Suggestions for Protein-rich breakfast

[pendulum 6]

my Pastry Chef friend (who had his band 5 years ago) talked about using Silken Tofu in smoothies (with Protein powder), he said it blended MUCH better...and maybe had higher Protein? just a suggestion....

i'm totally with you OP on hating yogurt- i have tried it a TON of ways and i just can't take it...that funky, tart taste is just blech! what about having non-breakfast foods instead? something like hummus or lentils or tofu... you could mix in neutral/unflavored Protein Powder with one of these to up the protein even more. or if you want something more breakfast-like, maybe oatmeal with protein powder. i've been doing 8oz non-fat milk with nestle quick and a small scoop of neutral flavored protein (~20g protein total) and if i get hungry later, i snack on a soy joy or nuts or banana.

[Amanda61082 28]

I never thought of adding Protein powder to so many things. Where do you get this powder? What brands are best? My dietician mentioned she would rather me eat solid foods so they remain longer, so that is why I strayed from shakes, but if I pair it with fruit I should be good.

Thank you to everyone for these suggestions! I would be completely lost without all this support!

i'm totally with you OP on hating yogurt- i have tried it a TON of ways and i just can't take it...that funky, tart taste is just blech! what about having non-breakfast foods instead? something like hummus or lentils or tofu... you could mix in neutral/unflavored Protein powder with one of these to up the protein even more. or if you want something more breakfast-like, maybe oatmeal with protein powder. i've been doing 8oz non-fat milk with nestle quick and a small scoop of neutral flavored protein (~20g protein total) and if i get hungry later, i snack on a soy joy or nuts or banana.

[pendulum 6]

as a non-banded person, this sorta spooks me a bit- I have heard the horror stories of 'eating around the band' (and gaining the weight back...pardon my ignorance but is 'going to shakes' a slippery slope? what if (I) then 'moved over' to NON healthy shakes? (I love me some milk shakes/crap food). I know the focus is on Protein, but food is such a sneaky sucker.... how do I avoid the excuse of (when I get banded) 'Oh, I don't want solid food, I could "just this once" have a milk shake (with the evil ice cream, not the silken tofu/protein/etc)... not meaning to 'take over' the topic, but I can hear the 'healthy shakes' talk but part of brain is hearing...hmmm...ice cream?

I never thought of adding Protein powder to so many things. Where do you get this powder? What brands are best? My dietician mentioned she would rather me eat solid foods so they remain longer, so that is why I strayed from shakes, but if I pair it with fruit I should be good.

Thank you to everyone for these suggestions! I would be completely lost without all this support!

[Matt Z 4,138]

I never thought of adding Protein powder to so many things. Where do you get this powder? What brands are best? My dietician mentioned she would rather me eat solid foods so they remain longer, so that is why I strayed from shakes, but if I pair it with fruit I should be good.

Thank you to everyone for these suggestions! I would be completely lost without all this support!

Amanda, there are SOOOOOOO many easy places to get Protein. Heck, you can run over to wal-mart and get some.

As far as which are best? Does taste factor in? If taste is not a problem, any powder that is high in protein and low in carbs, cals and fat will do. Once you factor in taste, options change.

Muscle Milk Light is a great powder and can be bought at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. unjury powder is very good, but is pretty much only online Unjury productions online.

Myoplex Carb Control and Isopure Zero Carb protein are my top picks for low or no carb, hugh protein counts and great taste. Almost all of these brands also sell unflavored, which please understand does have some flavor, just not an artifical flavor and it's best to be mixed with SF/FF puddings, yogurts, or other item that you don't cook. If you cook protein powder it will get pretty nasty pretty quick.

Unjury has a chick Soup flavored protein, I've got 2 pouches of it, but I have yet to try it, you have to be careful that you don't add it to Water that's too hot or it will clump.

Different protein types have different absorption rates. whey isolate (ion exchanged whey) has the fastest uptake rates, while egg protein uptake is the slowest.

No matter which way you go, adding protein powder to your diet will only do good for you.

[Matt Z 4,138]

as a non-banded person, this sorta spooks me a bit- I have heard the horror stories of 'eating around the band' (and gaining the weight back...pardon my ignorance but is 'going to shakes' a slippery slope? what if (I) then 'moved over' to NON healthy shakes? (I love me some milk shakes/crap food). I know the focus is on Protein, but food is such a sneaky sucker.... how do I avoid the excuse of (when I get banded) 'Oh, I don't want solid food, I could "just this once" have a milk shake (with the evil ice cream, not the silken tofu/protein/etc)... not meaning to 'take over' the topic, but I can hear the 'healthy shakes' talk but part of brain is hearing...hmmm...ice cream?

Pendulum, this is where your choices come into play. The Band is only a tool. You yourself needs to make the choices to eat better. A good thing to do, is find a Protein that tastes like ice cream (they exist, I've got a tub of Muscle Milk Cake Batter protein!!), then you can have the taste you are looking for and get the protein that your body needs.

But you are correct, you can eat around the band. The band isn't going to stop you from eating crap food, that's where willpower comes in.

[SaucyBandster 23]

I met with the dietician last week, and she wanted me to start eating like I would after the surgery. I started today. She wanted to me to try Greek yogurt with some granola for Breakfast, and some fruit. I HATE yogurt. She recommended the Greek yogurt and granola to give it more texture. I took about three bites until I started gagging. I am having a hard time thinking of something else I can eat for Breakfast. I know eggs are a good one, but I have an extremely hectic morning, so I need something fast. Any suggestions???

Another easy thing to do is make your breakfast only once a week. I make an eggwhite frittatta and sneak in all sorts of veggies, some goat cheese, turkey crumbles and spices. Then I cut it up into pie slices for the week. I heat a slice up each day for like 45 seconds. You can make it on Sundays for the week.

If you need exact directions on how to make a frittata, let me know and I will write it out step by step. One pan, easy cleanup and SOOOO Yum!!

The taste is incredible and it's super low fat, extremely tasty and very filling.

[motivatedlap 8]

I never thought of adding Protein powder to so many things. Where do you get this powder? What brands are best? My dietician mentioned she would rather me eat solid foods so they remain longer, so that is why I strayed from shakes, but if I pair it with fruit I should be good.

i'm using one called nutrilite from amway (i live abroad, so i have almost no options for Protein powders). it's a soy protein rather than whey. the description states that it has a 'neutral' flavor and i agree. it's slightly nutty but i mix it in chocolate milk and it makes it a little creamier/thicker but doesn't really alter the taste. i also tried dissolving it in hot Water and it blended in just fine with no clumping. i haven't put it in anything else- i get banded in 2 days though, so next week i'm sure i'll be adding it to more things, so i'll report back! i'm personally only going to do beverages as a meal if i am too tight to eat. i've seen so many people mention having trouble eating in the morning, so that's when i see me using this the most.

[pendulum 6]

Matt, thanks- this is where MY personal concerns come in (and my folks), I am basically very lazy (I think will power fits in there somewhere) and its one of the reasons I am on this board long before the events- to discuss... and not sure if I wanted to know there is a 'cake batter flavored' Muscle Milk (laughing).

funny tho- even before my consult I feel like I have 'bandish days' and 'non-bandish' days (translation, did I go by the groery store on teh way home and get crap or not)

thanks again

PenNdulum

Pendulum, this is where your choices come into play. The Band is only a tool. You yourself needs to make the choices to eat better. A good thing to do, is find a Protein that tastes like ice cream (they exist, I've got a tub of Muscle Milk Cake Batter protein!!), then you can have the taste you are looking for and get the Protein that your body needs.

But you are correct, you can eat around the band. The band isn't going to stop you from eating crap food, that's where willpower comes in.

[kittyforet 50]

LeChill,

I'd like the directions for your fritatta. Sounds yummy!

I usually have a Protein shake for breakfast during the week, as it is hard for me to take the time to actually eat before I teach my class. But on rare days that I eat breAkfast, it's one of two things...egg mcmuffin from McDonald's, or I make a hungry girl egg mug. Basically egg beaters and any combo of stuff cooked in the microwave. Makes single servings. Sometimes it makes so much I can only eat half.

[FLHgal 68]

Ok, so I tried Unjury unflavored in V8. Don't do it, had to dump it. Probably the same with Tomato juice.< /span>

[honk 780]

I jazz up Greek yoghurt as follows. Choose 2% because fat free is super sour; and get one with fruit inside. I add 1/2 scoop vanilla whey isolate Protein powder (about 50 cal); 2 teaspoons non flavored benefiber, 1/4 cup kashi go lean (high protein) Cereal, and splendra (even 2% is sour so it needs some help. . About 250 calories about 26 g of protein.

[xavier 153]

I cant do yogurt either and I am basically a vegetarian so I have to give some effort to Protein. I have a Premier Protein drink every morning, partly because solid food is difficult in the morning. Its from Cosco and comes in an 18 pak of little cartons. They have choc and vanilla and they are both good. Sometimes I order the strawb for variety. They are 160 calories and 30 grams of protein and I think that really starts the day right.

I am also quite lazy and I make an egg in a coffee cup in the microwave and then put cheese on it. I do eat some cottage cheese with salsa and a fair amount of tuna salad or egg salad. I buy some premade tofu salads at Whole foods which I know would be outrageously expensive except for how little I eat!

Once in a while I have made the effort to put protein powder (GNC) in grits, oatmeal, or Soup.< /p>

PS If you are going to try those Protein Shots (the ones I got were in test tubes) stand next to the sink...mine was instantly rejected!

[SaucyBandster 23]

Frittata recipe for anyone interested...

Ingredients:

Buy one large container of Egg Whites

One package of baby spinach (you can switch out any veggies but this is my fave)

Pam Spray

Goat cheese (you can also add low fat mozarella)

Italian seasonings (or any spices you enjoy)

I buy one package of Jimmy Dean low fat Turkey Sausage crumbles. (You can also switch this out with turkey bacon, vegetarian fake sausage crumbles, etc)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Take one large frying fan with a METAL handle (NOT PLASTIC as this will go in the oven)

Spray with pam pretty heavily so that the fritatta pops right out at the end

Pour the bag of turkey crumbles in the pan (or your meat of choice) and warm up

Then I add the whole bag of spinach which cooks down and softens up very well and sneaks in a good amount of veggies - (this is where you can also sneak in other veggies if you want - Asparagus tips, red peppers, etc)

Then on Medium to Medium-High heat (you don't want this to burn the bottle) add the carton of egg whites which will cover the large pan. You may not have to use the whole container. It all depends on how large you want your fritatta and how big your pan is. It doesn't rise so you can eye this.

On Medium heat, let is cook for a few minutes. You will notice the whole thing cooking except the top. At this point is where I put in goat cheese crumbles which end up melting with the turkey sausage and spinach and then I sprinkle Italian seasons all over it

Put it into the oven for about 8 mins which will cook the top up and melt the goat cheese

Once you see it's finished, pull out of oven and flip onto plate. You can then use another plate to flip it back over to see the pretty side. Cut into pie slices.

You can then rewarm each slice for about 45 seconds thru the week.

It's a super easy, super quick breakfast and it's such a great flavor and way to sneak in veggies and Protein and being very low fat. It also helps with less waste of throwing food away because you can sneak in different veggies. The one above just happens to be my fave flavors. You can alternate different meats and cheeses and veggies and have a million different variations.

This ends cooking with Lisa LOL