meal ideas post-surgery?

Hi there! Well, I basically know what foods to stick with post-surgery, the low fiber/low residue stuff. But what about full meals? I'm the main cook for my family, & I'd like to be able to cook meals we can all eat. So far, I can think of roasted chicken w/potatoes, quiche, macaroni & cheese, fish & rice... then I come up empty! Soup too, squash, pureed veggies, etc... What kind of veggies did you all eat? But meals... help!!!!

thank you! I just checked out your blog, Liz- wow! What a story- I'm glad things seem to be getting better. MY big issue is that I really don't eat much red meat.... well, I just flat-out don't eat it. I don't like it, never have- I'm probably the only living American who's never had a McDonalds hamburger! Turkey burgers too, yuk... I forgot about carrots, I do like them baked really long, 'til they carmelize & get soft. Those would be good with roasted potates... Why couldn't you eat bagels right away? They're pretty easy to digest, no? Maybe too chewy??? What about coffee with cream??? I NEED my AM coffee.... only in the roughest of flares did I give it up.

You would only have to be careful of bagels if they are the ones with poppy seeds or berries or something baked in them.

Really, as long as you stay away from stringy meats, fresh vegetables and seeds and nuts you should be fine. Just remember some stuff will cause lots of gas.

"Life is wonderful post op!".... Keep saying that! I freak out about the impending stoma, but... I can't kid myself that it's ok or normal to have a port-a-potty in my car, have accidents in the grocery store, etc.... The last time I spoke with a surgeon, he told me the same thing Christine- stay away from a big salad, but everything else should be fine, just chew! I bet fish cakes would be ok too, they're pretty mushy & soft... And we do love chicken! The dehydration issue- I suppose if I make a conscious effort to drink a lot of water, it shouldn't be a problem? I do have Gatorade on my post-surgery shopping list.

I am currently in my post-op stage, so I will give you some of the information that has been given to me.

For the first 6 weeks after surgery, you have to have low residue foods - as you know. Basically you want to avoid ALL fiber. That means no fresh fruit or veg. Exceptions to this are banana and avocado. You can have canned fruits and veg, or vegetable that has been cooked to the point of almost falling apart (long cooked in soup) or cooked soft and pureed as you've mentioned. Avoid onions and celery even cooked. If you want the flavor in a soup for example, cook them in a mesh back whole and remove before eating. Canned veg you cannot have are mushrooms and corn.

Avoid rice for at least 3 weeks.

Watch out for cereal, bagels and bread - NO whole grain, whole wheat, or anything like that. You can have plain white breads and simple cereals (Rice Crispies for example). The only whole grain you can have is oats (oatmeal, Cherrios).

Cakes and muffins are okay as long as they don't have any whole grains, nuts, dried fruit etc. Watch out for too much sugar as it increases output. Avoid carbonated beverages or anything high sugar - including gatorade unless your Dr advises you that its okay.

All meat is okay. If you eat deli meats, make sure you take off any skins or coatings. Same goes for sausages. Fish is okay (does smell) but NOT shellfish or shrimp.

What I do is cook whatever meal we are having as a family - most of which I can eat. Then for the veg, I give it to my family and substitute something else for myself - often veggie juice.

No nuts, seeds, dried fruit or anything else you can think that might work like a "stopper". Remember initially, your intestine will be swollen and adjusting to the new conditions so blockages are more likely.

Chew, chew, chew and then chew some more.

I imagine your hospital will give you instructions on discharge. I actually met with my nutrition team twice before I left the hospital with Step 1 and then once again at Step 2. They gave me a 4 page handout with all the info I needed.

Keep in mind, that once the initial 6 week period is up, you can start slowing introducing all other foods. Just take it one food at a time a day or so apart, and eat only small amounts. Eventually I was able to eat pretty much everything, but still avoided mushrooms, corn, raw veggies. I did eat salad, but only if it was combined with a meal that included starch and protein.

Good luck!

My latest food obsession would work great post-op. I make variations of this for myself and for friends: You need an Akaido pumpkin or half of a relatively small normal pumpkin. Akaido is best.
Cut the top off, sawing a circle, Scoop out all seeds and stringy stuff. You've got a cavern to fill now. fill it with whatever you love. You can make rice mixed with anything you like, ground lamb, cooked vegestables, onions, or chicken and rice, or cubes of stale bread mixed with Gruyere cheese and bacon, a bit of nutmeg, pour some milk or cream on top. Any herbs you like. Fill the pumpking full, put the top back on and back or an hour or 70 minutes. Slice from above in half or thirds.
It has caused euphoria for everyone.

mom2panda, how are you doing with the new stoma and the pouch? I must say I am already dreading the second surgery since I've heard how much easier ends are than loops... sigh...

Regarding vegetable juice, did any of you drink the "green smoothies" like Odwalla and Naked Juice post op? I've been thinking about trying one since I'm still not eating a ton of veggies but I'm a little concerned because it has so many different ingredients that I've never tried (like "chlorella"?!)

Ladies.. if you are worried about any foods.. put them in the blender. I have a hand held blender and it makes wonderful smoothies with low fat plain greek yogurt (high protein.. good for post surgery healing) fresh fruits and greens AND also all sorts of soups with about any vegetable you can imagine. Take any vegetables you like - say squash tomatoes and onions. Roast them in the oven with a bit of olive oil. Add them to broth on the stove with some fresh herbs and hand blenderize them. Add some greek yogurt to make it creamy soup if you like.

Also EVA as for meals.. I don't see why you can't pretty much do whatever meals you were making before surgery. hamburger stuff-like mild chilis, chicken, fish of all sorts cooked many different ways, casseroles, stews, mexican foods - tacos, enchiladas, turkey burgers, mac n cheese with amendments - like squash mac. n cheese, beefaroni mac n cheese, lasagna, pasta of all sorts with anything you like in it pretty much- chicken alfredo, shrimp with pasta, stuffed baked potatos - again fillings could be most anything including hummus, 3kinds of cheese, poached egg and cheese, roasts - pork, beef, lamb, ground lamb in meatloafs or burgers, fritatta, salmon omelettes, Also hearty soups - like potato and cheese are a good main dish. Have some homemade applesauce and bread with it and thats a meal! Really there is not much you probably have to avoid at this point in time. Just go slow and chew a lot.

If you are worried about veg.. just overcook them. However, I would avoid the califlower, broccoli, mushrooms, corn, and chinese vegetables, right now, unless you blenderize it into soups.