If anyone else here is surviving from food-stamps, I would appreciate your guidance (and not your judgements, please!). What kind of shakes/soups/vitamins should I stock up pre-op to prepare for post-op? Obviously, I can only purchase whatever is payable with food stamps. Thank you.

Are you restricted to certain products when you pay with food stamps or is it pretty much anything in the supermarket. Some of the markets I go into sell the tubs of Protein powder. Thats usually more economical than the ready to drinks.

Yes, there are restrictions for market items. Historically, I have not been able to pay for supplements. In Wal-Mart, the shakes and Vitamins are in the pharmacy isles, a first indicator that it would not be payable with f.s. benefits.

You're going to need Clear liquids for at least the first week or so based on your doctor's plan. Maybe you can get chicken broth with food stamps? After the first 2 weeks or so it should be easier... Peanut Butter, cheeses, eggs -- good Protein sources.

Maybe you should see if you have some insurance coverage or something that might help you with the protein supplements early on.

If anyone else here is surviving from food-stamps, I would appreciate your guidance (and not your judgements, please!). What kind of shakes/soups/vitamins should I stock up pre-op to prepare for post-op? Obviously, I can only purchase whatever is payable with food stamps. Thank you.

Hi latido!

I spent a month restricted to food stamps - and it's not easy so I feel for you. Unfortunately the inexpensive staples like Pasta and rice are not allowed for quite a long time. I'd get chicken broth - other than that you can drink Water with maybe some Crystal Light to flavor it . I feel you must get Protein powder - the tubs of whey Protein Powder seem expensive but they make a lot of shakes - In NY a 16oz tub costs about $25 but makes 22 drinks - much cheaper and better than Slimfast etc. The other thing I drank a lot of when on "full liquids" was Cream of Chicken Soup (Campbells reduced fat). You'll also go through a lot of milk (skim or 1%). I was allowed sugar-free blended yoghurt and pudding (the boxes are only 50c and make 4 servings)

The next step is pureed food - scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, chicken, canned refried Beans etc. for protein plus small amounts of mashed potatoes, oatmeal, apple sauce, canned fruit.

I really can't imagine getting through the first month without protein powder and milk so that's going to have to be a priority. Would somebody help you with that? Good luck - when is your surgery scheduled?

You can buy protien powder with Food Stamps... as long as the item has a food nutrition label on the package it is considered food.

Did your nutritionists gave you a list of protein powders that you can use.

Protein powder is cheaper then buying the pre made protein drinks.

Buy sugar free pudding or sugar free jello for your post surgery menu. Buy chicken broth, canned low fat soups and purée them in the blender to make them the right consistence. You can add unflavored protein powder to these to help get your protein in for the day.

You can use skim milk or unsweetened almond milk to mix your protein powder with. You must follow the quide lines of what foods to eat at each stage of post op. A lot of the foods will be eligible to purchase with food,stamps I'm pretty sure.

For vitamins buy what's on the list that the nutritionist gave you. Some nutritionist get samples from companies so ask if they do.

Good luck with your surgery.

Wow, I learned so much here. You guys are amazing.

First thing I cleared up is my misconception that I would need several weeks’ supply of Protein powder. Apparently, it’s barely a week or so. This is excellent news. Regarding chicken broth, I will ask the NUT tomorrow if there needs to be a certain nutritional cut-off, or if I can cook my own. I can cook a two month supply for about $13, which is very easy and cheaper than buying many cans.

I am going to probably spend some investment on smaller packs of various protein powders. I am a very picky eater. If I have to narrow myself to a pasty concoction that I will not be able to get down, then my recovery will be awful. I’d rather ‘shake it up’ a bit and have variety.

You’ve all been great here, so thank you. And keep it coming!

Wow, I learned so much here. You guys are amazing.

First thing I cleared up is my misconception that I would need several weeks’ supply of Protein powder. Apparently, it’s barely a week or so. This is excellent news. Regarding chicken broth, I will ask the NUT tomorrow if there needs to be a certain nutritional cut-off, or if I can cook my own. I can cook a two month supply for about $13, which is very easy and cheaper than buying many cans.

I am going to probably spend some investment on smaller packs of various protein powders. I am a very picky eater. If I have to narrow myself to a pasty concoction that I will not be able to get down, then my recovery will be awful. I’d rather ‘shake it up’ a bit and have variety.

You’ve all been great here, so thank you. And keep it coming!

Hi again Latido

I had my surgery done in Rochester, NY. Every doctor has their own post-op diet plan but to give you an idea, here are the diets for my bariatric center:

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/highland/departments-centers/bariatrics/bariatric-diets.asp

Please do exactly and everything your own doctor tells you.

I used Protein shakes for at least 6 weeks - 10 days of nothing but liquids (soup and shakes) and then a month of using them as "snacks" to ensure I was getting enough protein. I like the MetRx chocolate (Trader Joe's) and the unjury vanilla (online & at Bariatric Center pharmacies). An unflavored one is very useful for adding to mashed potatoes, cream of chicken soup etc. Good luck!

The unflavored in soup sounds interesting. Thank you!

Can you buy Vitamins with food stamps?

I have been there, and I have been on WIC. I had to supplement with food from a food pantry. Can you maybe do that too?

I will certainly look into gathering/hoarding allowables, since I'm am scheduled for July 1st. I think I will be allowed to stay on this lean diet until the surgery, so that is a great help.

Get some Greek yogurt. A great protein source and easy to eat in beginning stages. Dannon has a Greek yogurt that is low sugar and great.

Is hummus allowed?

My staples now are chicken, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, hummus, and avocado.

Is hummus allowed?

I eat hummus alot. I'm a little over a year out.

Edited June 1, 201412 yr by Dorian