Question:
How can I get protein in without shakes or drinks
I am 6 weeks post-op and can't do the protein shakes. Yogurt and milk make me sick. I can't stomach artificial sweetners, i.e., Crystal light, Sweet-n-low. I try eating meat (chicken, turkey & fish) but they get stuck. I still try them at least, but soft vegatables and soups work best. Please HELP! I don't want to lose my hair. — Tee H. (posted on December 27, 2004)
December 27, 2004
I am 7 months Post Op, "Been where you are, done that" Don't
even try poultry for now. En=ven at 7 months post op I don't do Turkey or
Chicken. Try cottage cheese, even if you are lactose intolorent (like I
am) cottage cheese is a good source of protein, and it stays down.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 27, 2004
I know your pain! I was about 4-5 months post op before I could do protein
shakes. I had trouble with artificial sweeteners also. I was able to eat
cottage cheese, even though milk made me sick - you might give that a try.
Eventually I was able to drink milk. I still really hate a lot of shakes
that I likes pre-op, but have found many that work for me. At the begining
it was VERY hard to get enough protein, but it passed. I found that I just
did what I could and focused on eating what I could, and slowly I was able
to eat more. Again, what worked OK for me was cottage cheese, so give that
a try. I also liked purred tuna and for some reason ground beef went down
OK. Still have trouble with chicken and turkey.
— w8free
December 27, 2004
You will lose more than your hair if you don't get your protein in. It
effects every major organ in your body. As to how to get it in, I don't
know. I struggle daily and have just found it impossible without the
shakes.
— Delores S.
December 27, 2004
Protein is an absolute must for your health, so you have to get it in one
way or another. Meats might be getting stuck this early on because they're
too dense. Try chopping the meat up fine, like you're making chicken
salad. Eat it with some kind of sauce or gravy to moisten it (I love
chopped turkey with a little Italian dressing on it, or chopped beef or
lamb with a bit of steak sauce). Fish is usually easy to digest because
it's already flaky. Tuna is the highest-protein food out there. Try that,
or some salmon. Shrimp was always good to me as long as I chewed it well.
I never could stand those milky shakes, either. I did try the Nectar
fruit-flavored drinks for awhile, and I could drink those (I would mix them
with a complementary flavor of Crystal Light, made half-strength). If that
doesn't work for you, let me suggest Rocomojo (rocomojo.com). It's a
soy-bean based coffee substitute. Lots of protein, no milky or fruity
flavor. It's sold as a coffee substitute. I don't think it tastes much
like coffee, and as long as I think of it as another flavored hot drink,
I'm OK that it doesn't taste like coffee (made by the directions I find it
to be too strong. Adjust as needed.). You're not going to get enough
protein from soft vegetables and soups. If you still need that soft a
texture, then go back to pureeing your food, but get more protein! And,
relax, it really does get so much easier soon.
— Vespa R.
December 27, 2004
grilled or sauteed fish, canned tuna, shrimp all worked well early on.
sushi with only a dab of rice was also good. Took 4-5 months to tolerate
chicken breast or steak, but did ok with hamburger and chicken thighs. I
found out steak would work if I had a juicy well marbled kind like
ribeye(with lots of meat tenderizer on it before grilling.) but lean stuff
like filet was hard for a long time.If it is really getting stuck my guess
is too big bites. Cut it into bites the ize of a pencil eraser and chew it
to nothing before swallowing. I really think my tolerance issues were from
taking too big of bites and going too fast initially. I was a slow
learner.
— **willow**
December 27, 2004
You might try waving a magic wand over your head?
Go to VitaLady.com & order some samples . . . I recommend Nectars mad
with Splenda (Fuzzy, Blue or Lemon), ProPlete Gold, Stack.
You will *never* get enough protein from food, as you no longer digest
food. Counting on food for protein is like counting on winning PowerBall
Lottery, and spending like you've won. You're spending your organs.
Make the shakes as think or as thin as you need to get them down. Water
and ice only.
Good luck, and keep trying . . . this is vital! :o)
— RWH G.
December 27, 2004
There are lots of ways to get in protein if you're creative. If you can
tolerate cheese, mix it in with your soup and heat it until melted. Peanut
butter, the no sugar added kind is good. Sometimes I just licked it off a
spoon and still do that occasionally. Some of the protein bars are really
good if you chew, chew, chew. I like the Zone bars too much though so
can't keep them in the house. I buy them one at a time. Eggs in any form
are good if you can tolerate them. Puree some chicken and mix it in with
the soup. The canned kind works well because it is very moist. If it's
just a matter of taste that you can't do the protein shakes, then you just
have to make yourself do it if you can't get enough protein without them.
I didn't especially like them either and didn't care for sugar free drinks
at all but I just knew I had to do it so gritted my teeth and got it over
with as quickly as I could. If they don't make you physically sick, you
may have to do the same. Surprisingly, I started to really like some of
the drinks and look forward to having them now. Try diet V8 splash rather
than Crystal Light if you can find it in your area. The tropical blend and
the raspberry lime are awesome. Sliced deli meat is usually a good choice.
Take really small bites and chew thoroughly. You might be able to drink
some of the soy based milk products. The other posters are right though.
Losing your hair should be the least of your worries if you can't figure
out ways to get in enough protein. Be creative......and good luck to you as
you try to find some answers. It will get easier.
— scbabe
December 27, 2004
Deli meats and cheeses. They are cheaper and more natural and taste better
than protein shakes. I never did shakes and my protein levels were VERY
high. They seemed to be very easy to tolerate on the stomach and they set
you up for eating natural foods. I certainly would'nt want to live on those
shakes. Why not eat real food that is good for you! Sure deli meats and
various cheese is'nt cheap but you can't eat much so eat them. High protein
and good for you. :)
— Danmark
December 27, 2004
Any seafood is the best in protein, pork is also high in protein, then
believe it or not lean ground beef, then last chicken. I love red kidney
beans, I put them in my homemade veggie soup. Cheese is good, but to much
can bind you, so use sparely. I also add Tofu to alot of my food, it has
no taste and it will cook down so you do not even know you are eating Tofo.
Refried beans have good protein. Make sure that your chicken is very
most, I like baked chicken cooked with stewed tomatoes. Turkey is the same
way, it needs to be most so that it does not get stuck. Try cooking pork
loins in olive oil and a touch of soy sauce covered with garlic salt and
onion salt, it is so moist it melts in your mouth. Another thing I find
easy to eat is roast, yes good ole pot roast with alot of gravy. Good luck
finding your favorate protein source.
— cindy
December 27, 2004
Is it that you can't to shakes because of milk and yogurt? I don't have a
single protein powder that requires either of them. <br>
Losing your hair is the least of your worries. I did about 300-400
calories/day for over a year, and had lousy protein intake, and lost no
hair. And plenty of people who are diligent about protein lose theirs. Be
more worried about anemia, muscle loss, etc. Hair grows back.<br>
I had a hard time with solids for over two years - protein shakes were the
only way to get my calories and protein up. Keep sampling until you find
one you like! www.enjoyhealth.com and www.vitalady.com have protein
samples.
— kultgirl
December 28, 2004
I am only 2 weeks post op- on total full liquids for 3 more weeks-but
trying to be creative with this diet. I am making sugar free choc pudding
(has some aspartame) with 16 oz evap skim milk, a scoop of vanilla slim
fast ( no sweetners) and a scoop of WHEY protein powder in natural. This
recipe is 2 cups-or 16 oz- of pudding with 40 grams of protein. In each 2
oz serving I get 5 grams of protein. You can put it in an ice cream freezer
too.
I can have 6 high protein servings a day of this or something else.
I also make the pudding in vanilla- add a drop of lemon juice or key lime
juice for a change. I make carb options chicken soup- powdered- and add
evap skim milk and protein powder to it.
We were told post op- to double strength our skim milk with evaporated or
dry milk powder when adding to anything. I add whey powder to about
everything I cook.
I also cook cream of rice cereal with milk- strain marinara sauce and top
it off- yumm. closest thing to lasagna I can come to right now.
There is a baby food- wild rice and turkey- that is divine- I dilute it
with chicken broth and heat up. It's good too. Has some protein.
Hope this helps....................Carolyn
— Dec16-04
December 28, 2004
I couldn't tolerate protein drinks until I was about 3 months out. I did
find a Split Pea soup (dry in a cup, just add water) that had 12 gm. of
protein and very little sugars. I still eat them to this day as s good
protein source. Read your labels, not all soups are the same. Some are high
in sodium, sugars and whimpy in the protein dept. Look in the 'health food'
section of the grocery store sometimes the options are better.
— keva M.
December 28, 2004
Grind everything with a food processor. Mix tuna with salad dressing,
ground turkey ground up even further. I lived on mild homemade chili with
beans and ground turkey for my first year. Tofu with anything that has a
flavor, eg honey mustard. Also try the protein powders with fruit and
fruit juice if you can tolerate the sugar content.
— Daisy C.
December 28, 2004
Try liquid protein from GNC. It comes in fruit punch flavor. I mix 3
tablespoons in with half/half mixture of Hawaian Punch light and water (8
ounce total) and sip on it throughout the day. This gives you 21 grams of
protein in a light fruity drink. Also, try Carnation Instant Breakfast.
It has 12grams of protein without the yucky protein taste. It comes in
Chocolate and Vanilla and are very tasty if I do say so myself. Like
chocolate or vanilla milk.
— chewmonster2003
December 28, 2004
Carb Countdown Chocolate "Milk". I am lactose intolerant, but I
drink 2 cups of this every morning for 24 grams of protein. I too could
not tolerate the protein shakes, and still can't to this day, but found the
Carb Countdown to be wonderful. They also make a protein enriched
"yogurt" and "yogurt smoothie" that I use to fill in
the blanks on my protein intake. Tuna is also a good source, very high
protein and goes down real smooth. I mix my tuna with mircle whip and eat
it on baked ritz - no booing or hissing, it is what worked for me - I used
the 3 oz individual cans. Anyway, good luck!! Tina Open RNY 12/03
292/150/150!!
— tmchase62
December 28, 2004
Try Bariatrix Nutrition products. They have soups, oatmeal, hot chocolate,
some entrees. Very low cal. about 12-14 gms protein per serving.
— Mehowes
January 9, 2006
There are several unflavored protein powders available. I am 2 1/2 weeks
post-op and have found that I can add the unflavored powder to anything I
eat and can get anywhere from 5-15 grams of protein...depending on how much
powder I can get in the food item. Also, Isopure makes several fruit
flavored protein drinks that can be purchased at GNC.
— mmcphee1
November 19, 2007
I am in the same boat as you are I am 3 weeks out and cant find anything
that I can stomach in protein It all makes me very sick I have been eating
scrambles eggs with salsa on them there good and you dont get that protein
flavor, also try cottage cheese and or low fat string cheese or shredded
you can put it on anything and it tastes better, good luck. Tracey
— UNIQUEGIRL23
October 13, 2010
I know this is an old post but just thought I could help future people with
this issue. Im asian american and right after surgery I could eat ANY broth
with soft/silken tofu. 26 grams for each broth and it goes down easily
better then jello. Or better yet have ANY broth, scramble 2 eggs and drop
it into the broth when water is boiling.. You will get instant egg drop
soup and 14 grams of protein ..
— eurasian2000
Click Here to Return