I guess meatballs are a no for me......the sad tale of an italian woman and WLS

I grew up in a home where Nana and Mama put together a big sauce every sunday.  Everything but the kitchen sink went into that thing.  Italian sausage, pepperoni, yummy home made meatballs---and if you had a left over chicken leg, piece of steak or a pork chop---throw that in too.  It would cook all day on the stove, the smell of garlic, basil and onion wafting through the house.

For lunch we would have bread with sauce.  Nothing else---just bread and sauce---sopping up every last drop of the sweet nectar of the Gods.

Okay, can you tell I love this?

Last night was the third time I tried a home made sauce....I don't know what the issue is.  I made the meatballs much smaller this time and I only had one along with a nice salad.  And UGH.  Every time I try I feel like CRAP.  Just really heavy and full and BLECK.  I don't even know if it tasted very good going down. ....  I might be developing some strange aversion based on these few bad experiences. 

I know it is not the tomato part because I can eat chili without issue.  Could it be the breadcrumbs in the meatballs????

First off Michele, I am so sorry, family tradition food should'nt turn on you!
Are you sure it wasn't the salad? My doc's have all uncooked fruit and veg on the forbidden list until 6 months out. 
How much bread crumb are we talking about? I have had some Italian meatballs, especially those that mix the meats, seem very bready to me.
Can you try the same sause with chicken?
Good Luck,
Ellen

Not sure what kind of meat you are using in your sauce, however I am not allowed to have beef until one year after surgery.  Maybe you can try turkey?  How are you using the sauce?  with bread?  with pasta? 

Jeannie

I am using ground beef which is on my approved list.  I didnt think of trying another meat...hummmm...  I had about 4 pieces of rigatoni this time but the other two times just the meatball with sauce and nothing else.

Well, I have had salad without issue.....and my plan says fresh veggies are fine starting at about 6 weeks---anything without a peel and no nuts currently oh...no raw celery. 

Bread crumbs....I would say probably about 2-3 cups but that is in about 3 lbs of meat and it makes probably 3 dozen meatballs at least....

It is interesting to see how different docs go with different guidelines.

My surgeon also says no beef or pork for the first 5 months.   So - don't give up hope - it might just be you are too early out to be able to tolerate the meat ball.

Jody

Here's another thought...I'm wondering if the tomato sauce itself is irritating your pouch? If the meatball is cooked all day, it's quite soft and tender. My NUT/surgeon has no restrictions on any kind of meat once started back on solids at about 4 weeks post-op. If I could tolerate it well chewed, it was fine. I'm just wondering if the acidity of the sauce is irritating your pouch? Have you had just plain sauce without issue? What else is in your meatballs?

I guess I just assumed if I was eating chili regularly that it wouldnt be the tomato.

Meatballs:
Eggs
Parmesan cheese
parsley
garlic
breadcrumbs

I think it would depend on how much tomato is in the chili vs. how much sauce you're eating with the meatball...what exactly happens? Does it feel like it gets stuck? Do you just not feel well? Does your pouch just get pissy and irritable? If it's "just" heaviness and fullness, it might just be a very rich food for you right now. Try eating even just one bite of the meatball if you want, and see how you do with that. And it may just be that since you've been eating more low fat and clean, your body doesn't tolerate the higher fat stuff as well.

Give it a few more months, and then try it again.  Your still pretty new post op and sometimes there is no reason, our tummies decide they don't like something.  I will get better.