go slow and listen to your body. ❤️

All my plan said was to introduce slow. I haven't seen my nutritionist yet to get more specific feedback. So, I think I'll pick something and give it a go.

My doctor's plan said to introduce lettuce at stage 5, which was around 2 months and raw veggies after that stage. The nutritionist also suggested the same timeline, even though we were prioritizing proteins, she said to leave a little bit of space for some vegetables so your new stomach can learn to eat different foods and relearn how to digest it.

I think I was a good four months out before I could comfortably eat those. Some people may be able to eat them earlier, though. Your stomach will let you know if it's ready or not.

12 hours ago, LindsayT said:

When did you start to reintroduce salads and raw vegetables? I was given any guidance except to introduce slowly.

My nutritionist told me not to even think about lettuce until at least 4 months out. She said other fiber rich veggies are more important, and 50% of the people she personally sees aren't ever able to have lettuce again. The other half don't seem to be able to tolerate it until around month 4. So since I love salads so much, I'll try at month 4. If it's a no-go, I'll try at month 5, month 6, and so on. If, by a year out, I still can't have it, I'll write it off as gone forever lol But I'm going to give myself 8 months of trying first. I love salads that much.

I was about 7 weeks out from RNY and desperate for some raw veg so I tried chopped lettuce with turkey and it wasn’t a problem. I’m now eating small portions of salads: greens, carrots, cukes, tomatoes, peppers but always with a dressing and no more than a cup if that. Plus I eat protein first. I feel I got lucky re: veggies. That said, I get dumping syndrome if I have any sugar that isn’t fruit.

I started small bits of lettuce/salad mix in the past few weeks- im just at the four month mark. No issues, but no real room for more than a bit or two after putting the protein first.

I remember I struggled with some of the denser leaved greens like rocket, cos, (arugula, romaine) but good old iceberg lettuce went done easily. I could eat heaps of the stuff. Made a chopped salad so the leaves were bite size.

I craved salad during my soft food stage. When I was finally cleared at 2 months to eat raw veggies, I made myself one and used Skinny Girl FF, SF Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and hard boiled egg for protein. It tasted wonderful and despite the fact that I chewed well and sloooowly, it just didn't set well with my tummy.

I will continue to try them again off and on. Some days it's OK but another it's a no go. I won't give up though. Salads are just too good.

Funny.. baby carrots go down way easy with no problems on their own. ?

I don't eat iceberg lettuce, I was told to stay away from it; I was told to eat romaine lettuce, spinach, kale and becareful with carrots and broccoli. I had the duodenal switch almost 3 months ago and those leaves and the romaine I can keep down.

Stephanie Ellis

I slowly started cooked veggies around 4 months, just one at a time until I knew what I could tolerate. I was eating raw veggies and salad at about 8 months. I think it was because the weather got warmer and I wanted to eat cold served foods. Now at almost 2 years, most things are fine. When I still feel hungry, vegetables are my “filler.” I was so excited when I found wild grown arugula (ramp) when foraging (my new hobby)!

i was given the full go ahead for anything and everything (except alcohol) at 1 month post op. i didn't have any salads nor veggies at 1m post despite the all-clear cuz of food aversion issues...but that's another story.

i think, if i remember correctly, i probably had my first go at raw veggies around 3 months (?) post-op and had zero issues.

9 hours ago, Sellis2023 said:

I don't eat iceberg lettuce, I was told to stay away from it; I was told to eat romaine lettuce, spinach, kale and becareful with carrots and broccoli. I had the duodenal switch almost 3 months ago and those leaves and the romaine I can keep down.

I wonder why no iceberg? Maybe because it’s lower in nutrients??