How do you eat salads?

I don't. They just don't sit well with me anymore. I am 9 months post-op and about 16 pounds from goal.

I had salad for the first time yesterday - it was the 'weeds (ie: not iceberg)' as my husband would call it - but it was soooo good!  Who ever thought we would miss salad?  This was just a little side salad deal with a little blue cheese and pecans - not much protein - but I could not stop eating it, it was that good.  I will admit that I had the vapors(as we southern gals say) later in the day - but it was worth it!

When I was new out I did a little salad and a LOT of protein. Now it is the other way around. I usually do 4-5 oz. protein (usually chicken or lunch meat) over 2 cups of salad. I always toss my salad in dressing beforehand (I find I get better coverage than trying to dip the salad in a dressing cup) and then put my protein on top.

I have been eating lots of salads lately. Most of mine have been while eating out, so the meat and cheese is on top. I try to eat the top layer first so I can get all of the protein. I find that I can eat LOTS of lettuce without getting full, so I have to watch my portions closely when eating salad.

I also dip my fork  in the dressing then "stab" the salad. I have found this really keeps me from eating too much because I can visually see how much dressing I am using. I used to pour the dressing over the top, but when I only ate 1/4 to 1/2 of the salad it was hard to tell how much dressing I had eaten.

I've been putting it all together.  For dressing I just mix plain greek yogurt with dry ranch mix. If it's a bit thick I thin it with water. A great way to get more protein without the fat.

As with everything, I mostly eat the protein first (meat and cheese) with just a couple of bites of the veggies (I dip the veggies lightly in the dressing), and then finish the veggies if I have room left.  I never eat the lettuce (no nutritional value whatsoever).

If the salad is clearly too big to eat in one meal, I pull half of everything out at the beginning to take home and then proceed...

Lora

mixed up, dressing on side that I dip fork into first also, not chopped, I find that hard to chew and my pouch doesnt like it.