valeneayar

Meal prepping after bariatric surgery is one of the best decisions you can make to help support your new lifestyle. It saves money, time and best of all you always have healthy options on hand. Here are five strategies to get started.


Start Small
The thought of meal prepping seven days a week for three meals a day can seem like a daunting task, and frankly, unrealistic. If this is your first attempt at meal prepping start small.
What meals are the most challenging for you to eat healthy (or eat at all?) Start there.
If you are going out to lunch frequently then start with bringing a packed lunch like these Low Carb Shepherds Pie Bowls. You can prepare them ahead of time and eat them throughout the week. Set a goal of bringing a packed lunch three days a week.
Use an Electric Pressure Cooker
If you are just getting started with meal prepping, one of the easiest places to start is to use an electric pressure cooker (aka Instant Pot). On the weekend, place all the ingredients in a gallon size ziplock bag and store in the fridge.
Then on the day you want to eat that meal, pour the contents of the ziplock bag into the pressure cooker and turn it on. Voila!
If you need ideas for a recipe try this Weeknight Pasta Fagioli.
Prepare Marinades and Sauces
Preparing marinades and sauces ahead of time saves time during the week. Mix up your marinades or sauces on the weekend and store them in the fridge.
This process only takes a few minutes but it really can help in the middle of the week. You could easily make the sauce for these Baja Fish Tacos ahead of time.
Cut up Veggies
Cutting up your vegetables on the weekends can save you loads of time and dishes during the week. Plus, you are more likely to eat the veggies if they’re already prepared.
Once you cut and dice your veggies place them in a storage container and store in the fridge. You could also season them with olive oil and spices to save you one more step.
Make a Batch of Soup
Now that we're getting into the cooler seasons, soup can be an easy meal to prepare ahead time. You can reheat the soup in the microwave for a couple minutes if you are short on time during the week.
You can also double the batch and store some in the freezer. This way you will always have something healthy on hand.
This Easy Taco Soup is perfect for the whole family and stores well in the freezer.
Now that you have some ideas on how to start meal prepping, which one do you want to start with?
Let me know in the comments below

Mine is the week of Feb 18. Still waiting for a firm time/day that week.

Congrats! Honestly it will come and fly by and you will be on your way to successful weight loss! My coordinator said mid January to beginning Feb. Best of luck!

I did 6 months of observation before I could have my papers submitted to the insurance. My insurance came back after a week. I called them every day to make sure they had my paper work and check the status. I was creeping hard lol hope you find out soon!

Waiting on insurance approval now but shooting for a Feb surgery date!

I just got my surgery date today!!! Its February 1st!! 52 more days

It is going to be great. I know this journey has been over six months. I know when I get to my pre op diet, I will be saying I wish it was not quite here yet. Just kidding. Iy will be great because I will get to my surgery and by summer I will have started to look like the stud I know I am. ?

February 22nd over here!!! Just got my date today!!

February 22nd over here!!! Just got my date today!!

I also had no pre op diet, my surgeon also doesn't believe they are necessary.
I can see no negative effects of not having had a pre op diet. I have lost 100% of my excess weight. I'm successfully in maintenance, so far. My liver was perfect and pink, so I was told. I had no physical hunger for weeks post op. I was able to have food funerals, which I believe help me be more focused on healthy eating post WLS.

February 22nd over here!!! Just got my date today!!

Less than a month to tie up loose ends, less than a month to wait for something that profoundly changes your life, you will meet this challenge and your labor will. not be in vain for you are engaged in the job of rebuilding yourself and it's a project only You can do.Go forward believing in yourself, a smile on your face and hope in your heart of hearts. And you will be blessed.

Tahnk you!! My date is the 18th. I was soooo inpatient before now I am like will I be ready!! :-)

Hmm, so having a cookie over the holidays might be OK, but we need to really buckle down for the first quarter of 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4422859/
(In plainer English, it appears that the speed of people's weight loss in months 3-6 is a solid predictor of how much weight they'll lose total, independent of other factors.)

Start learning to separate your eating drinking by a half hour. Start learning to sip, no more chugging, no,lmore bolting that stuff down. Start eating slower, after surgery you want to chew into very smooth consistency. Traditionally they say applesauce, I personally say Apple Butter. May have to be 20-30,times each. Sounds rough, well,your new sleeve,on pounch is very tender and crabby at first. This is my,10th day,post, thought i,had this thing licked? Last,night my pouch and. I had a disaggreement, Precious Puch won that argument. This morning I'm sucking,on a suger free popsicle, wondering if we are still in a state of truce.
I am already on Stage 3, rare,but some doctors move THAT fast. Thursday diet and liquids went well, so I got,brave, wanted to venture to something else. Bad idea, right now I'm still figuring things after all. But,i am seeing positive body changes all ready. They are small, but they make me continue.
Found out I can and will do this. And in a month you will be where I am encouraging the November chicks and dudes. Stay strong it is beautiful,being where I am.
HW 355 10/2017
Sw 303. 9/05/2018
height 5ft 8in
Goal 175 and I am. 72 years old. If i can do it, most everybody,younger has a good chance of success.

Overall, I guess I'm excited more than scared. I figure I've had two babies -- one by c section -- so I got this (albeit that was a long time ago!) It's the waiting that is getting to me. Not even time yet for the pre-surgery two week diet. What to do? I've eliminated carbonated drinks, I've eliminated caffeine, I'm drinking tons of water, I'm not even all that into eating right now. There was a great thread about how to handle things at work -- I plan to tell my boss next week and have a plan for coverage for up to the four weeks they say to plan on being out. I'm shy of being too open about what I'm doing, but then again feel I should set an example and be transparent. Hoping my support system doesn't waver as we wait...