BeanitoDiego

I didn't care for the bone broth after surgery and had stocked up beforehand. Luckily, my supermarket allowed me to exchange the bone broth for vegetable broth.

I recently tried a liquid store brand version of a water flavoring additive that is made with Stevia and contains some B vitamins. It was a nice change from plain water, and easy to add to my ever-present water bottle. On occasion, if I'm on the go and want a cold drink from a convenience store, I choose Bai Water if I can find it. If not, then I look for Gatorade Zero or Powerade Zero Sugar.

I drank instant black decaf for 3 months both pre-op and post-op. I'm 9 months post-op and have been back on regular coffee for about 6 months. A change in my preference is that I now drink it with half & half and protein powder added. Two or three servings every morning, no matter where or how I find myself ? During that 6 month caffeine-free period, I also drank warm herbal teas, and room temperature decaf black teas. I still enjoy the herbals in the evenings occasionally. And I'm back to regular black teas with cream, one of my favorites!

A hearty second vote! Tofu with any topping or seasoning is flipping amazing in an air fryer.

After surgery, I would have spasms when trying to take in cold or cool drinks. Everything had to be warm or room temperature. 10 months post-op, and I can drink cold things again.

Ooo @NickelChip this sounds great! I will be trying it very soon.

Thanks for sharing an update! I find a lot of inspiration in your story.

Dried berries and nuts have become crucial to my existence ?

I have experimented with making my own low carbohydrate breads using primarily eggs and almond flour. Here is a go-to recipe for making a little at a time; I scale it up if I am meal prepping. 1 egg 1 Tablespoon olive oil 3 Tablespoons Almond Flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and pour into a microwave-safe bowl or ramekin. Microwave for 90 seconds. Flip out and slice in half. It's not exactly bread, but paired with a veggie sausage patty, it's a very filling grab-n-go breakfast. For convenience, I have purchased Healthy Life Keto Bread at supermarkets. It has 35 calories per slice, 9g of carbohydrates, 8g of fiber, and 5g of protein. My serving size is usually one piece toasted, with avocado, tomato, and nutritional yeast on top.

I like both for different reasons. Indoor time is more intense and I regard it as training for the opportunities be outside engaging in activities that I find fulfilling, like swimming, camping, boating, and hiking.

Half a cup of lupin beans, 1/4 cup of sweet potato, 1/5 of an avocado, 1 slice of cucumber, 1oz of tomato. I will take a break and finish the leftovers as a snack later.

I just found lupini beans for snacking! (Sometimes called lupin beans.) I have another package of chili lime flavor that I’ve opened, and they’re a delicious new adventure for me ☺️

I've only tried a few products, but have found two convenience foods that are good for packing a lunch/snacks while I'm engaging in outdoor activities. The first one is the Caramel Crunch protein bars: https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-high-protein-bars-caramel-crunch I also like these Protein Crisps in ranch and barbeque flavor: https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-protein-crisps-ranch?variant=12060717809740

In the USA, federal legislation called the No Surprises Act was enacted in 2021 to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. It has been supplemented with changes as recently as January of 2024. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and patients have protections and rights against certain charges. Here's a link for more information: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises Many of us have had to navigate the complex insurance system in the States and we are no strangers to advocating for ourselves. I was hit with a surprise bill 4 months after my surgery and having knowledge of this legislation helped me avoid paying a large amount of money to an out of network provider that assisted with my surgery.

I haven't tried a boil in bag, but I incorporate quinoa regularly into what I eat these days. It is easy to prepare from scratch. I found this site that is a good introduction into cooking it: https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-cook-quinoa-perfectly-article Hope you enjoy it! I like it with roasted veggies on the side, or topped with melted cheese.