I've noticed that quite a few of you are already in the soft food stage. What kinds of things are you eating?

Refried beans, eggs, yogurt, hamburger, some overcooked pasta and some crackers soaked in soup to mushie stage....Oh and mashed potatoes and gravy. It's better than clear liquids but I'm still ready for real food! I do supplement with a protein shake or two each day to make sure I'm getting enough. I had some spaghetti and meat sauce the other day but ran it through my food processor first. It wasn't pretty but it tasted good!

There's a fine line of distinction between mushies (like refried beans) and "soft" foods (like baked fish) i'm not sure I'm doing it exactly right because my doc recommended ONLY cottage cheese (which I cannot stand yuck) and boiled or scrambled eggs and yogurt. But nosing around here other docs (I think) call my stuff mushies so I'm going for it. I trust my doc but his dietitian is a little radical and prone to saying YOU MUST without backing it up. That makes me bristle. For example YOU MUST avoid ALL CAFFEINE! she proclaims. Why I ask? She gives me the hairy eyeball and then says "Because it will MAKE YOU HUNGRY!" Well, it doesn't make me hungry, so I don't feel I MUST avoid it! LOL I'm trying to figure out what's really dangerous and what she just doesn't "like".

I am too in the mushie phase and I've been eating all of the above except for the hamburger (I didn't know I could have that, but I'm glad to hear it!). I've also been eating baked potatoes and chili. I am sooooo ready for some solid food! This weekend I can start introducing some.

Restlessmonkey, have you started on solids? What do you recommend starting with? I've been really craving some grilled chicken! LOL

No I don't get "soft" solids (like baked fish) for another week and a half! But I am going to slow cook some chicken thighs and then food process them and make chicken tacos or maybe chicken burritos (flour tortillas get pretty soggy so I figure they are a mushie...I hope I'm right. I'd hate to be hurting myself over a tortilla! LOL) and I think they'll go down. But I'm not going to try just chomping on some chicken for another 2 weeks I think. My first "intact" food will probably be some plank grilled tilapia! That's nice and "soft"...and really good!

hey peeps,

here is my go-to list for mushies/pureed/soft phase. i'm gonna list it all and depending on how you're feeling, you'll know what you can try. (side note, Pasta is not recommended due to gluten/sticking issues no matter if its blended or what)

Here goes: pureed chili (YUM), egg drop soup (GREAT Calcium and Protein source) tuna, soft boiled eggs, applesauce, carnation instant Breakfast with pudding, all Soups, black Beans, kidney beans, all beans, ground meats simmered in enchilada sauce, hot/sour soup, sardines, canned ham, oatmeal, grits, jelly, (avoid Peanut Butter, it gets stuck), honey, yogurt, oyster or saltine crackers soaked to mush, beef gravy, and lite Spam (its better than expected, I had never eaten it.)

As well, never forget baby food, it's actually a great nutritional source and perfectly pre-measured servings, good way to get fruit and veggies in! Good luck!

I have not figured out what is mushy and what is soft yet. According to my Dr., I can start soft foods on day 9. I am currently on day four and this was my first day of full liquids. I had a sugar free carnation instant breakfast shake today. I think I am hungry now, but I'm not sure. I am having a lot of rumbling.

Re PASTA

My dietitian (miss hairy eyeball) said pasta is ok if you overcook it. I ate it fine...no gluten issues here, no sticking. So if you love it and want to try it during the mushie phase, just cook it well (otherwise it will continue to absorb liquids and swell even after you've eaten it)

I will be passing on the pasta once I can eat "real" foods again, but for now, it's a godsend.

I've also had peanut butter (forgot that) and no sticking. But again, I'm wide open so far, no fills yet. Post fill and once I get restriction, I'll pass on it until I'm very familiar with how my band is doing.

I didn't even think about Spam....I actually even like it cooked certain ways! Good deal!

Thanks for all the info!

missymoo78, you are getting excited about hamburger and spam. I think I've found a soul mate LOL

At this point I get pretty excited about the thoughts of ANYTHING I can chew!! Ha, ha.....

I know what you mean. You don't really understand "Bandster hell" until you live through it! :smile:

wow. i can't wait. wed. is my 1st meal, (2 weeks post op) GRRRR. lol. still on liquid diet.

tortillas are very bad for u .. and being im from san antonio , i know they are terrific , but .. a bread and mabe you shouldnt ..

For my postop diet I have to do 1-2 days clear liquids, then 1-2 weeks full liquids, then 2-4 weeks pureed foods, then 2-4 weeks soft foods. Really, what's the difference between pureed and soft?

Also could I eat the egg drop soup from a restaurant or should I make it at home?