Regular foods (stage 4)

New Year’s is a time for parties, and that means you need to be extra careful with your diet. Most party food is pretty bad for your waistline if not outright forbidden on the weight loss surgery diet: think cocktail franks, cheese dip with crackers, and bacon wrapped onion rings. Still, there are plenty of healthier options…and after WLS, you’ve probably explored a lot of them! They can be simple, like fruit and veggie trays or skewers with cheese and veggies, but you may have explored some more gourmet – but still healthy – options. The trick is to keep it healthy – for you – while making it delicious for everyone else. So, when you go to a party or host one, what i…

I keep hearing about how great salmon is for us but plain salmon isn't something I'm fond of. I'd love to hear some recipes to help make it taste better like seasonings and such. I really like fish and seafood in general, and I'm not ready to give up on salmon just yet! TIA!

I know many ask about Sushi and Japanese foods in general, so i stumbled across this one and thought you guys would like to check it out

I'm entering my first Christmas season after WLS. I failed miserably at Halloween, held my own during Thanksgiving and want to do well during the Christmas season (especially since it lasts a long time). I already have 3 functions that will require me to bring a dish and I'm searching for an item or items that will help me stick to my plan. What are your favorite covered dish type recipes?

This is my first holiday season post sleeve where I can eat. My ex-wife had always done the holiday meals and I always allowed her to do the big meals for the kids because she said she liked it. Well this year she didn't want to. So I did the big family spread (think about it, 52 year old single guy, doing his first thanksgiving meal solo). Some little things I did out of WLS habit that were actually really good: 1. Used FAGE plain yogurt where sour cream was called for 2. Used stevia in place of sugar 3. Nothing canned. Did everything from scratch so I could control the food All the food was good to great and the kids loved it. I ate more than I would in a …

So this doesn't even really count as a recipe, but my lunch tasted so good today I had to share. I took a Wasa 7-grain crackerbread, smeared a chipotle flavored Laughing Cow cheese wedge on it, then topped it with Boar's Head no-added-salt turkey. It was GOOD!

I just bought a bag of fresh sweet peppers at Aldi. Other than eating them plain, I am looking for some easy ideas on how to use them? Does anybody have a good recipe they can share?

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When did people start venturing out and eating broccoli cauliflower asparagus spinach and Brussels sprouts? I miss my veggies those are my favorites but I know the fibrous vegetables.

Okay is there any ice cream we can have? Like sherbet? I was never a ice cream person ever but kinda craving ice cream. My doc said don't count calories for the first year but no cream so there must be something we could have hopefully fruity!!

So.... Let's share! What is your favorite meal post op? If you can, post a recipe, or a general idea of what's in it. I've never differentiated breakfast/lunch/dinner so you don't need to either. Low carb is definitely preferred, real food, not pre-made or frozen. Simple recipes rule, crock pot recipes that the family loves are even better! GO!

Ok this is a really strange question! I hate fish! ive always been repulsed by any kind of seafood at all! I had the sleeve almost 2 months ago and for some STRANGE reason my body wants fish!! So my questions are... Is this uncommon? not sure why i would even want to try something i dislike so much And does anyone have any suggestions on which fish i should try? probably the least fishy tasting. I dont even know how to cook fish so any recipe ideas would be great too! Thanks!!

It's amazing!! One can of chick peas and corn. 6 cherry tomatoes and one avocado and some cilantro chopped up. Add lime juice. Mix it all together add some fresh or powdered garlic/salt pepper and cumin to taste. Not sure if you can but a touch of honey makes it that much better!!

I just saw this on my Facebook page and thought I'd share it. It is beautiful and would be a great appetizer to take to any kind of party! Sorry there isn't a recipe. Enjoy!

I love roasted vegetables. They are especially good in the fall and winter months. They are pretty tasty with just salt, pepper, and olive oil, but here is an article with some other variations. http://www.thekitchn.com/5-easy-ways-to-flavor-roasted-vegetables-223577?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=managed How do you roast your vegetables?

I've been a real creature of habit with my Breakfast and lunches since surgery. For lunch, I usually have an ounce or so of turkey pepperoni or deli meat and a light string cheese or Babybel (or sometimes Parmesan cheese crisps). Sometimes I'll make deviled eggs with light mayo and take 3 halves and a couple baby dill pickles. Now that it's getting cold out, I am trying to come up with hot lunch options beyond a cup of chili. I love Soup this time of year, but most of them don't really have enough Protein for me, though I did have some lentil vegetable soup recently with some unflavored Protein powder mixed in. I try to keep my lunches to about 150 calories, with 15-20…

Here in central Kentucky, autumn came roaring in this week. Its cold, rainy, and definitely feels like hibernation weather. I got out my crock pot a couple of weeks ago so plan to use it a lot this season. I posted another thread and have gotten some great recipe suggestions. Today, I made a cup of Harney an Sons decaf tea and am putting some pumpkin/spice ingredients on this week's shopping list. What have you found post-op that serves that need for warmth and comfort and still fits in a bariatric plan?

3-4 oz of small shrimp 2 oz of Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles) 1 spray of Olive Oil 1/2 tsp crushed garlic Seasoning to taste If your shrimp are frozen, put them on a bowl and run cold Water over them at just above a drip for 5 minutes and they will thaw out (not for Californians). Then weigh them to be sure of the weight. Cut your zoodles using your perfered method (Veggetti etc), weigh for 2 oz. Heat non stick skillet on medium heat and spray with olive oil (I have a Misto I use to spray oil), or any non stick. Season your shrimp and cook them until just pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on temp. Add zoodles, stir together, cook another minute or 2 so zoodles can absor…

Hey there, I was looking around at my old blogs and I found one that I started two and a half years ago. It has a delicious recipe I had forgot about. pizza recipe once I've perfected it.

SO i found a recipe for a particular flavor of this and I tried it with my own flavor and Voila it really works, and is awesome and if you use the right stuff its fat free sugar free and loaded with Protein. Basically it is a scoop of your favorite flavor Protein powder, I used Syntrax Matrix chocolate, but i know its made with Peanut Butter cookie flavor as well and i think it'd work with just about any flavor that you would make a cake out of. Basically in a mug or coffee cup, microwave safe, you take 1 scoop of protein powder, add 1/8th teaspoon of baking powder and mix thoroughly. Then add non dairy creamer, ( i use the coffee mate sugar free italian sweet cream) u…

Baked Rutabaga Fries PreHeat Oven to 425 1/4 Rutabaga 1 teaspoons olive oil 1 Tbl Flavor God Garlic Lovers OR Garlic powder to taste Onion Powder to taste Sea Salt to taste This recipe is modified from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/230404/rutabaga-oven-fries/ Cut the rutabaga into quarters. If you have a french fry cutter, this is much easier, you can just cut it in there. If not then cut into even fry size pieces. Put the rutabaga in a bowl, add olive oil, and seasonings. Toss until evenly coated. Place on aluminum foil on baking tray, and put in oven. Bake 25 minutes, but keep an eye on them, depending on the seasoning they can get a little dark. The r…

Can someone please tell me how to make a protein smoothie? The shakes I purchased are horrible.

I made an outstanding home made low carb chicken parmesean tonight for dinner. My husband loved it and my pouch is very happy now! I used almond flour/meal instead of flour and bread crumbs . Here is the recipe: 1 large chicken breast (I love smart chicken brand) - boneless, skinless 1 egg 1/4 c milk or half and half 1cup almond meal 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesean cheese - all I had was Pecorino Romano and it was excellent! Salt Pepper Olive oil Fresh mozerella - chopped Marinara sauce - I cook this by sautéing onions and fresh mushrooms and then adding my favorite jarred marinara sauce I preheated the oven to 375. I sliced the chicken breast to make a…

Hey I made some videos of my go to recipes since I have had Wls .. Hope you guys like them as much as I do. I know I am always looking for new recipes so I thought I would share.

Here are some food ideas I've been enjoying this summer, along with some tips to make the prep super fast. I call these "recipes" (in quotes) because they don't include measurements (except the last one). They're more meant to serve as inspiration. My first tip is that, I've been buying pre-cooked quinoa and brown rice recently and keeping it in the freezer until I'm ready to use it. Brown rice (or your favorite grain, farro would be lovely) can be swapped for quinoa in any of these "recipes", though quinoa has the least carbs and highest Protein of the bunch (since it's a seed, not a grain). Quinoa is really easy to cook, and if you make a big batch you can portion and…

I was having a craving for pancakes. Normally I would just make a tiny batch have one and call it a day but they actually make me feel bad. They are just too heavy and of course don't stay with you too long. I saw a Pinterest recipe for cottage cheese pancakes. There was someone talking about how light and fluffy they are and let's face it LOVE cottage cheese! I made them for lunch today and I swear I went to heaven! I had sugar free syrup and 1/4 slice of a banana sliced on top. I also added 1/4 t cinnamon knowing I was slicing a banana. The cinnamon made them even more delicious. Cottage Cheese Pancakes 1cup cottage cheese (I used 1percent) 3 eggs 2T canola oil…

Any other bakers out there? Have any healthy recipes to share? Have any tips or tricks to turn your favorite recipes into healthier, bariatric-friendly goodness? I went Apple picking yesterday and made a big batch of Apple cinnamon bread and banana bread yesterday. Looking for more recipes. Dinners too! We only eat chicken, tuna or turkey, and get bored of the same recipes.

So the other day my local grocery store had a sale on Tribe brand Hummus. It was buy one get 2 free. so i loaded up a bit. and i decided to try some flavors i hadnt tried yet. So i happened to pick up one that is vine ripened tomato and basil. Well i tried it and was immediately struck with an idea. I took a Flat out brand flat bread with very low carbs ( get the skinny girl one if you can find them, if not the light work great as well.) i placed one in the oven for a few minutes on a cookie sheet, then took it out and i spead a layer of the tomato and basil hummus, on it then sprinkled it with skim mozzarella and topped with some turkey pepperoni, a little sprinkle …

The one food I miss since being banded is spaghetti and meatballs. Tried this carb friendly version, 5 strands of spaghetti noodles with zucchini and long squash. 3 cups zucchini and long squash slivered ( I used a veggie peeler) 1/2 c diced onion 2 cloves garlic chopped 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1/4 c white wine (or water) 1 c diced tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes) 1/4 c parmesan cheese 1 tsp olive oil pinch of salt pepper to taste Add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil to a skillet. Saute until onions are soft. Add mushrooms and brown. Deglaze pan with white wine, add zucchini and cook to soften. Add tomatoes to warm. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve…

I want to say it was @@Smye that posted this in an update. I tried it last night. Its was REALLY good. The chicken turned out super moist and the veggies were prefect. Here is the link to the recipe I followed. lunch today. One of the breasts weighed 4.5 after cooking so that worked out well for another meal and still had veggies left.

Looking for some portable Protein snack options? Check out this article from SparkPeople for some ideas. Above all else, follow your surgeon's and NUT's recommendations. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1996

Any ideas? Will be for our family of 5 (2 adults and 2 small children). I had total knee replacement two weeks ago. So I am limited in being able to stand and cook. Hmm, I wonder if we have a bar stool downstairs? LOL

OMG! Almond Joy Protein Bar from Borne Appétit Reprinted from My Bariatric Life HealthCentral April 02, 2011 I am sharing my wonderful recipe make-overs with BariatricPal that I originally published on HealthCentral Obesity, a health news and information site similar to WebMD. These are the recipes that have helped me to be successful in maintaining my weight loss from bariatric surgery in 2003. These include delicious Protein shakes - some of which taste even better than the delicious fat and sugar-ladden Frappucinos at Starbucks, protein bars that are far more healthy and affordable than those you buy online/in-store, and awesome recipe-makeovers of foods you love …

So even though I'm currently still in my post op liquid phase I am trying very hard to prepare for normal healthy alternatives in the regular food phase. Does anyone have any ideas for zucchini?? I know of tots and chips which I plan. I am new to zucchini so I'm unsure. I stopped at the farmers market and got super cheap fairly large zucchini...and squash for that matter. I plan on cooking with them now however and seeing how family likes it. Any idea or recipe is greatly appreciated

Does anyone have a good Protein Bar recipe or a good one they buy

I tried this recipe today and it's pretty good. I feel like I can taste the cauliflower but I wonder if it's in my head because I know it's in there. http://www.jocooks.com/healthy-eating/cheesy-cauliflower-breadsticks/ Still better than the fattening version.

Hey guys, Just trying my hand at making a cooking show. I've enjoyed Spaghetti Squash since I was allowed back on regular foods, post-op. It's an unusual food that can be intimidating at first glance. But it's easy to cook, has loads of health benefits, and tastes great - alone or as a side dish. [sharedmedia=videos:videos:42]

WLS chicken salad 1¼ lbs cooked chicken, shredded (about 3 cups) 1 cup celery, chopped ½ cup walnuts, chopped 1 cup grapes, halved 1 pink lady apple, cored and diced (squeeze lemon juice over apple to stop any oxidization) ¼ cup onion, diced ¾ cup light mayonnaise ½ tsp black pepper ½ tsp onion powder These ingredients make up 8 servings. As an addition to this you can easily add some string cheese to your serving to up the caloric intake etc. As per My Fitness Pal this recipe has the following: Nutrition Facts Servings 8.0 Amount Per Serving calories 187 % Daily Value * Total Fat 8 g 12 % Saturated Fat 1 g 6 % Monounsaturated Fat 2 g Polyunsaturate…

I don't cook so need something super easy that i can throw on the griddle....I have bought rubs and they are okay. Any easy recipes for chicken that I can just grill? Thanks!

I thought I would share a super low calorie meal that I found online and tried it out today and I felt the need to share this with you all as it was simply delicious! I did change a few bits of the recipe as this is what worked for me (note, I added lemon juice, garlic and used raw shrimp - they have no caloric difference in the end result). Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Yield: 4 servings Serving size: 2½ cups Ingredients Optional*: 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 6 oz dry quinoa 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth/stock 2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise + quartered 2 summer squash, halved lengthwise + quartered 6 cups spring mix (leafy greens) 1…

Another meal I have tried and again, simply delicious and low calorie Servings 4 Ingredients 3 1⁄2 cups vegetable stock 1 3⁄4 cups light food processor pulsing several times, until smooth. Heat a wok over medium-high heat, add the spice paste and stir fry for 30 seconds. Pour in the stock and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add the mushrooms, tofu, and tomato paste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions. Divide among four large Soup bowls. Ladle the spicy broth over the noodles and serve immediately, garnished with scallions. Nutrition Info Serving Size: 1 (280 g) S…

Frozen chocolate Power pudding Pops You can make these with any flavor of Jello pudding. Just adjust the flavor of Protein powder and Torani syrup accordingly. 1 oz box Jello sugar free/fat free chocolate fudge pudding (box that makes 4x0.5 cups) 1/2 cup cottage cheese or greek yogurt (low fat or non-fat) 1/4-1/2 scoop chocolate Protein Powder. I use Body Fortress brand. 1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk (vanilla or regular) (Optional) 1-2 teaspoons fiber powder (clear like Benefiber) (Optional) 1/2 teaspoon sugar free Torani syrup like S'Mores, Chocolate Macadamia Nut, or Caramel Silicone candy mold. I got two of these from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00…

strawberry cheese Cake sugar free cheese cake pudding Sliced starwberries Sugar free smucker strawberry jam mixed with lime juice, Microwave and drizzle over berries Crust depending on how far out fro surgery You can go without crust Chopped nuts Crumbled sugar free short bread cookie

Well since today is dedicated to Pi I decided to modify an old recipe so I could enjoy a new treat. I used to make the bisquick coconut custard pie for my kids and found the recipe today. I loved that I did not have to make a crust for this pie. Here is my new take on the old version: 1 c shredded coconut 1/2 c bisquick 4 eggs 2 c milk 2 tbs softened butter 2 tbs coconut oil 3 scoops whey vanilla Protein powder (mine is performance whey with 30 gm protein per scoop) 1 tsp coconut extract 1 tsp vanilla extract Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pie pan. Mix all the ingredients and pour into the pan. Bake for 30-50 min until a knife comes out of the center …

I thought I would take a few minutes and see if people might be interested in sharing their favorite hi protein recipes.... I was getting ready to make a grocery list and thought I would get others input first… maybe if we share some recipes/ideas, you could help us all? Sometimes it's nice to try other things and check out other's input.

I finally fixed a yummy apple dip that definitely kills the sweet tooth! 1/4 cup unflavored Greek yogurt 1/2 tbs PB2 1/2 tbs Vanilla Torani sugar free syrup Mix it all together and yummy! It makes enough dip to generously dip a whole apple. Enjoy!

Finally got around to making a video to go with my favorite low-carb BBQ recipe. I was searching for a replacement for my favorite Kraft BBQ sauce - since it has sugar in it and I ran across this one. It had rave reviews and it tastes really good. I'll need to tweak it a few times to get that sweet/tangy flavor I like so much, but for a good low-carb BBQ sauce, this one works well. The best part was, I already had most of the ingredients on hand (you probably do too). 2 Tablespoons is 12 calories vs. 60 calories for the equivalent Kraft BBQ sauce. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Indispensable Almost No Carb Ba…

I love steak, but - don't beat me up - I can't get past the appearance of it when it isn't well done. For the most part, I consider myself a pretty good cook, but I've never mastered the art of making a good well done steak at home. It always turns out like Jerky. I know it can be done, I've eaten it at restaurants and it's been chewable, lol. This morning, I basically had a beef chip with my egg. I've eaten pretzels that had less crunch. Anyone have suggestions for cuts, cooking methods, seasoning, or anything else? The only thing I can't do is broil, of course - the broiler on my stove is absolutely terrifying. Unless there's a way to do that in the non-broil…

I really am not a coffee drinker. However, I really miss a cappuccino from QuikTrip. Anyone have an RNY friendly recipe or one I can buy pre-made?

I have been experimenting with chia seeds and have made a pudding that is yummy! The texture is similar to tapioca pudding. High Protein and loaded with Omega fats. 1/2 c chia seeds 1/4 c ground flax seed 3 c almond milk 1 packet coconut Water drink mix (the singles used to flavor water) Mix the ingredients and let sit in fridge over night. Enjoy