meals

[rasor]

hi guys

any recommendations of what meals might tempt me after my ivor lewis op ,struggling with food at the moment

[Magpuss]

'Meals' can be very daunting, a little bit of whatever you fancy, whenever you fancy it is less of a chore. On days when I found sweet things too sickly, a small piece of cheese, a savoury cracker and a drink of Bovril went down well. Rich tea biscuits were also easily digested. Soup was another favourite but I'd only manage two or three spoonsful, the same with things like rice pudding,custard or yoghurt. Trying to manage just one spoonful too much caused problems (and still does). I couldn't manage the recommended six small snacks a day but I'd have a few nibbles handy to pick at. A few grapes and nuts, biscuits, a packet of crisps, maltesers a kitkat - anything at all that might tempt me to have a nibble. Because it felt right to be eating 'something' at mealtimes my small snacks were reserved for then, I couldn't always finish them but would make up for it with the odd grape, maltesers or half biscuit a little later. The odd nibble is much less of a challenge, it's not like real food but it's still nourishment.

[Hidden]

The OPA produce a recipe book that they will send you if you contact their helpline 0121 704 9860, or you can download it

opa.org.uk/downloads.html

[Hidden]

my wife mashed everything up in a blender for me. so it was usually mash potatoes and anything that was small and easily swallowed. Yoghurts,jelly, eggs, bit of a trial and error.Learnt to stay clear of spicy, fatty type foods and not to eat late. Progress onto normal foods , never realised how crisps go soft and are tastier, biscuits ,anything but take your time and chew it well. small meals 6/7 a day. go steady and improve slowly. i have taken to wraps instead of bread seems to digest better for me.

[Hidden]

It's hard work during those first few days and weeks post surgery. Trying to think of new meals/ foods when your exhausted is frustrating. So here's a few ideas that might help I had my surgery in March 2016 and due to complications was fed by TPN for a few weeks so it was a slow return to eating

I kept a notebook with ideas of foods I thought I could manage meals as such were tiny snacks can be as nutritious as a main meal I used and still use my freezer and microwave a lot as frozen vegetables can be cooked easily when needed and without waste I would ask my husband to make a large portion of root vegetable mash that would last a few days as I found this easy to digest Then I could mix in canned tuna fish in water or a little bit of cheese and that with a bit of frozen veg makes a cheap meal Or I could eat it with cold cooked chicken from s supermarket Fish fingers come in tiny portions! I developed a liking for Marks and spencer salmon fishcakes with the sauce in the middle again they freeze and ready for when you can't face cooking Prawns are high in protein and I found could make a snack with crackers

As time went by and I got stronger I began to cook proper meals and freeze them. There are still a lot of foods I struggle with red meat coffee chocolate and dairy amongst them but I now enjoy cooking and finding new things to try

The notebook of ideas and knowing that you have enough in the freezer/ cupboards to get through the next couple of days removed the stress and tension of it all so it won't be too long for you to get out and enjoy life!

Good luck happy eating!

[NatChap]

My Dad enjoyed things like curries, soups and stews cooked slow so the meat was soft. He had homemade milkshakes (banana is a good one) with added protein powder as a snack or if he didn't feel like food.