Question:
I can't tolerate chicken. What do I eat?
Since I can't eat beef, pork, and no chicken, how am I supposed to get all this protein in? — ANN P. (posted on October 6, 2003)
October 6, 2003
Hi Ann~Well I'm still a pre-op but Tuna has a lot of protein in it. Also
you might want to find a protein shake that you like and can tolerate. Make
sure you chew your meats up very well. Maybe puree them in the blender with
a little water? Well I hope this suggestion helps a little or maybe gives
you some ideas.
— amym99
October 6, 2003
Cottage cheese is very high in protein as is tuna and salmon. They were
staples for me early out. Actually I could eat pork and beef long before I
could tolerate chicken. Can you eat eggs? Try cheese, cream cheese, and
then there's always protein supplements. Beans are very high in protein
too - Taco Bells pintos with cheese are yummy.
— Patty_Butler
October 6, 2003
Maybe you're just not ready for dry-er meats like chicken. Can you make
chicken salad or tuna salad? They won't be as dry. As for protein, 2
shakes a day will give you 60 grams.
Best of luck!
— mrsmyranow
October 6, 2003
I am 6 mos post op and I still have a problem with chicken. I know of other
long term post ops who had early chicken problems and continue to have
problems with it. I stuck with tuna, crab or lobster salads and shrimp (my
favorite). Ricotta has a very high protein content (compared to other soft
cheeses). Tuna has a very high protein content when compared to other
seafoods (higher than chicken per ounce). Best wishes
— M B.
October 6, 2003
Chicken is about the only meat I still have problems with. And I think my
problems with it lie in the moisture content of the chicken. I get most of
my protein from shellfish or tuna, and surprisingly I can tolerate beef
jerky. I absolutely adore shrimp cocktails and crab cocktails. Tuna
(fresh or canned) is very high in protein. Low-fat cheese a great source
of protein too. How about a baked potato with some cheese on it? Check
out taco bell's menu. An order of pintos and cheese has 10 grams of
protein in it according to their website. The sour cream and chives baked
potato from Wendy's has 8 grams of protein. I still do about half my
potein from supplements, but the rest I do get from food.
— Cathy S.
October 6, 2003
Try turkey. My wife and I have the same problem with chicken.
Turkey just seems to stay in our pouch better and not make us
feel like we are overstuffed. We buy the pre-cooked white
breast and then cut it into cubes, mix some onions in and then
smother with melted cheese. It is delicious. We also put the
turkey in our salads. Cold or hot, turkey is the best for
us. Also, try yogurt. It is full of protein too. Good luck to
you.
— OLD RODEO C.
October 6, 2003
I could eat all meats except chicken. That was really painful. It was about
9 months before I could eat chicken and then only KFC's. (I like thigh
meat). I'm 2+ years out and still occassionally have problems with chicken.
Funny, I never have had problems with Turkey. Go figure! Anyway, give meat
some time. Personally I ate alot of beef with NO problems. And I ate beef
jerky from day eight! (Chewed it to liquid though).
— Danmark
October 6, 2003
Chicken has been the hardest food to eat BY FAR!!! I couldn't eat much
(and still really can't) of it. Try turkey. Also, have you tried beef? I
found it much easier then most meats. I've never had a problem with it.
Pork can be hard on the new tummy too.
— Patty H.
October 6, 2003
At six months out, I still can't eat pork (too dense), and sometimes
chicken gives me trouble (too stringy). I do eat tender beef, and ground
beef. Turkey is a good suggestion. I also eat a lot of deli meat--it's
soft and sliced thin. Cheese is an excellent source of protein. So are
eggs. I eat a lot of fish (tuna, white fish fillets, crab, shrimp,
scallops, lobster, imitation crab and lobster, poached salmon, trout,
etc.). Fish is soft and moist, so it goes down easy and stays down. Beans
are also a good source of protein.
— Vespa R.
October 6, 2003
Ann my dear Try Fresh Fish! I've had the same problem with chicken. I was
never into fish before but since surgery I've enjoyed the pleasure of fresh
catfish, salmon, crab cakes! Fresh fish is delicious and very high in
protein and iron. Try it, you'll like it!!
— Deanna H.
October 6, 2003
Ann,
Try salmon, trout, crab, shrimp. Be careful with tuna. I know so many
folks who first dumped on tuna including me. I have a wonderful concoction
I make with cream cheese, crab or salmon, spices, tabasco peppers. It has
lots of flavor but more importantly, lots of protein. Take care of
yourself.
Ann in TX
— Ann B.
October 6, 2003
I used whey pretien powder in everything I could to get mine in.Try
grounding your meat to see if that will build your tolerance.
— KCAllen77
October 6, 2003
I am only 6 days post-op, but cottage cheese has been my biggest source of
protein. Also instead of the costly protein shakes, my dietician
recommended non-fat dry powdered milk. She said to mix it
— Dedee
October 6, 2003
Early on for me - it was forget about meat. Dairy was good though. No milk.
But cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt. Alsoy soy beans and soy products like
tofu and soy milk were kind on the tummy. - Still I could never get the
recommended without a supplement. I still supplement on low days. (18
months +) I like vita4life protein liquid. I mix the orange creamsicle with
8 oz water and it doesn't taste great but I drink it like medicine and it
is only 10 oz with the water added so I drink it fast. 30 grams of protein
for 2 oz of the protein liquid. - I remember early on the first swig would
make me a smidge queesy but if I would wait 5-10 mins it would pass and the
rest would be no prob.
— sara J.
October 6, 2003
I am 9 months post-op and cannot eat chicken, pork, or beef. I get my
protein from one protein drink a day, all sorts of different cheeses, eggs,
beans, chicken salad, tuna salad, and high protein cereal (Back to Nature's
Hi-Lo cereal and Back to Nature's Hi Protein cereal), lunchmeats, chili,
Taco Bell's Pintos n Cheese, cottage cheese, and my favorites: shrimp,
crab, and lobster.
— Kristen S.
October 6, 2003
Hi! Before I could tolerate meats - especially pork or chicken, I had lots
of protein drinks, but also had processed meats (cold cuts) with cheese for
protein. Then I slowly discovered that I could start on regular meats as
long as they were moist enough. Now I always poach chicken in chicken
broth and I only eat tender cuts of beef or ground beef. Pork is still
hard, but it works in sausage or moist ham. So try a few things and know
that your tolerance will change as you become further post-op. Things
change before you know it! After you hit 2 or 3 months out, you'll be able
to eat so much differently than you can now. Good luck!
— toolio
October 11, 2003
CHICKEN WAS THE LAST THING I COULDN'T EAT,, UNTIL A YEAR AND A HALF
OUT.. CAN TODAY,, TO REPLACE IT I FOUND I COULD EAT AND ENJOY LEAN SLICED
ROAST BEEF,, IT KEPT ME GOING EARLY ON.. GOOD LUCK
— bruce M.
October 12, 2003
I was the same way ... chicken was the LAST protein that I was able to
tolerate and it took several months for me to get to the point where I
could handle it. I could tolerate lean, finely chopped ground beef very
early on. Unlike most people I could tolerate most forms of beef long
before I could handle things like pork or chicken. If beef is totally out
of the question (either because your surgeon doesn't allow it or you can't
tolerate it) I found that lightly scrambled eggs with or without a little
grated cheese was almost always easy to tolerate in the early days. I also
agree with the others that moistness is the key ... any type of protein
food that was the least bit dry or stringy did not work for me early post
op and at almost 3 years post op ... I still can't handle dry meats. Good
luck.
— Lynn T.
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