Food ideas

[thisjourney]

I am 3 weeks post-op IL Esophogectomy. I am getting ready to switch from pureed foods to soft foods but I am nervous. Any suggestions that helped you through this will be greatly appreciated.

[Cavalier3]

Hello.. hope you are doing well… I never ate puréed foods I started on soft foods as soon as I was able to eat about a week after my surgery. I started on mash potatoes with butter/cream and cheese, fresh fish grilled, scrambled eggs, omelette. My dietician recommended pasta but it caused dumping and I still can’t eat it 18 months on. Tea and biscuits was another early favourite, cauliflower cheese. I just stayed away from anything with a tough skin, no potato skins or tomato skins, they still make me sick. Chew everything really well and eat slowly. You will be absolutely fine. Here if you need anything xxxx

[FKM100]

Hi. Like the previous poster, I also started off on soft foods but did not puree anything and never found it necessary. I would say it's enough to just limit your quantities, eat very slowly and chew everything very well. Give your 'stomach' time to empty between meals. Proteins and fats will stay in your stomach longer than carbs, so remember to factor this in. Don't drink with or immediately after a meal, either.

Wishing you all the best!

[Brett77]

Start with small quantities and eat slowly. This was the advice I was given. You’ll be fine. I didn’t puree anything.

[champagnelover]

It does become a little bit of trial and error. It seems we all tolerate different foods. I have always been able to eat pasta without any problems at all. In fact my first meal was in hospital and it was macaroni cheese! Another favourite at the beginning for me was tinned fruit (soft) and ice cream. I also didn't have much appetite at first but tried to eat small amounts. It does improve over time, once you can establish what you can tolerate and enjoy. Good luck with your recovery!

[ccfc]

I agree that everyone is different. It really is a case of finding what suits you. And even if you find something doesn’t suit you now still try again further down the road because your body changes and adapts over time. Best Wishes, James.

[grandylynda]

I never had pureed food either, just small quantities of soft food and soup. One thing I remember is that mince was a problem because of the texture. Cottage pie would sound good but I finished up just eating the potato. Opa do a free booklet of recipies which are suitable for this stage. Hopefully you have seen a dietitian and have been told to concentrate on protien and fats. Apparently the body can cope with few vitamins for longer. Apart from that, I second all the other advice.

[Magpie63]

Hi As every one else has said small amounts and chew well- my husband’s operation was total removal of his stomach along with a section of oesophagus. I cooked minced beef with mash with lots of butter/ margarine; minced chicken or pork or lamb made a change; cottage pie; fish pie; rice pudding; trifle; thick custard with tinned fruit; custard tarts. As husband gained confidence he has found porridge a good breakfast - add powdered milk and a powdered food supplement from the dietician and some sultanas gives about 400 calories. And about 10 months on he can eat almost anything in smaller/ child sized quantities : curry is a favourite!!

[purplekey in reply to Magpie63]

can you explain your recipe for your small porridge with 400 calls. Not had any since my op. X

[Magpie63 in reply to purplekey]

Hi these are the amounts my husband can eat now 10 months after his total gastrectomy : 30 g porridge oats (108 cal) 200 ml soya milk ( 64 cal) 15 g skimmed milk powder (71 cal) one pro cal supplement powder (100 cal) and then about 15g of sultanas or breakfast cereal mix ( 70 + cal) which is over 400 in total.

Full fat cows milk made him sick - probably because we haven’t used it for year apart from in custard….

I’m not sure if not having a stomach is very different from having some…

[purplekey in reply to Magpie63]

thank you for this. I will try his. As I’ve had eggs every morning for 18 months and would like a change. Good luck to your husband. I’ve only got a little bit of stomach so have to eat 6 tiny meals a day so it’s probabilly not much different.x.