How much salad will I be able to eat?

[Cattitude]

Sounds silly I know. But whenever I used to eat really healthy one of my go to things was a huge salad with hard boiled egg, grilled chicken, and about 5 different veggies along with the greens. Then I used spray dressing all over it and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

Just wondering if ya'll think I can do this by summer? I just had my surgery last week. My post op diet says no raw veggies until about 10 weeks out. Also how much salad can the sleeve tolerate? Like a cereal bowl size? I used to eat my salad in a mixing bowl! (it was still low calorie).

[Karen Dodge-Kelso]

I wasnt able to tolerate lettuce until about 2 years out; however I could eat fresh spinach

[mi49301]

oh I wonder too, one of my favorite things salad, croutons, eggs, cheese, and thousand island dressing....can not wait until I can eat it, even if it is a smidgeon! When you say not tolerate do you mean you were nauseated or other...... : (

[Dixiedarling]

my favorite was salad too...i would love to know responses on this!!!

[boricuafever]

I would love to know to when you start eating it or how bad it is to eat salad,i love it and miss it.

[StephLasVegas]

A number of people told me that salad would be hard on my stomach, but that hasn't been the case. Of course I can't eat much of it but the few bites I did have were one of the better things on my stomach! I had surgery on 2/29, so only about three and half weeks ago. The other day I had a few small bites of a salad with mixed greens and teeny amount of balsamic dressing. My doctor allowed my, at two weeks out, to try pretty much any food that i felt comfortable with. Most of what I am eating is still softer foods but I thought I would try the bite of salad. There were no side effects at all. The lettuce was the mixed greens, so I think it was a little softer than some other kinds of lettuce, which may have helped. I guess we are all different, but I was one that did not have a problem with a little bit of lettuce.

[Sunflower]

I've been told that raw vegetables are the last frontier in gastric sleeve recovery. I'm looking forward to getting bacck to my salads too, but I think an entire cereal bowl full may be more than you can manage.

[carolynodien]

I am now 5 months out, and I started eating salad about 2 1/2 months out with no repercussions. You won't be able to eat much, especially if you add in the proteins, but that is the point, isn't it??? lol!

[cathyp357]

I too was able to eat salad at about 2 1/2 - 3 months out. I am slowing adding in the veggies that I used to enjoy in my salads so that I can see how well my stomach will tolerate them. I have only had problems with some of the denser veggies, like cauliflower. Salads are almost like the dessert of my post-op stomach ~ so so yummy!!

[Cattitude]

Thank you all for responding. I swear I am dreaming of a cold, crunchy salad! Never thought I'd say that. I know I won't be able to eat a lot of it at first but greens and veggies are mostly water so I thought eventually could have a decent portion. Darn it now I really want it!

[themouse1960]

I am 5 months post op and I only tried a salad about 1 1/2 months ago. I made a very small taco salad. I made sure I had my protein on there-meat, cheese, etc. I even measured the lettuce-it was maybe 2 cups if even that. It was oh so yummy. I try to eat on the light side so I don't overeat, then if I get hungry sooner I have room for my snacks.

[ShrinkingViolet]

I couldn't do salad until 5 months out and even then (and since) I can only really do a small salad of butterleaf lettuce with lots of protein (beans, hummus, cheese, chicken) and minimal veggies. I think this is different for everyone, but don't plan on those gigantic salads ever again!

[connie]

Salad? Salad? Did someone say Salad? I had my favorite Olive Garden salad the other day---about 2 tablespoons full---the only reason that I had it was for the taste again. Remember salad was used as a filler in the old days (pre sleeve), I was able to digest it ok, the problem I have is that having 1/2 cup at a meal does not leave much room for me to have salad unless I stomp it down before I even get it into my mouth. Hmmmm, I'm thinking for me that I can probably put salad on the soda pop list---not something I have to have. Blessings- Connie

[ShrinkingViolet]

Our pre-surgery bellies were too big - the salad would fill them up with a fairly small amount of calories. Now we need the opposite - protein-dense foods to get all our nutrients in that tiny pouch.

[scgal21]

I have been eating salad (butter lettuce, tomato, peeled cukes, egg, grated cheese, etc.) since about 2 months out and have no problems whatsoever. I can eat about a cup. Those days of HUGE salads are over for me! LOL There are days that nothing else satisfies me like fresh veggies.