Help needed fir portion sizes for pureed

Hi everyone,

I'm struggling with portion sizes at the moment and need some advice please.

I've just started the puréed stage 3 days ago and once again, I have conflicting information. My Bariatric team said that I should have about 30-40 grams of food per sitting. The dietician said it should be 100 grams or 5 tablespoons. But 5 tablespoons work out more like approx 250 - 300 grams. I've been playing it safe and having about 4-5 dessert spoonfuls.

All the guidelines say to stop eating when you're full but I don't have that full feeling that I used to get pre op when my brain used to tell me I had enough. I'm also feeling hungrier very quickly soon after my meals and for a lot longer. I'm making sure I have protein dense meals and also following the drinking rule and not drinking 45 mins before or after meals now.

Does this happen to anyone else or can anyone offer me the right "formula" please??

Any help is much appreciated!! Thanks!!!

Hi Rinata,
I am sure more experienced people will come along soon but with me, initially I can eat loads too. I ate a whole banana (chewed my way through) once. I was also worried that I had no restriction.however someone mentioned slider foods (like puree) will , well slide through. My diet sheet says 3-4 meals a day, 2-3 tablespoon a time.
My portions change, I can have a lot of danio in one go. Usually one scrambled egg a time (although today managed two).
No t feeling the hunger only came to me this week, so hang on there x

Thanks Tules and glad you're feeling better today.

Do you have the same full feeling now as you did pre op? I think my brain and body are so confused right now that apart from concentrating on healing my op, they've forgotten to send me signals for everything else!! Xx

Honestly, for the time being just listen to healing signals.
I lost appetite this week. Lunch time forced 2 spoonful of pureed chicken down. For dinner, had two table spoonful of tuna/mayo..more than enough. Am forcing myself to drink protein shakes now - tummy don't like it either, gurgling...

You know how I was craving nuts... that urge is gone now.

From my experience, after say 4-5 teaspoon of food, I stop and feel the tummy. With harder pureed, the fullness (discomfort) feeling is there. With slider food - like yogurt, not as much. However I do get the "old" I have eaten so much, I feel sick feeling sometimes.

I think still early days for us. Still have to understand poor old chipped and chopped tummy..
I did use ramekin to measure my portions originally - that may be a good tool for you too.
Also if I eat fast, the fullness and discomfort comes a bit later so eat slowly and chew even the puree.
Believe me, soon you will have to force yourself to eat those portions, like I am doing currently.

A tablespoon is 15g or about 1/2oz, to get 250-300g from 5 tablespoons the measuring is way out. What spoon are you using? Would it help to buy some proper measuring spoons for guidance and that it's a level spoon not a heaped one?

Again this will sort itself out when it's food you chew as you won't fit more than this to start with.

Hi Tules & Smallerme

Thanks for that but 4-5 teaspoons is certainly not filling enough for me. My stomach still feels swollen and a little tight so I can't gage from that like you can.

I've been using the Gü dessert ramekins which is about 100 grams and used that for 2 portions of stewed apples for my snack.

For my main meals, I have been using dessert spoons. My portions have been 4-5 dessert spoonfuls. I have large tablespoons so having 5 tablespoons seemed a lot more than 100 grams!!

I think you're right Smallerme, I better invest in measuring spoons.

What is the correct quantity for puréed? Perhaps I need to keep the puréed food a little thicker to fell fuller then???

I need to master this as I have 3 weeks of this phase!!

Thanks xx

Hi Smallerme,

Just occurred to me while I was preparing breakfast that even if a tablespoon is about 15 grams and having 5 tablespoons is still only 75g and not 100g as per the dietician.

So the question is, do I aim for 5 tablespoons or 100g?

Thanks!! Xx

Hiya..at this stage i was using weight watchers toffee and vanilla yoghurts, as a guide I could almost eat a whole pot slowly, i think they are 120g. I also used the danios which are 150g but couldnt finish one. Even now I find i can only just finish a danio pot so that should give you an idea of the quantity. I know weetabix with lots of milk was on there. I could manage half a weetabix. 150g is the amount you want to aim for.
The frozen fish in parsley sauce are a good meal, once microwaved they mush up to a puree and I could initially manage half of one...its very dense protein for goes down like a lead balloon. Your stomach should tell you when its had enough, stop as soon as you feel restriction as thats your limit...otherwise you will probably throw it up.

Good suggestions suggestions there Kar.

Rinata, your pureed food might be funnier than mine. Having looked at the instructions, the consistency of Apple sauce mentioned. I think mine are definitely more dense than that. Hence getting the fullness feeling.
I could certainly eat more then 5teaspoons if less dense, so you are on the right track girl.

Thanks Kar,

That really is very helpful and I now know what I need to aim for. Luckily, I've been aiming for 4-5 dessert spoons which is less than required and haven't felt sick or full. I do however get air bubbles when I start to eat. I also have lots of gurgling noises all day.... A bit like when your stomach rumbles but at least I know I still have a stomach!! Lol Xx


Thanks Tules-

I'm not sure if my food is "funnier" than yours. ( I think that might be a typo!! Lol). I think my food is more puréed than yours as you smashed your baked beans and I blitzed mine so there weren't any lumps at all. You probably enjoyed yours more?! Didn't think I could ever make a tin of beans last so long!! Hope you're feeling better xx

Funnier? Well as far as typos go...
I meant runnier. Most of my food was solid, even when pureed.
Baked beans, I have been mashing them with fork.

I am fine, hope you are too x

Hi Tules,

That was funny with the typo!! Are you not finding it hard by leaving 'bits' in your food? I would've thought it would be harder to break down at this early stage??!

Happy 1st month anniversary for tomorrow. One month down, one to go to get back to normal foods!! Xx

Gosh cannot believe it has been 4 weeks already.

Food wise, my tummy must be ok with not so puree things. Earlier today, whilst watching Walking Dead, forgot myself and ate a satsuma! Seems to be going down ok, can you believe, how easy to do.

I am starting the softer foods tomorrow, although will probably be similar to what I am eating already.

How are you getting on?

I love the walking dead! I have been onto softer foods since Tuesday and it is heaven. Scrambled egg poached egg beans mashed with fork. Melba toast and cottage cheese. I could go on. I did have an episode with and omelette (2 egg). Was so nice are it all, very easy to miss the very subtle signs that you are full. Ended up retching over bowl for half an hour - not pleasant.

Tules, you are very lucky that you've been able to eat what you have done without being sick. Can't believe you managed a satsuma too!! What is your 1 month weight loss now?

Alison, I'm feeling envious. I can't wait to start on soft foods. I still have 2 more weeks of puréed!! I definitely feel like an infant. I was a baby at the liquid stage, a toddler at the puréed stage. I can't wait to be a big girl and eat with a fork again!!! Lol.
How's your weight loss going? Hope you don't get sick again... Perhaps a 2 egg omelette was ambitious!

Have a great weekend girls xx

Yes two eggs was an egg too far! I have lost 2 and a half stone since op 23 feb and 6 pounds prior to this on pre op. I was straight onto purée for 4 weeks no liquids. I was poorly post op though so don't go by my losses!

Loving my fork.

Tules - how is it back at work xx

Hi Alison, good to hear you are enjoying your food. I will have melba toast today, finally.see how it goes.

Rinata, I am going to get my surgeon to draw my new stomach to its actual size when I see him end of April. I still think I got normal tummy! I have not being sick yet. Either tummy relatively bigger than all yours or, I copes ok. I was not good at puree stage, I did not blend and puree everything. For example my tuna/mayo was as they come.
Weight wise, I have not weighed myself yet. Will report later.
How about you all?

Wow Alison. That's amazing losing so close to 3 stone in such a short time!! How were you allowed to go on puréed straight away without the liquid stage??

Tules, I reckon you ask your surgeon to draw your stomach, he'll have to draw an iron stomach as you seem to defy all the odds!!.... Or perhaps you're just such a rebel??!! Lol

On the other hand, I'm following my diet plan to the T to avoid being chastised by my surgeon!! Lol. I've had one week of purée and still have 2 weeks left before I can go on soft foods. It'll be great not to purée anymore!! Yay!

Just had one scrambled egg with a tiny amount of baked beans. Added some parmesan cheese too for added protein.
Just weighed myself and if my home scales are true, down to 87 kilos from 98 a month ago, so 1 stone 9 pounds loss (according to converter). My tummy is definitely flatter. He he

Tules that's great. Don't know about your stomach size as you had a sleeve didn't you. It at be working that's a great weight loss ! Did you have your surgery on the 22nd!

My loss is because I was so poorly been in theatre 4 times so I am an exception. So have huge deep wound I have nick named the grand canyon, all the district nurses are fascinated!