Every one can be different. I found fish the easiest solid to start, and two years out, it is still my go to choice. My standby choice in freezer, aways ready in single servings are high protein soups or chili. I still do 60 grams of protein each day in shakes as i rarely am hungry and forget to eat and drink. A shake (64 oz or 8 cups) made first thing in morning, gets me started and reminds me to keep sipping and stay hydrated, i sip on this through out the day, not chugged all at once(lol).

Cottage cheese( with added protein) greek yogurt, mashed potatoes made with Greek yogurt, and protein powder was really good when you need to do mushy foods. These are still favorite foods along side lean meats and places to make green vegetables easier to eat.

Early on, beans are great, as they are soft and have some protein. Lowfat cheese will pretty much melt in your mouth, and also has some protein. Fat free sugar free pudding with some protein powder added is a great source of protein.

When you can first tolerate more solid foods, deli meats are great for protein, and are softer and easier to chew than what you can cook at home. I relied on chicken and ham quite a bit. Apples are great, but peel them first, as the peel can get stuck. Oranges also don't chew well enough at first. Any melon type fruit does well. Mashed potatoes are good in the soft stage.

As you progress, you can start eating most things. I still steer toward nutritionally dense foods. I avoid bread, grains, pasta, and similar, because they lack protein and don't offer much nutrition per calorie. I eat pretty much any fish or meat, and that's still the biggest chunk of my diet.

If you are someplace where you need portable food, try some Quest protein bars. They are great on the go, have lots of protein and fiber, are low in calories, and have no added sugar or junk. Great snack, melt in your mouth, and are more like dessert than anything else.

Everyone is different and you will just have to experiment really. I tried little bites of stuff until I figured out what worked for me and what didnt. Beans went down well from the very beginning. Eggs...not so much. I can finally tolerate them now t one year out. I do very well with beef and seafood...chicken is hit or miss. I do better with the dark meat than the white. It has to be very moist or I just cant eat it. My go-to source for extra protein in greek yogurt. I eat it every day. I also eat quite a bit of cottage cheese...another good protein source that goes down really easy. I try to get anywhere from 100-120 gms protein a day if I can.

frozen precooked shrimp is my quick go-to option, I can take a five or so, run them under cold water for a couple minutes and then eat. Pretty much any seafood is easiest to eat. Chicken is the most difficult for me. Luck!

I've been lucky...or unlucky I guess , however you view it, because I'm 2 months out and I can eat anything. I love grilled cheese and lasagna.

Once I was all the way past mushies and softs and on fully normal food?

Strawberries
Gardein Crispy Tenders with Heinz ketchup

Those are my top two for taste.

Easiest for me when I could eat solid foods, by far seafood was the best! I still eat shrimp weekly, as it is a go-to protein source. I also love any fish. Scallops were also a great choice for me. My basic go-to items are Fage yogurt for breakfast, cooked shrimp sprinkled with Old Bay's seasoning served with cocktail sauce and Fage plain greek yogurt mixed together, and applesauce. Yes, I know it lacks protein, but if I want something quick and easy, its is a great choice. Oh, and I also do deli meat and cheese roll-ups. I like the ham and the turkey the best, with 40 cal slices or provolone.

BTW, chicken has been hard for me post-op as well. I can do it the first day, but reheated, forget it. In soups, it is fine.

Good luck!

I am 9 months post-op and I still have trouble with reheated foods (especially chicken!).....no idea why......the microwave does something evil to the food I guess lol

Poached whole eggs (running yoke) or egg whites, Fage Greek yogurt/banana smoothy, pureed condensed vegetable soup and Fage Greek yogurt, Hummus with finely chopped fire roasted tomatoes. Still learning...