Cheating or smart? (When you can't drink with your meals)

From the beginning in order to avoid the "unable to drink while I eat blues" I have often incorporated moist things into my meal.  Early on it was unsweetened applesauce.  I rarely had an issue with feeling too full, so I didn't have to worry about that issue.  If my mouth was getting dry enough that I had trouble, I would just slip a little applesauce in between bites.  I wasn't eating a whole bowl or anything. Just a "sip" if that word works.

Whether or not I had any applesauce while eating, I often would eat one teaspoon at the end of a meal. It was a way of getting moisture and a fresher flavor in my mouth until I could drink water again.

Now instead of applesauce I use grapes. A grape at the end of a meal is really nice (as long as it doesn't act as a trigger to make me want to eat too many).

 

Interesting!  This kind of goes along with some of the confusion I see around soup - which is basically drinking a liquid while eating the chunks of whatever is in there.

I'm pre-op, but am trying to figure out how "moist" my meat needs to be, and I guess I'll find that out when the time comes! I'm curious to see what others say!

I have a feeling this is one of those things that will vary according to individual situations.  I never had any trouble swallowing or being able to eat enough protein from the 3rd or 4th day out.  So for me to slip in a little extra didn't cause any probs. Other people might have issues with not getting in enough protein if they add something else.

I have been using the grapes also, but didn't think of it as cheating. I'm now allowed to incorporate a little fruit, so whynot at the end of my protein and before my water!

Honestly, *looks around nervously* I never followed the rule about drinking with meals b/c eating with no liquid was the one and only thing that ever gave me foamies and drooling.  It was very clear to me that regardless of what the conventional wisdom was, my body needed a touch of liquid with each meal.  I think it had more to do with the hiatal hernia repair than with the VSG. I think it was just so tender there at the opening to my stomach that it needed a little lubrication to function.   

I didn't have a hernia repair, but Do have a tummy (AKA Fred) that has issues with dry food. If the food I eat is too dry he makes all sorts of racket - squeaks, burbles, groaning noises. The only good answer is small, careful sips of something - preferable a hot something. As little as a couple of teaspoons of tea or coffee sipped a few drops at a time will make him perfectly happy and he'll chug along in silence once it's in.

This is not to be confused with gulping down ANYTHING, which sends me on a mad dash to the bathroom. Yes, I've carelessly done that a time or two, I make darned sure I don't now!

Something like applesauce as part of the meal is smart.

Kelly-Anne

When I was early out many people posted about using "food lube". Lube was something to moisten foods to help them go down more easily. I used gravy on meats, greek yogurt on deli meats, sriracha sauce mixed with yogurt or light mayo as a dip for meat, etc.... I did eat unsweetened applesauce once during purees, but it didn't become a staple. I think your use of applesauce and grapes is a great idea, as long as it goes along with your surgeon's plan.

I've been pretty lucky in that I was never a big drinker with my meals. I always drank before a meal and after, but rarely during.

 

I've struggled with it but I just can't not drink water when I eat. I drink water all day from the moment I wake up to right before I go to sleep - I love me some water. I'd rather break up my meals into smaller ones than not drink water with them.

The good news (I guess) is tha****er is almost the only thing I drink aside from my coffee protein mocha in the morning.