Hello bandsters! I have just found the most amazing NEW lean pocket, it is a pretzel bread filled with spinach and 3 cheeses like a hot pocket, it is amazing and barely any calories! i just had to share this for anyone that is still able to eat breads, then I started wondering what might be some of your OMG foods that has made your journey more easier........

My top 3 are:

• Lean Pockets spinach & 3 cheese.
  
• Southbeach whipped peanut butter protien bar (OMG).
  
• Pregreso enchilada soup (I add more chicken)
  

What are yours?

Hi, i havent been here for a while. Its nice to get back and see what people are giving hints about. I am nearly 2 years post op. Broccoli and pineapple are two of the not recommended foods for me, but sound good.

I could not cope without baked beans -( couldn't find these on a recent trip to Hawaii) and i love hard boiled eggs mashed up with cottage cheese and spring onions on thin brown rice crackers.

Sounds like me. Seems that is my comfort food' date=' along with either crackers or sliced cucumbers.

Our local Deli sees me coming! I'm too lazy to make my own.[/quote']

Lol! It is easy foods. I still find that it seems something is missing, like bread. Actually I used to eat sandwich thins but now I try to just do a small svg of Special K crackers with the salads.

wait .... Mio ias a sweet tea flavor?!?!?!?!?!?!? GET OUT!!!! im making my grocery list right now actually.

stephyanders- I second the fage greek yourgurt. I put splenda in it, takes away a lot of the tang I don't care for. I eat it with 1/2 c fiber one for breakfast. cereal has 1/2 of the daily fiber your suppossed to get. Applesauce sounds good too.

home made chili

i love spaghetti squash. I use the Morningstar Crumbles, fresh mushrooms and some Ragu...throw in lots of spices and mix it with the squash. I like it so much better then real pasta. I'm scheduled for my first fill on Monday, so this helps to keep me satisfied with very few calories since 1/2 cup of food is not satisfying me at the moment.

wait .... Mio ias a sweet tea flavor?!?!?!?!?!?!? GET OUT!!!! im making my grocery list right now actually.

I love the MIO Sweet Tea. If I have a sore throat, I mix it in with hot Water. I find it at all the local grocery stores & Walmart.

I have to agree about Mio. I LOVE the sweet tea! I use it every day. I also like the strawberry/ watermelon flavor. Haven't tried the others yet. I did try Great Value brand of the fruit punch and do NOT care for it at all. I'm sure the Mio brand is good. I also love crystal light green tea peach mango.

I love the low fat Wheat Thins with a wedge of Laughing Cow light swiss spread on it. 8 crackers and 1 wedge is only about 100 calories.

I also really love the sugar free Jello pudding for a treat. The Boston Cream and Deluce (caramel) are incredible and only 60 calories.

I drink tons of Lipton mixed berry diet green tea. Zero calories and it doesn't taste "diet" at all. It's sweet and refreshing, and for me it's a great substitute for the pop I used to drink.

I am newly banded and still on mushies. I am lovin the cajun 15 bean soup mixed with some canned chicken. Great ideas everyone. To drink I make homemade lemonade with splenda. The tart lemons cover the sweetner taste.

For me...soup of all kinds! (Except soup with Pasta in it.) Tomato soup especially!

Beans of all kinds has been invaluable. Baked beans, bean soup, bean dip, hummus, etc.

cheese has been a great help. So has almonds! (Portion control is key with both foods though.)

And yogurt!

I mix a veggie seasoning packet into Fage Greek yogurt. Makes a high Protein veggie dip. Yum-o.

Sliced apple with PB.

Wheat thins w/ laughing cow or hummus.

String cheese.

Peach Chobani with Kashi Go Lean Crunch added on top.

Home made chili. Lots of beans!! I use ground turkey instead of ground meat.

Salmon. Love salmon. Bake with salsa on top and it is incredibly moist!! (22 mins at 400)

pumpkin tofu soup. Very yummy and filling.

Hard boiled eggs with the yolk removed and filled filled with hummus. Or egg salad using hummus instead of mayo.

For a sweet treat, Skinny Cow truffle ice cream bars. 100 calories of pure bliss.

Also, plain greek yogurt with sugar and fat free jello or pudding crystals mixed in. U can also mix in the crystal lite crystals. Endless possibilities! Just be careful w the puddibg crystals because it makes the yogurt super thick if u use too much.

Mine has been split pea soup! I started when I was on the liquid diet after surgery, strained the peas and drank the liquid. Since then, I have been making a batch every week, freezing it, and taking it for lunches or warming it up at home. I've read that peas aid digestion and are good for the stomach, and I noticed that when I don't eat my pea soup for lunch, sometimes my stomach doesn't feel as good as it does when I do eat it. Here's a recipe:

1 bag dried split peas

6 cups chicken broth (for one lb of peas, follow instructions on pckg using broth instead of water)

1/2 package chicken apple sausage, chopped small

1 small-medium onion

1/2 bag baby carrots, chopped

lemon juice

fresh mint, chopped

garlic, pepper, thyme, rosemary, salt, basil, etc..to taste. I use fresh herbs if I have them, dry if I don't.

olive oil or whatever healthy oil you like

cook the peas as directed on package, add carrots while the peas are cooking to get the flavors meshed and the carrots softened. Saute the sausage and onions in the oil until brown, add to soup and let the whole thing simmer until peas are done - there should be no whole peas visible, just green mushy yummines. Add herbs last to retain the flavors of the herbs, especially the mint. Add lemon juice. Eat!

What a great topic. my ideas are more snacky since i now tend to snack when i can't cook a whole meal.

Greek Yogurt- I add the plain Greek Yogurt to my baked potato and use it in place of sour cream to add Protein. I haven't had sour cream in over a year and I don't miss it.

Pretzel Thins- something like 20 of them is a serving and 120 calories and I dip them in humus. Love Humus...plus I only eat about 10 before I'm satisfied.

Almonds- i usually grab a low calorie cheese stick and with each bite of cheese, I'll eat an almond or two. the cheese lubricates it and gives me protein, plus keeps me full. One cheese stick and maybe 15 or 20 almonds is a perfect mid morning snack for me.

Snap Pea crisps- little baked edamame in a bag. (also, veggie stick chips, same type of thing w/ different taste) I found them at walmart. 22 pieces per serving for around 120 calories. these are great if you are a snacker and like potato chips. you get the feeling of eating chips out of the bag without all of the greasy chippiness. they are delicious!

Flat Out bread- this stuff is also at walmart in the deli/ bread section. it's flat bread that is low calorie and high in protein. i believe it has 7 - 9 grams of protein. i bake it in the oven with low fat/low calorie cheese and pizza toppings for a wonderful low calorie/ high protein pizza that is beyond filling and so, so delicious. http://www.flatoutbread.com/ their website has other great ideas, but i only like thin crunchy breads now, so i bake it or toast it.

Fiber One Brownies- Holy cow, these have saved my life. they are 90 calories each. I pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds, add a dollop of low cal/fat free whipped cream and eat it with a fork. It's an amazing after dinner dessert that feels opulent but is actually good for you. The trick is eating it with a fork when it's nice and warm and not just eating it like a brownie out of your hand. It feels more like a reward than an afterthought and you can really spend time enjoying it. HIGHLY recommended. also kills that chocolate craving so I don't feel deprived.

I'm sure i'll think of more...