what food did you like after major surgery?

[tiggger1]

A friends mom just had major surgery yesterday and I would like to drop off a meal for them so they dont have to worry about cooking when they get home from the hospital. It needs to be something that can be reheated..What did you enjoy when you came home from major surgery? I am thinking possibly my MIL Galumpkies (Polish Cabbage Rolls) because they can be easily microwaved

Danielle!

 

[lovesmurfs]

A friends mom just had major surgery yesterday and I would like to drop off a meal for them so they dont have to worry about cooking when they get home from the hospital. It needs to be something that can be reheated..What did you enjoy when you came home from major surgery? I am thinking possibly my MIL Galumpkies (Polish Cabbage Rolls) because they can be easily microwaved

Danielle!

Comfort Food. Soft stuff that doesn't require a lot of digestion. I have a shepherd's pie recipe that I'll double and freeze one (only use a total of 3 cans of soup -- gets juicy, and I'll get a 3 lb container of ground beef and split it):

8 large potatoes, peeled and chopped (or potato flakes to serve 8)
1 pound lean ground beef (or a bit more)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can carrots, drained
1 can green beans, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can condensed tomato soup
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish; set aside.

2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash.

3. Place lean ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Cook and stir over medium high heat until beef is evenly browned and onion is tender. Drain fat and stir in carrots, green beans, cream of mushroom soup and tomato soup.

4. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are lightly browned.

 

[pickles521]

A friends mom just had major surgery yesterday and I would like to drop off a meal for them so they dont have to worry about cooking when they get home from the hospital. It needs to be something that can be reheated..What did you enjoy when you came home from major surgery? I am thinking possibly my MIL Galumpkies (Polish Cabbage Rolls) because they can be easily microwaved

Danielle!

I would have thanked you profusely and then put cabbage rolls in the fridge and left them there for a week.

Seriously - when I got out of the hospital a couple weeks ago, my DH and best friend tried to get me to eat ANYTHING, and all I could manage for several days was plain chicken and plain spaghetti. Oh yeah, i could handle a couple basic granola bars (kashi - so not very sweet). I was like that for about a week. Yup. Plain spaghetti for breakfast and dinner. Good thing I wasn't low carb! I'm still not eating normally, 3.5 weeks post-op. Nothing taste right, so I'm actually eating different stuff than I normally do. Slowly getting back to normal, though.

My DH and friend would have jumped at the cabbage rolls, though. In fact - they went out for dinner for sushi the night I was in the hospital. I asked them to go - they were making me naseaus with all the food talk!

So - if you're making it for the patient - I would err on the side of bland. If you're making it for the family - knock yourself out. I'm sure they'll love anything!

 

[golfgal]

Depends on the surgery and what she can or cannot eat. I would go for easy like soups, veges and dip, cut up fruit, etc. "Meals" might not be all that appealing.

 

[snoopy two]

I couldn't wait to get home to order a pizza!

 

[tiggger1]

I would have thanked you profusely and then put cabbage rolls in the fridge and left them there for a week.

Seriously - when I got out of the hospital a couple weeks ago, my DH and best friend tried to get me to eat ANYTHING, and all I could manage for several days was plain chicken and plain spaghetti. Oh yeah, i could handle a couple basic granola bars (kashi - so not very sweet). I was like that for about a week. Yup. Plain spaghetti for breakfast and dinner. Good thing I wasn't low carb!

My DH and friend would have jumped at the cabbage rolls, though. In fact - they went out for dinner for sushi the night I was in the hospital. I asked them to go - they were making me naseaus with all the food talk!

So - if you're making it for the patient - I would err on the side of bland. If you're making it for the family - knock yourself out. I'm sure they'll love anything!

Its a little bit for both.. my friend and her fiancee live upstairs and her mom and dad live downstairs. Usually the mom or my friend makes dinner for everyone, so i was trying to figure out what would work for all but in reality i know the mom isnt going to eat much for a while...but at least the dad will be able to heat something up for himself while everyone else is at work

 

[jfoofj]

Italian grinder. Lol. That is what I craved after my last surgery, but it wasn't major. If the person is on pain pills, keep in mind that they have a ....er .... slowing down effect..... on the digestive system. So maybe something with some fiber. (Because, you care about their fiber, ).

 

[LuvOrlando]

Aww, that's so nice of you. I am going in for surgery the 31st and am filling up my freezer with easy or precooked meals in case my meds make me out of it or just to make my life easier if I'm up and around faster that expected.

I just finished the list for my family Saturday & it includes:

Frozen pre-made pre-cooked Galumpkie insides, just boil the cabbage and roll.
Eggplant parm
Frozen home-made tomato sauce with Purdue frozen turkey meatballs and pasta
Sirloin in marinade
Chicken breast in Goya Mojo marinade with Minute Rice
Chicken pot pie with a pie crust & Healthy Request creamy chicken soup
Pork chops with Hungry Jack box o' mashed potatoes
Turkey Burgers
Ground chicken and a Taco kit
Frozen home made Pesto sauce & pasta

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'd had to fast for a week prior to having major surgery. So I didn't care what it was, I just wanted FOOD. Period. So 2 days after surgery, when they finally let me eat, I scarfed down the breakfast the hospital sent up and declared it the best meal I'd ever had

My most major craving, though, was for a tuna sandwich on honey wheat bread with "orange cheese - none of that pale stuff. Cold. Throw on some really green lettuce, too."

 

[NewCrew42]

Very bland food.

Like chicken soup or a veggie beef soup.

 

[mykidsand_i]

I second the "anything that can be digested EASILY!!!!"

A lot of people have problems digesting food after surgery, because of the medicines AND depending on what the surgery was, her stomach may not be good.

Soups, stews and NON-Tomato based foods were always good bets when I did it for our church...people would have surgery and our womans group would get called 2-3 times a year to make a meal and deliver it. We were ALWAYS told to do food that would be easy to digest, it didn't matter WHAT surgery it was for.

 

[pickles521]

Its a little bit for both.. my friend and her fiancee live upstairs and her mom and dad live downstairs. Usually the mom or my friend makes dinner for everyone, so i was trying to figure out what would work for all but in reality i know the mom isnt going to eat much for a while...but at least the dad will be able to heat something up for himself while everyone else is at work

Clearly I'm the exception here! So fire up that stove and get crackin'!

This is really nice of you, and I'm sure they would appreciate anything. it sounds like it should be easy to reheat, and probably not require too many dishes. Pasta is always good as most people eat it. Cabbage rolls sound yummy. Soup might be good too. Meatloaf is awesome reheated. A pot pie would be easy.

You're a good friend.

 

[JessicaR]

This is so nice of you and will be greatly appreciated! My mom cooked and so did my neighbors. I craved soups for a long while. Especially cream of tomato with rice and chicken noodle. When I finally did want to eat a real meal I ate chicken cutlets and mashed potatoes. Lots of comfort foods!

Very sweet gesture to cook for them

 

[tiggger1]

I asked her daughter what she could have and the only thing she doesnt eat is cabbage. lol Other than she said anything that isnt too spicy. Maybe I will make her some homemade tortellini soup and some fresh Italian bread...

 

[mtemm]

the only surgery I have had since high school has been 2 c-sections. I don't know what it was, if it was related to the surgeries or what, but I craved beef stew. I normally hate stew! I often wonder if my body was craving iron from the beef or something. mom made me a big pot after each of my sections and it was very appreciated.

 

[Mermaid02]

Homemade chicken soup would be nice! Heated up easily and better the next day!

 

[swandiverpatt]

After a hysterectomy a few years ago, I found I needed to go "light and bland" for a while.

First night home my DH asked me what I wanted and he grilled a steak for me at my request. When he brought it home, I smelled it and knew I couldn't eat it. I sat and cried.

The smell of coffee also made me sick for months. Breakfast was always hot tea and oatmeal for weeks on end.

 

[C.Ann]

Mashed potatoes and gravy.. Campbell's chicken noodle soup.. That was it for me..