Stinkerbells2ndact

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 was yesterday, March 3. I’m on my way home from the hospital now. (A two hour drive) It was pretty easy for me to be honest. A little pain when I woke up and a little nausea here and there, but no dry heaving. Started walking within a few hours. Incision sites are a bit sore and if I turn a certain way or stand up too fast it’s uncomfortable. No trouble getting Water in.

Sleeved this morning! Cheers!

I am 11 days post op and feeling basically normal, aside from still struggling to meet my minimum Protein intake. I went back to work at the one week mark. My commute is an hour, and I drove in torrential downpours that first day back. That day was rough. I have felt progressively better since. My incisions still pull a bit when I turn or move a certain way, which is uncomfortable but not really painful. Today is my first day that I have not needed Tylenol. I do take gas-x a few times a day still. I have lost 14 lbs and am very happy with that progress at this point. I have my follow up tomorrow. I am on liquid for the entire first month, and am already looking forward to food of any kind. I’m not liking any of the Liquid Protein flavors but I’m forcing them in to get the job done. I would say for me, the surgery pain wasn’t all that horrible. The bigger struggle has been adjusting to what a sip is, what makes me full, how to avoid self inflicted pain from drinking too much/too fast, etc. that stuff all has settled in for the most part and I am doing great! Good luck to all of you coming up on surgery dates.

@Mooki what foods are you eating and at what volumes?
I know there are a variety of post op guidelines with different timeframes for the food stages, but are you still on liquids?

Hi guys just wondering how u all are doing? I’m tracking my food in my fitness pal so I know I’m not over eating but I swear I can already eat more than I thought. I haven’t hit the nausea issue at all and my friend who had the surgery used to get foamies if she ate too much. I am anxious that maybe I somehow already stretched my tummy.
I now understand too why people say it’s a tool not a solution.

The upside is that I no longer feel i can eat two main courses. I used to be so hungry all the time. I just am gonna have to put in the work I guess.

Keen to know how u all are feeling!!

Just had my surgery Monday, 3/9. Feeling like I don’t know anything despite reading, watching videos, attending nutrition classes, etc.

My Dr does full liquids after 24 hrs. and I’m doing ok, although already had some hunger which I thought wasn’t supposed to happen for months?

Also, don’t know how many calories and liquids to shoot for by sipping. Took me all day to sip in the recommended meals which was 350 cals and not enuf Water.

I bought the post op diet kit from my dr since I knew I’d be too tempted if I had to make food. Smells from the kitchen when my family cooks is a bit of a trigger.

Any advice is very welcome!