Pureed and Soft Food Stage Help Needed

Ok, I am using one of my life lines......  e-mail a friend LOL

Whoo hoo, I started the pureed and soft food stage and found out some very interesting things...

I can have chicken noodle soup.  I bought Progresso lite because I have liked that in the past but when I went to eat it, my mind says it's too chunky.  I think I might try Campbells because I think it might be "musher."

I can have ground beef (2 oz) and I made hamburger patties in my George Forman, I bought super lean. Once it was cooked (well done and not my favorite) I crumbled it up really well and even added a little A-1 for flavor.   I thoroughly chewed it up, and took over 1/2 hr to get not even an ounce of gr. beef and 1tbs veges.  Well, I didn't even get an ounce in because my head said, this might get stuck.

I can also have over cooked pureed veges and so I made zuchinni and then used my handi chopper and was able to get about 1 tbs down.

Bottom line is that I am nervous, even a little afraid to each anything beyond creamy stuff.  Any suggestions and help would be really appreciated.  I have been so lucky in tolerating everything I have had so far.  I am sure this is normal but I just need to know how to get this food down.  My dr doesn't want me to live off protein shakes.  I am allowed 500 calories per day and protein should be between 60-80.  I ordered some unjury samples to see if I can boost the protein that way.

I thank you for your help.  Otherwise everything is going great.

Many thanks

Barb

Hey Sweetie!
Congrats on moving to the next stage.  It sure does feel good and it is so normal to be worried about trying new foods, just remember to take it slow.  Pureed food for me was the consistency of baby food.  I had fat free refried beans, tuna mixed with greek yogurt blended in the my Magic Bullet. 
Here is a list of the things I could have:
Cream of Wheat, Pureed oatmeal thinned (there is a weight control Oatmeal that is high in protein) , grits with slim milk
Sugarfree puddins, sorbets, applesause, gelatin, popsicles and custard.
Baby food, pureed meats, beans or lentils
The soft food stage is what you would feed a toddler. It's like we start all over.  ;-) 
All the above plus scrambled, soft cooked or poached egss, egg substitute, egg salad mixed with low fat mayo or greek yogurt. 
Mashed banana, cooked or pureed fruits, low sugar or no sugar canned fruit,
all cooked and pureed veggies
All lean meats, chicken, turkey, fist, low fat cheeses, edemame, beans, any soy product, tofu, shrimp, almond butter, peanut butter.

Okay that is a lot.  Call me if you want more.  LOL
Lola

Hi Angel Lola,

You're so great.  I have never been too impressed with their booklet.  I want more structure and something that would say you can have a 1/4 cup of this or that, but their booklet leaves a little something to be desired.

Thanks for all the great suggestions.  I am sure it will get easier, I probably started with something tough, knowing me!  LOL

Thanks my dear angel Lola, you are the best.  Hope the day was good to you.  I will give you a buzz this weekend.

Hugs,
Barb

I need to copy and send you my booklet.  I even have a cheat sheet that is helpful.  My plan says a 1/4 cup.  That is what I have been eating for the longest time.  :) 
Lola

I would love a copy of your booklet and cheat sheet.  I am sure it has to be better than what I was given.  The only problem with a teaching hospital is that they write things to suit folks in the medical profession not the general population.

Thanks my dear angel, I really appreciate your help as always.

Barb

I know this sounds gross, but pureed Campbell's healthy choice Vegetable Soup was a staple for me on that stage.  I'd put it in the blender, dump in some unflavored protein powder and heat up a tea cup's worth a couple times a day for snacks. 

Congrats on your progress!

Thanks so much for the suggestion.  I will try it, and I just ordered some samples of Unjury to add to it.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it so much.

Barb

Barb - Each new stage brings new challenges and new aprehensions.  Take it one "bite" at a time.  Try new stuff.  Chew the hell out of it.  Heck I chewed pudding in the beginning.  Each new step is exactly that - new.  Take it one new food item at a time.  Try new stuff.  If it doesn't work or doesn't taste good, throw it out.  It's not as if we make enough to feed an army!   I was totally aprehensive every time I moved to a new stage.  Some things worked, some things didn't.  I've had some disasters and some things quickly moved to my favorites.

Be careful about sauces.  Read labels and watch your sugar content.  Ketchup has sugar in it.  BBQ sauce has sugar and I bet A1 has sugar in it too.

We can talk more when we meet in Concord.  I am stoked I get to meet you!

Maureen

Maureen,

Thanks for the advice and for confirming that I am not the only one to feel apprehensive.  A-1 had just a small amount of sugar and I measured 1 tbs and I know I didn't even come close to eating it.  I really was looking for some flavor!

I look forward to seeing and meeting you, that will be great.

Barb

I think Lola had the key here. I am no expert but I purchased a Magic Bullet and started using it a few weeks ago just to get use to the idea (yeah I know a little extreme LOL) and it work AWESOME. You can take the soup and puree the living daylight out of it. Just a thought. Baby food is also a great idea but you just need to watch the salt content (for me anyway).

Looking forward in seeing what you come up with. Im only 12 days away from my surgery

Have a good day..............Rick