BaileyBariatrics

Halloween is right around the corner. It’s the opening event for the holiday season. This means it’s time to start planning your eating for the holidays. Successful patients alter their eating behavior in all areas of life, including holidays. One of the behavior changes involves changing traditions. Halloween is right around the corner. It’s the opening event for the holiday season. This means it’s time to start planning your eating for the holidays. Successful patients alter their eating behavior in all areas of life, including holidays. One of the behavior changes involves changing traditions. It’s tradition to offer candy to children on Halloween night. Can you avoid eating any of the leftover candy? Those little fun size candies can take 10 minutes or more of vigorous exercise like rowing or jumping jacks to burn off. *One strategy many patients use is to hand out candy they don’t like to avoid eating it. *Throw away any left-over candy once you realize the last Trick-or-Treater has left. *Put the leftover candy in the big trash can that you set by the curb instead of the trash can in your kitchen. Keep in mind it’s better to waste the candy than for it to end up around your waist! Think outside the usual box or bag of candy for treats. Think about Halloween themed party goodies like pencils, temporary tattoos, individual bottles of bubbles, stickers, glow sticks or creepy spider jewelry. You can find these in stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar Store and Party City. Check out the party sections of Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby and Michaels. The online store, Oriental Trader, has dozens of non-candy ideas. Remember to have items that kids under the age of 3 won’t choke on. If your tradition is going to a Halloween party, think through how you will deal with food and drinks at that party. Check the post-surgery diet phase to see what foods you are allowed and keep to that list. Have a healthy snack or dinner before going to the party. Sip water during the party to keep you feeling fuller through the party. Focus on socializing, rather than eating. Bring a protein shake and pour over a cup of ice to sip through the party. Move away from the food table to avoid being tempted by all the goodies. A new tradition can be avoiding that first party after surgery by treating yourself to something indulgent like curling up with a good book, taking a bubble bath, getting a message, scheduling a session with a personal trainer, taking a walk at the mall on Halloween night to window shop or pretend you aren’t home by turning out all the lights and watching a movie or a football game. Football games seem to be on every night right now. Even Friday night high school football games are streamed online these days. The holiday season can certainly be a time of trickery and temptation. Now is the time to plan how you will survive and thrive during the holiday season.

Caffeine can irritate the stomach pouch and interfere with sleep. These are some reasons we ask you to eliminate caffeine before surgery. Coffee and tea are well known sources of caffeine. These must specifically state “de-caffeinated” on the label to be considered caffeine free. Many patients assume green tea is caffeine free. It is not. Check the label of all tea and coffee sources to make sure it states “de-caffeinated.” Where else does caffeine lurk? Energy drinks will have caffeine in them. One ingredient in energy drinks is guarana, which is another plant based caffeine source. Green coffee bean extract has gotten a lot of attention in the media this year. It’s still coffee and it will still have caffeine in it. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, not truly an energy source. True energy sources are carbohydrate, fat and protein. Chocolate will also contain a little caffeine, but is allowed in the bariatric nutrition guidelines. Three cheers for that, right? Some medications can also contain caffeine, so you must check the ingredient labels to make sure it’s caffeine free. These medications can be both prescription and over the counter medicines. Caffeine can also serve as a diuretic in some people if too much is consumed. Start checking out those labels to find caffeine free drinks.

Halloween is right around the corner. It’s the opening event for the holiday season. This means it’s time to start planning your eating for the holidays. Successful patients alter their eating behavior in all areas of life, including holidays. One of the behavior changes involves changing traditions. It’s tradition to offer candy to children on Halloween night. Can you avoid eating any of the leftover candy? Those little fun size candies can take 10 minutes or more of vigorous exercise like rowing or jumping jacks to burn off. *One strategy many patients use is to hand out candy they don’t like to avoid eating it. *Throw away any left-over candy once you realize the last Trick-or-Treater has left. *Put the leftover candy in the big trash can that you set by the curb instead of the trash can in your kitchen. Keep in mind it’s better to waste the candy than for it to end up around your waist! Think outside the usual box or bag of candy for treats. Think about Halloween themed party goodies like pencils, temporary tattoos, individual bottles of bubbles, stickers, glow sticks or creepy spider jewelry. You can find these in stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar Store and Party City. Check out the party sections of Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby and Michaels. The online store, Oriental Trader, has dozens of non-candy ideas. Remember to have items that kids under the age of 3 won’t choke on. If your tradition is going to a Halloween party, think through how you will deal with food and drinks at that party. Check the post-surgery diet phase to see what foods you are allowed and keep to that list. Have a healthy snack or dinner before going to the party. Sip water during the party to keep you feeling fuller through the party. Focus on socializing, rather than eating. Bring a protein shake and pour over a cup of ice to sip through the party. Move away from the food table to avoid being tempted by all the goodies. A new tradition can be avoiding that first party after surgery by treating yourself to something indulgent like curling up with a good book, taking a bubble bath, getting a message, scheduling a session with a personal trainer, taking a walk at the mall on Halloween night to window shop or pretend you aren’t home by turning out all the lights and watching a movie or a football game. Football games seem to be on every night right now. Even Friday night high school football games are streamed online these days. The holiday season can certainly be a time of trickery and temptation. Now is the time to plan how you will survive and thrive during the holiday season.

The 100 calorie snack packs are easy, convenient and portion controlled. However, have you read the ingredient list? The first ingredient is enriched flour, which is another way to say white flour. Other ingredients high in the list include sugar, saturated fat and salt. For bariatric patients, this kind of a snack provides little in the way of protein or fiber. The 100 calorie snack packs are easy, convenient and portion controlled. However, have you read the ingredient list? The first ingredient is enriched flour, which is another way to say white flour. Other ingredients high in the list include sugar, saturated fat and salt. For bariatric patients, this kind of a snack provides little in the way of protein or fiber. Eat too many of these snacks and you’ll see your weight loss slow down or you’ll hit a weight plateau. With a little thought and planning, you can make a healthier version of a 100 calorie snack. Here are a few ideas for nutrient packed snacks that are about 100 calories each: •8 oz. glass of skim milk or light soy milk •2 tablespoons hummus and 5 pretzel crisps or 10 baby cut carrots •2.5 ounces flavored tuna with 3 reduced fat Triscuit crackers •6 oz. container of light yogurt with 2 tablespoons blueberries •14 unsalted almonds •Half a medium pear or small apple (peeled) with 1 ounce low fat cheese •½ cup fat free cottage cheese with ½ cup raw veggies •10 large strawberries and 1 oz. goat cheese •22 pistaschios •15 grapes and 1 wedge Light Laughing Cow cheese The goal is to combine protein and carbohydrate. You will get protein for your muscles. Combining protein and carbohydrate for a snack will provide sustained energy. Keep in mind the post-surgery diet phase you are in to pick out the snacks that would be appropriate for you. If you have an allergy or food sensitivity, avoid the snacks that contain these foods. Snack happy, but snack smart!

The 100 calorie snack packs are easy, convenient and portion controlled. However, have you read the ingredient list? The first ingredient is enriched flour, which is another way to say white flour. Other ingredients high in the list include sugar, saturated fat and salt. For bariatric patients, this kind of a snack provides little in the way of protein or fiber. Eat too many of these snacks and you’ll see your weight loss slow down or you’ll hit a weight plateau. With a little thought and planning, you can make a healthier version of a 100 calorie snack. Here are a few ideas for nutrient packed snacks that are about 100 calories each: •8 oz. glass of skim milk or light soy milk •2 tablespoons hummus and 5 pretzel crisps or 10 baby cut carrots •2.5 ounces flavored tuna with 3 reduced fat Triscuit crackers •6 oz. container of light yogurt with 2 tablespoons blueberries •14 unsalted almonds •Half a medium pear or small apple (peeled) with 1 ounce low fat cheese •½ cup fat free cottage cheese with ½ cup raw veggies •10 large strawberries and 1 oz. goat cheese •22 pistaschios •15 grapes and 1 wedge Light Laughing Cow cheese The goal is to combine protein and carbohydrate. You will get protein for your muscles. Combining protein and carbohydrate for a snack will provide sustained energy. Keep in mind the post-surgery diet phase you are in to pick out the snacks that would be appropriate for you. If you have an allergy or food sensitivity, avoid the snacks that contain these foods. Snack happy, but snack smart!

Front porches are beginning to be adorned with colorful pumpkins and gourds, which makes me stop to think about the array of fall produce to enjoy this time of year. In the fruit category, consider apples, pears and cranberries. Did you also think about fall squashes? The commonly found squashes include butternut, acorn, Hubbard and pumpkin. How can bariatric patients enjoy these foods? Very carefully! Most of these foods are rich in natural sugars and complex carbohydrates. Combine them with a protein source and you’ve got a healthy snack to enjoy. Try half of an apple (peeled and sliced) topped with 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter. Use a fourth of a cup pear chunks mixed with a third cup low fat or fat free cottage cheese. Keep in mind fresh produce comes back to your eating 4 months after surgery. Search for “sugar free cranberry sauce recipes” on the Internet and you’ll get millions of hits for recipes. A few ounces of roasted turkey breast topped with a teaspoon or two of a sugar free cranberry sauce would make a great way to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner if you are 2 months or more out of surgery. The fall squashes (butternut, acorn, Hubbard, pumpkin) are good sources of vitamin C, fiber and beta-carotene. Cut the squashes in half vertically (stem to blossom end), scrape out the seeds, place cut side down on a foil lined baking pan and roast at 350-400 degrees F in a pre-heated oven for 45-60 minutes until tender. Let these cool enough for you to cut into chunks or scoop out to puree to serve as a side dish. The chunks or puree can be served as a side dish. You can use the puree to make a soup by starting with 2 tablespoons of the puree thinned with 3 to 4 ounces chicken broth and stirring in 5 to 7 grams worth of an unflavored protein powder. Too busy to cook from scratch? Try the canned puréed pumpkin as a soup base or just stir the protein powder into canned butternut squash soup found among the gourmet soups in the grocery store. May your eating this fall be carefully planned and bountiful.

It’s often quite a surprise to learn how slowly you really need to eat after surgery. For those of you that have had surgery, you know that even one very small bite too many can be painful or lead to vomiting. Before surgery, we encourage you to eat slowly to learn that it takes about 20 minutes of slowly eating before your brain recognizes your stomach is full. After surgery it may only take a few bites to begin feeling full. The first step in slowing down your eating is to chew your food to applesauce consistency. A lot of our patients find success by making each bite last 25 chews. Chewing to applesauce consistency works better when you take a very small bite. Think of a bite of food being about the size of a pencil eraser or the size of the tip of your pinky finger. Use smaller utensils like the salad fork or teaspoon or even toddler or baby spoons and forks. Speaking of utensils, put them down between bites which helps you slow down your eating. A lot of us already have a bite of food loaded on a fork or spoon ready to put in our mouth immediately after swallowing bite of food. Use a saucer or salad plate to reduce portions so you have less food in front of you. No seat, no eat. Sitting at a table without distractions around you will help you focus on business of chewing. Remove distractions from your eating area. Eating while standing at the sink, driving, watching TV, working on the computer, answering texts or e-mails, reading, making “to do” lists or doing another load of laundry are common distractors in our busy lives. When you are able to start eating food you can chew foods like cottage cheese or scrambled eggs, start with eating 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) every 10 minutes. Discover your “I’m just about to get full” signal. Our patients report they will hiccup, sneeze, sigh quickly or just realize that next bite of food really isn’t going to work. Focus on the enjoying the few bites you are able to have. Concentrate on the flavor and texture of the food. Many of our patients discover that chewing food well often results in finding out that the foods they really liked before don’t taste as good as they remembered. If you are eating with others, focus on the conversation and people at the table. Many of our post-surgery patients report that the focus of the meal becomes the conversations, enjoying the company and socializing rather than the food. Learning to slow down your eating will be a difficult skill to master, but is an essential skill to have successful surgical outcomes.

Sugar-free popsicles can be a life line during the 2-week liquid diet before surgery. Sometimes, however, they are hard to find. Sugar-free popsicles are basically water, flavor, color, starch, and a sweetener. Some brands found in grocery stores include Sugar Free Blue Bell7 Bullets, Sugar Free Popsicle7 and Budget $aver Sugar Free Twin Pops. The Blue Bell7 and Popsicle7 brands are 15 calories each. The Budget $aver brand is 30 calories for the whole twin pop, so you will need to use half, or one stick’s worth for a serving size. The calorie limit for sugar free popsicles is 20 calories each to keep the calories low during this pre-surgery liquid diet phase. Although sugar-free, they are not calorie-free because, of the starch and sugar alcohol content. Check the ingredient list to make sure you can tolerate them. Some of bariatric patients don’t tolerate sugar alcohols or aspartame, which are the more common sweeteners found in sugar free popsicles. Most of these sugar-free popsicles have at least one flavor that is red. No red colors are allowed on that last day before surgery, so use those first. Can you guess the major nutrient found in these sugar free popsicles? The first ingredient in all of them is…water! Nice to know it counts towards your fluid intake.

Practicing liquid protein drinks helps get your body used to them so that you will get enough protein after surgery. In your first consultation with the dietitian, you may receive information that includes details about how much and what types of protein are the best quality for bariatrics patients. ANSWER: Practice. Practice. Practice. QUESTION: What is “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” This would be a great question for Jeopardy under the category of “Truthful Jokes.” So, how does this familiar joke work for bariatric surgery? Would you really perform music on the stage of Carnegie Hall or make a presentation or write a great report or make it to the World Series without a lot of practice? Practicing liquid protein drinks helps get your body used to them so that you will get enough protein after surgery. In your first consultation with the dietitian, you may receive information that includes details about how much and what types of protein are the best quality for bariatrics patients. Start with one protein drink per day as a meal replacement. As you get closer to surgery, add another protein drink to replace another meal or snack. There is a period of trial and error to find the best one for you, so you’ll likely need to try a variety of protein products before you find what works for you. Cutting way back on food portions isn’t the same as allowing your body to adjust to an all liquid diet. Start practicing the protein drinks way before you have to go on an all liquid diet. This may be one of your best performances!

ANSWER: Practice. Practice. Practice. QUESTION: What is “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” This would be a great question for Jeopardy under the category of “Truthful Jokes.” So, how does this familiar joke work for bariatric surgery? Would you really perform music on the stage of Carnegie Hall or make a presentation or write a great report or make it to the World Series without a lot of practice? Practicing liquid protein drinks helps get your body used to them so that you will get enough protein after surgery. In your first consultation with the dietitian, you may receive information that includes details about how much and what types of protein are the best quality for bariatrics patients. Start with one protein drink per day as a meal replacement. As you get closer to surgery, add another protein drink to replace another meal or snack. There is a period of trial and error to find the best one for you, so you’ll likely need to try a variety of protein products before you find what works for you. Cutting way back on food portions isn’t the same as allowing your body to adjust to an all liquid diet. Start practicing the protein drinks way before you have to go on an all liquid diet. This may be one of your best performances!

Remember when the pediatrician told you to introduce a new food every 2 to 3 days to see if your baby could tolerate it? Bariatric patients can use that idea when introducing foods back into your diet. Remember when the pediatrician told you to introduce a new food every 2 to 3 days to see if your baby could tolerate it? Bariatric patients can use that idea when introducing foods back into your diet. Your tastes change after surgery due to the amazing hormonal and biochemical changes that are happening. So, try refried beans and cheese separately before you sprinkle that cheese on top of warm refried beans. Eat a few hard boiled eggs before you chop it up and mix with low fat mayo. Just like a baby, a very small bite of a new food can provide a taste of something to see if your stomach pouch can tolerate it. After surgery, you need to push yourself to see what foods you can tolerate, but not push so hard that you are nauseous and throwing that food up. So, take baby steps towards your new way of eating, not those giant leaps for mankind.

Remember when the pediatrician told you to introduce a new food every 2 to 3 days to see if your baby could tolerate it? Bariatric patients can use that idea when introducing foods back into your diet. Your tastes change after surgery due to the amazing hormonal and biochemical changes that are happening. So, try refried beans and cheese separately before you sprinkle that cheese on top of warm refried beans. Eat a few hard boiled eggs before you chop it up and mix with low fat mayo. Just like a baby, a very small bite of a new food can provide a taste of something to see if your stomach pouch can tolerate it. After surgery, you need to push yourself to see what foods you can tolerate, but not push so hard that you are nauseous and throwing that food up. So, take baby steps towards your new way of eating, not those giant leaps for mankind.

We’re at the end of summer, but not the end of hot weather. Hydration will continue being important, especially if you do a lot of sweating. If you haven’t had surgery, you may be in the habit of reaching for pop, juice, lemonade, sports drinks or sweet tea to quench your thirst. Stop and rethink those drinks. We’re at the end of summer, but not the end of hot weather. Hydration will continue being important, especially if you do a lot of sweating. If you haven’t had surgery, you may be in the habit of reaching for pop, juice, lemonade, sports drinks or sweet tea to quench your thirst. Stop and rethink those drinks. A 12 oz. can of regular pop has about 40 grams of sugar, which is 10 teaspoons of sugar. A 12 oz. glass of 100 percent juice has the same amount of sugar as a regular pop. Ten teaspoons of sugar is just under a ¼ cup of sugar. If you are drinking 4 cans of regular pop per day, you’re getting close to a full cup of sugar. Yikes! Lemonade and sweet tea can have similar amounts of sugar. Sports drinks aren’t as sugar laden, but can have up to 12 grams of sugar (3 teaspoons of sugar) in an 8 oz. serving. Higher sugar intake leads to high blood sugars. High blood sugars lead to more insulin being released by the pancreas to get your blood sugars into a normal range. Too much insulin can actually lead to more of the calories stored as fat. Yikes, again! Good old plain water is a great first choice. Need some flavor? Consider using one of the many powdered or liquid, sugar free flavor options. If you have headaches, avoid any with aspartame. Infused water is taking berries, citrus, cucumbers, mint and other fruits and vegetables and steeping them in water to draw the flavor into the water. Start with at least 64 ounces of water per day. You will need more depending on your size and activity level. Read labels or go online to check out the sugar content of some of your favorite beverages. There are lots of ways to stay hydrated, as long as you stay away from the sugars lurking in your liquids!

We’re at the end of summer, but not the end of hot weather. Hydration will continue being important, especially if you do a lot of sweating. If you haven’t had surgery, you may be in the habit of reaching for pop, juice, lemonade, sports drinks or sweet tea to quench your thirst. Stop and rethink those drinks. A 12 oz. can of regular pop has about 40 grams of sugar, which is 10 teaspoons of sugar. A 12 oz. glass of 100 percent juice has the same amount of sugar as a regular pop. Ten teaspoons of sugar is just under a ¼ cup of sugar. If you are drinking 4 cans of regular pop per day, you’re getting close to a full cup of sugar. Yikes! Lemonade and sweet tea can have similar amounts of sugar. Sports drinks aren’t as sugar laden, but can have up to 12 grams of sugar (3 teaspoons of sugar) in an 8 oz. serving. Higher sugar intake leads to high blood sugars. High blood sugars lead to more insulin being released by the pancreas to get your blood sugars into a normal range. Too much insulin can actually lead to more of the calories stored as fat. Yikes, again! Good old plain water is a great first choice. Need some flavor? Consider using one of the many powdered or liquid, sugar free flavor options. If you have headaches, avoid any with aspartame. Infused water is taking berries, citrus, cucumbers, mint and other fruits and vegetables and steeping them in water to draw the flavor into the water. Start with at least 64 ounces of water per day. You will need more depending on your size and activity level. Read labels or go online to check out the sugar content of some of your favorite beverages. There are lots of ways to stay hydrated, as long as you stay away from the sugars lurking in your liquids!

Pictures this…by choosing lower fat cheese over regular, full fat cheese, you can save calories and get more calcium and protein. Pictures this…by choosing lower fat cheese over regular, full fat cheese, you can save calories and get more calcium and protein. In our nutrition guidelines, we highlight choosing low fat or fat free cheese. When comparing the nutrition values for full fat, low fat and fat free mozzarella cheeses, there’s lot of calories that can be avoided by choosing low fat or fat free cheeses. An ounce of mozzarella made with whole milk has 84 calories, 6 grams of fat, 6 grams of protein and 150 mg calcium. An ounce of mozzarella made with part skim milk has 71 calories, 4 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein and 200 mg calcium. An ounce of non-fat mozzarella has 42 calories, 0 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein and 270 mg of calcium. This information is found on the website nutritiondataself.com, which is a great website to look up nutrition information on the foods we eat. Less fat means the cheese has more room for protein. Next time you are in the grocery store, start comparing the types of cheese you prefer and picture yourself finding the one that is lowest in calories and highest in protein.

Right after surgery, it’s a struggle to just get enough water, much less think about getting back on your multi-supplement. Remember to choose a chewable or liquid multi-supplement after surgery. Your stomach pouch is now much smaller due to being surgically altered and swelling that happens after surgery. A solid tablet will not break down very well or move through your new stomach pouch. We encourage you to start your multi-supplement as soon as you can tolerate them. Sometimes, a full dose of your multi-supplement is more than your stomach pouch may be able to handle due to the concentration of nutrients. Consider starting with a partial dose. If your liquid supplement serving is 1 tablespoon, try 1 teaspoon instead. Dilute the liquid multi-supplement in water or other clear liquid you are drinking. If you chose a chewable multi-supplement, break that into 2 or 3 pieces and start with one of the smaller pieces. Gradually increase this to a full dose. You need to push yourself to get adequate nutrition, but not so much that you start throwing everything up. By taking baby steps in your nutrition, you will eventually be able get in all your nutrition.

Pictures this…by choosing lower fat cheese over regular, full fat cheese, you can save calories and get more calcium and protein. In our nutrition guidelines, we highlight choosing low fat or fat free cheese. When comparing the nutrition values for full fat, low fat and fat free mozzarella cheeses, there’s lot of calories that can be avoided by choosing low fat or fat free cheeses. An ounce of mozzarella made with whole milk has 84 calories, 6 grams of fat, 6 grams of protein and 150 mg calcium. An ounce of mozzarella made with part skim milk has 71 calories, 4 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein and 200 mg calcium. An ounce of non-fat mozzarella has 42 calories, 0 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein and 270 mg of calcium. This information is found on the website nutritiondataself.com, which is a great website to look up nutrition information on the foods we eat. Less fat means the cheese has more room for protein. Next time you are in the grocery store, start comparing the types of cheese you prefer and picture yourself finding the one that is lowest in calories and highest in protein.

The “no white foods” diet is still around. We encourage our bariatrics patients to give up white bread, white rice, white pasta or white potatoes. These foods typically raise blood sugars. However, cauliflower is not one of those white foods. The “no white foods” diet is still around. We encourage our bariatrics patients to give up white bread, white rice, white pasta or white potatoes. These foods typically raise blood sugars. However, cauliflower is not one of those white foods. One cup of raw cauliflower has 27 calories, 77 percent daily value for vitamin C, 5 grams carbohydrate, 2.5 grams fiber, 2 grams protein and is a good source of potassium, folate, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Cauliflower is a low glycemic food, which means is has very little carbohydrate to raise your blood sugars. Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous vegetable group which also includes broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables provide sulforaphane, a phytochemical linked to a decreased risk for cancer. Instead of rice and potatoes as a side dish, think cauliflower. Whipped cauliflower as a side dish instead of potatoes has been around since the low-carb craze from a couple of decades ago. Here’s a quick recipe to try. You can make this recipe four weeks after surgery, when cooked vegetables are reintroduced to your diet. Cauliflower “rice” is chopping this vegetable in a food processor or grating by hand to look like rice and then steaming it. Here is a recipe, which can be prepared in Phase 4 after surgery when fresh produce comes back in - four months after surgery.

The “no white foods” diet is still around. We encourage our bariatrics patients to give up white bread, white rice, white pasta or white potatoes. These foods typically raise blood sugars. However, cauliflower is not one of those white foods. One cup of raw cauliflower has 27 calories, 77 percent daily value for vitamin C, 5 grams carbohydrate, 2.5 grams fiber, 2 grams protein and is a good source of potassium, folate, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Cauliflower is a low glycemic food, which means is has very little carbohydrate to raise your blood sugars. Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous vegetable group which also includes broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables provide sulforaphane, a phytochemical linked to a decreased risk for cancer. Instead of rice and potatoes as a side dish, think cauliflower. Whipped cauliflower as a side dish instead of potatoes has been around since the low-carb craze from a couple of decades ago. Here’s a quick recipe to try. You can make this recipe four weeks after surgery, when cooked vegetables are reintroduced to your diet. Cauliflower “rice” is chopping this vegetable in a food processor or grating by hand to look like rice and then steaming it. Here is a recipe, which can be prepared in Phase 4 after surgery when fresh produce comes back in - four months after surgery.