Pre Op Low Carb Diet- All Hail Cauliflower!

[Fallenangel2904 494]

So I'm currently in the midst of a 3 month pre op diet. My surgeon doesn't do a pre op diet per say but I have a personal goal to loose 20-30lbs pre surgery. So I've been really cutting cabs out. My go to during this? Cauliflower!

I riced some cauliflower (put it in a food processor then nuked it) and it has the texture of rice. Served some chicken in lowfat coconut curry sauce over it!

I made moc mashed potato bake with low fat sour cream, lots of garlic, riced cauliflower and low fat motzeralla cheese baked in the oven (this was DELISH!)

I made pizza twice with it as the crust- once with chicken mushrooms and onions on the pizza and another time with goat cheese and fresh figs- yummy!

Just wanted to let you guys know there are SO many carb swaps out there and cauliflower is one of the best! I also sliced zucchini on a mandolin and used it as 'Pasta noodles' under Beans and shrimp one night. Another great idea!

Keep experimenting- doesnt have to be boring! Can't way until surgery- I'm determined to make this work as not just a diet but a life style!

[karenb4729 309]

I love califlower too. Even my husband couldn't believe it was califlower and not mashed potatoes he was eating.

[Pookeyism 1,143]

Turnips are awesome too.

[Fallenangel2904 494]

Thanks for the suggestion pookey! I used to eat turnips a lot growing up- we used to make them in place of potatoes since my step dad didn't like mashed potatos I had forgotten about them! I'll definitly be adding them to my low carb arsenal!

[slim46 25]

So I'm currently in the midst of a 3 month pre op diet. My surgeon doesn't do a pre op diet per say but I have a personal goal to loose 20-30lbs pre surgery. So I've been really cutting cabs out. My go to during this? Cauliflower!

I riced some cauliflower (put it in a food processor then nuked it) and it has the texture of rice. Served some chicken in lowfat coconut curry sauce over it!

I made moc mashed potato bake with low fat sour cream' date=' lots of garlic, riced cauliflower and low fat motzeralla cheese baked in the oven (this was DELISH!)

I made pizza twice with it as the crust- once with chicken mushrooms and onions on the pizza and another time with goat cheese and fresh figs- yummy!

Just wanted to let you guys know there are SO many carb swaps out there and cauliflower is one of the best! I also sliced zucchini on a mandolin and used it as 'Pasta noodles' under Beans and shrimp one night. Another great idea!

Keep experimenting- doesnt have to be boring! Can't way until surgery- I'm determined to make this work as not just a diet but a life style! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Sounds sooo good! Can I have the recipes ?

[slim46 25]

So I'm currently in the midst of a 3 month pre op diet. My surgeon doesn't do a pre op diet per say but I have a personal goal to loose 20-30lbs pre surgery. So I've been really cutting cabs out. My go to during this? Cauliflower!

I riced some cauliflower (put it in a food processor then nuked it) and it has the texture of rice. Served some chicken in lowfat coconut curry sauce over it!

I made moc mashed potato bake with low fat sour cream' date=' lots of garlic, riced cauliflower and low fat motzeralla cheese baked in the oven (this was DELISH!)

I made pizza twice with it as the crust- once with chicken mushrooms and onions on the pizza and another time with goat cheese and fresh figs- yummy!

Just wanted to let you guys know there are SO many carb swaps out there and cauliflower is one of the best! I also sliced zucchini on a mandolin and used it as 'Pasta noodles' under Beans and shrimp one night. Another great idea!

Keep experimenting- doesnt have to be boring! Can't way until surgery- I'm determined to make this work as not just a diet but a life style! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Sounds good! Can I have the recipes?

[MamaOf8 13]

What is the actually carb count difference between potatoes and cauliflower? I didn't think it was that much..?

[Fallenangel2904 494]

Sorry for the late reply- had a sleep study last night and lets just say not much sleep was had lol

Slim here are recipies for some of the things I mentioned. I'm a measure by eye girl on most of the things i cook but I'll try to give an estimate. Remember all these things can be adapted, things can be added, substituted and portions can be changed. This is just a guesstimate

Califlower rice

1 head of cauliflower

Cut into chunks and pulse in the food processor until it has the look and feel of rice. Put in a bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes (depending on microwave) And voila!

chicken coconut curry over 'rice'

Boneless skinless chicken breast

1 bell pepper

1 medium onion

1 zuccini

Scallion

1 tsp curry powder

1tsp light brown sugar

1tsp cumin

1 can light coconut milk

Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Brown in a pan. Take them out and set aside and saute the onion, scallion and bell pepper (I diced them up into small pieces) when they are slightly translucent add in diced up zuccini. Cook until slightly tender, then add in the cumin and curry powder. Cook for a few minutes until the spices are fragrent then add in the coconut milk. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the milk cooks down enough so it's not so soupy. Add in the tea spoon of brown sugar (optional, it adds a little sweatness to counter the spice of the curry and in a big pot its not much.) Add the browned chicken back in and serve over califlower rice. This was awesome!

Fried 'rice'

1 cup of riced cauliflower

2 tsp of low sodium soy sauce

1 egg

scallion

I sprayed a skillet with a little PAM and added one scrambled egg. Chop it up in the skillet as I went, then added my 'rice'. Let cook for a minute, added soy sauce and let it 'fry'. Added in some chopped scallion before serving.

Moc Mashed potato bake

2 cups for riced cauliflower

2 cloved of garlic

a few tbs of FF sour cream (you could use greek yogurt I bet for more protein)

chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup for FF shredded mozerella cheese

Put cauliflower, garlic, souce cream and parsley in a food processor and pulse until creamy. I mixed with most of the shredded cheese after I was done and put it in a baking dish and sprinkled a bit of the cheese that was left on top. Baked 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Bean shrimp and garlic over zuccini 'pasta'

1 can of white Beans

8 shrimp (mine were jumbo)

2 cloves of garlic

2 zuccini

Parsley

Splash of chicken stock

Cook the shrimp till translucent and then take out of pan. Sauteed the Beans in a tsp of EVOO, added the garlic and parsley. Let the beans cook down until soft, added the chicken stock so it wasn't so dry. Add the shrimp back in and shut off. Slice the zuccini with a veg pealer, or mandolin (It takes some practice. Google 'zuccini noodles/pasta' and it should help.) Once sliced microwave for a few minutes until 'al dente' Serve the shrimp and bean mixture over the 'pasta' and done!

The pizza crust recipie you can find all over online- google low carb Pizza Crust. It was just riced cauliflower, shredded cheese and Italian seasonings. I made one with a chicken, mushrooms and onions on top and the other I did something different and put slicked fresh mission figs and goat cheese with a drizzle of balsamic vinagar. Also really nice with some arugula on top!

[Fallenangel2904 494]

What is the actually carb count difference between potatoes and cauliflower? I didn't think it was that much..?

There is quite a difference

http://www.sparkpeople.com/food_vs_food.asp?food=45_53_potato_versus_cauliflower

[slim46 25]

Sorry for the late reply- had a sleep study last night and lets just say not much sleep was had <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> lol

Slim here are recipies for some of the things I mentioned. I'm a measure by eye girl on most of the things i cook but I'll try to give an estimate. Remember all these things can be adapted' date=' things can be added, substituted and portions can be changed. This is just a guesstimate <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Califlower rice

1 head of cauliflower

Cut into chunks and pulse in the food processor until it has the look and feel of rice. Put in a bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes (depending on microwave) And voila!

chicken coconut curry over 'rice'

Boneless skinless chicken breast

1 bell pepper

1 medium onion

1 zuccini

Scallion

1 tsp curry powder

1tsp light brown sugar

1tsp cumin

1 can light coconut milk

Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Brown in a pan. Take them out and set aside and saute the onion, scallion and bell pepper (I diced them up into small pieces) when they are slightly translucent add in diced up zuccini. Cook until slightly tender, then add in the cumin and curry powder. Cook for a few minutes until the spices are fragrent then add in the coconut milk. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the milk cooks down enough so it's not so soupy. Add in the tea spoon of brown sugar (optional, it adds a little sweatness to counter the spice of the curry and in a big pot its not much.) Add the browned chicken back in and serve over califlower rice. This was awesome!

Fried 'rice'

1 cup of riced cauliflower

2 tsp of low sodium soy sauce

1 egg

scallion

I sprayed a skillet with a little PAM and added one scrambled egg. Chop it up in the skillet as I went, then added my 'rice'. Let cook for a minute, added soy sauce and let it 'fry'. Added in some chopped scallion before serving.

Moc Mashed potato bake

2 cups for riced cauliflower

2 cloved of garlic

a few tbs of FF sour cream (you could use greek yogurt I bet for more protein)

chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup for FF shredded mozerella cheese

Put cauliflower, garlic, souce cream and parsley in a food processor and pulse until creamy. I mixed with most of the shredded cheese after I was done and put it in a baking dish and sprinkled a bit of the cheese that was left on top. Baked 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Bean shrimp and garlic over zuccini 'pasta'

1 can of white Beans

8 shrimp (mine were jumbo)

2 cloves of garlic

2 zuccini

Parsley

Splash of chicken stock

Cook the shrimp till translucent and then take out of pan. Sauteed the Beans in a tsp of EVOO, added the garlic and parsley. Let the beans cook down until soft, added the chicken stock so it wasn't so dry. Add the shrimp back in and shut off. Slice the zuccini with a veg pealer, or mandolin (It takes some practice. Google 'zuccini noodles/pasta' and it should help.) Once sliced microwave for a few minutes until 'al dente' Serve the shrimp and bean mixture over the 'pasta' and done!

The pizza crust recipie you can find all over online- google low carb Pizza Crust. It was just riced cauliflower, shredded cheese and Italian seasonings. I made one with a chicken, mushrooms and onions on top and the other I did something different and put slicked fresh mission figs and goat cheese with a drizzle of balsamic vinagar. Also really nice with some arugula on top! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Thank u soooo very much!

It all sounds so good! Yummmmm

Plz feel free to send me more recipes..

rb6888@gmail.com

[ereneeh 77]

Sorry for the late reply- had a sleep study last night and lets just say not much sleep was had lol

Slim here are recipies for some of the things I mentioned. I'm a measure by eye girl on most of the things i cook but I'll try to give an estimate. Remember all these things can be adapted, things can be added, substituted and portions can be changed. This is just a guesstimate

Califlower rice

1 head of cauliflower

Cut into chunks and pulse in the food processor until it has the look and feel of rice. Put in a bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes (depending on microwave) And voila!

chicken coconut curry over 'rice'

Boneless skinless chicken breast

1 bell pepper

1 medium onion

1 zuccini

Scallion

1 tsp curry powder

1tsp light brown sugar

1tsp cumin

1 can light coconut milk

Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Brown in a pan. Take them out and set aside and saute the onion, scallion and bell pepper (I diced them up into small pieces) when they are slightly translucent add in diced up zuccini. Cook until slightly tender, then add in the cumin and curry powder. Cook for a few minutes until the spices are fragrent then add in the coconut milk. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the milk cooks down enough so it's not so soupy. Add in the tea spoon of brown sugar (optional, it adds a little sweatness to counter the spice of the curry and in a big pot its not much.) Add the browned chicken back in and serve over califlower rice. This was awesome!

Fried 'rice'

1 cup of riced cauliflower

2 tsp of low sodium soy sauce

1 egg

scallion

I sprayed a skillet with a little PAM and added one scrambled egg. Chop it up in the skillet as I went, then added my 'rice'. Let cook for a minute, added soy sauce and let it 'fry'. Added in some chopped scallion before serving.

Moc Mashed potato bake

2 cups for riced cauliflower

2 cloved of garlic

a few tbs of FF sour cream (you could use greek yogurt I bet for more protein)

chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup for FF shredded mozerella cheese

Put cauliflower, garlic, souce cream and parsley in a food processor and pulse until creamy. I mixed with most of the shredded cheese after I was done and put it in a baking dish and sprinkled a bit of the cheese that was left on top. Baked 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Bean shrimp and garlic over zuccini 'pasta'

1 can of white Beans

8 shrimp (mine were jumbo)

2 cloves of garlic

2 zuccini

Parsley

Splash of chicken stock

Cook the shrimp till translucent and then take out of pan. Sauteed the Beans in a tsp of EVOO, added the garlic and parsley. Let the beans cook down until soft, added the chicken stock so it wasn't so dry. Add the shrimp back in and shut off. Slice the zuccini with a veg pealer, or mandolin (It takes some practice. Google 'zuccini noodles/pasta' and it should help.) Once sliced microwave for a few minutes until 'al dente' Serve the shrimp and bean mixture over the 'pasta' and done!

The pizza crust recipie you can find all over online- google low carb Pizza Crust. It was just riced cauliflower, shredded cheese and Italian seasonings. I made one with a chicken, mushrooms and onions on top and the other I did something different and put slicked fresh mission figs and goat cheese with a drizzle of balsamic vinagar. Also really nice with some arugula on top!

These look like good recipes. Can't wait to try them.

[slim46 25]

Fallen angel, I tried the curry chicken with cauliflower n it was delicious! I made this for me and my kids devoured it..Plz send me more recipes!

Thank u, thank u, thank u, it is so easy n delicious!

[AKSleever 57]

Thank you they look great