Two weeks after starting the ketotic diet I had surgery. The post-op diet was full liquids. Initially this was fine as I was not all that hungry after surgery but when I began feeling better/ more normal after four or so days it got very tedious.

I am so tired of all things vanilla! My meals have consisted of vanilla protein shakes, vanilla yogurt, vanilla pudding, vanilla ice cream with an occasional fruit popsicle and butterscotch pudding. When on solid food I will not be able to have chocolate or fresh fruits or vegetables but more flavors and tastes will be allowed. Then in two weeks I can resume my regular diet. But I’ll start slow because my stomach will not be used to eating as much as was normal.

I began dreaming about meals to make and eat after my two weeks of full liquid diet. I will have to grind or shred meats and eat them in a gravy sauce. I must have very cooked vegetables like green beans, beets, and carrots and must avoid gas producing ones such as broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, and cabbages. I’m dreaming of a soft scrambled egg and piece of toast. Interestingly one can have toast but not plain bread.

The solid food comes with a caveat that it must be easily chewed to baby food consistency. For my first breakfast I had a softly scrambled egg with a piece of toast smeared with a smidgen of butter. This sat in my chest for a while. I had tea to wash it down over the course of the morning. In the early afternoon I had lunch comprised by one half can of tuna, one teaspoon of mayonnaise, and four saltine crackers. This seemed to go down more easily than the morning’s meal. At this rate of calorie consumption I may continue to lose weight.  I do not feel hungry but eat because I know one must have nutrients to keep the body and mind healthy.

Thoughts on day one of solid food: my planned meal of roast chicken, finely chopped with gravy did not go down well but I did enjoy my sweet potato and baby green peas. The grape flavored Popsicle made with real fruit was savored slowly like a fine glass of wine.

No Halloween candy for me this year. For day two I prepared a beef stew in the crockpot with stew beef, potatoes, baby carrots and green beans cooked with beef broth. I shredded my portion of beef with the immersion blender and this went down nicely. it was also quite tasty for such a simply prepared stew. I am eating more slowly than usual but this is a good thing. Today’s supper will be leftover beef stew and then the leftover roast chicken.  I will mush the chicken in its gravy so that I can swallow it more easily than the first time. Then I will make hamburger gravy which is a dish my mother made when we were growing up as a means to extend the meat to a family of six. But for me I added chopped spinach for a vegetable.

This is what my meals will consist of for two weeks. I am beginning to adjust to the lesser food amounts. However I am starting to crave the restless and mindless eating while watching TV in the evenings. I need to pick up my embroidery projects while watching the TV to occupy my hands and thoughts.