Tale of a bariatric diet goody-two-shoes...

[Bandista 7,466]

I'm going to check that out, too! I'm a volume cook (just not a volume eater anymore, lol) and we have a second freezer. When I make something I double or triple up then put whatever it is into mason jars. I even print out labels and rubber-band them on, sometimes with extra little instructions for myself like "make rice" or "get baguette".....things I don't eat but others do. The jars come in all sizes. If we are having a dinner party I can pull out two big ones a few days ahead to thaw in the fridge. If it's just me, a tiny jar of chili, etc.

Today we are having a birthday party for my father, 89, and I'm making a big chicken Marabella. This such a band-friendly food. Boneless skinless thighs, olives (I got those big green omitted ones from the olive bar at the supermarket and some black kalamatas for contrast), capers, pitted plums Aka prunes, an onion or two, garlic, lemon wedges (get the seeds out), chicken stock. Hot hot pan, sauté the thighs brown on both sides, remove from pan and sauté the onion and garlic until a little golden, dump the chicken back in, add all the ingredients (olives, lemon wedges, capers, pitted prunes) and cover with chicken stock. You can get nice organic boxed stock very easily. Let it simmer uncovered a long time to reduce and thicken. Poke at the chicken and it falls apart, makes a lovely "stew." Can serve with rice or cous cous for the carb eaters. This is so easy and every one loves it. Very rich and glamorous for very little effort.

[nerms 237]

get a slow cooker, chuck everything in.. leave it on all day, no need to worry about kids while cooking and at the end of the day dinner is ready with left overs for lunch

[enjoyinglife 313]

LOL, Hang in there.

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

try OAMC, once a month cooking. i do personal cheffing and cook like this for my clients.

http://onceamonthmeals.com/

Edited August 15, 2014 by moonlitestarbrite

[BeagleLover 1,020]

It doesn't have to be boring! Try Indian, for example, Salmon Tikka and Cucumber Raita:

http://www.sonisfood.com/2013/02/salmon-tikka-wraps-with-cucumber-yoghurt-raita-sundaysupper.html

Besides being tasty, it is marinated which makes it more tender.

[jessiquoi 623]

I hate to cook! I don't have the patience (my daughter used to accuse me of constantly serving undercooked meals) and I don't have a natural talent for it. I can really relate. Here's what I did to get around it...

I DO love to entertain, as in performing. So I decided to make a series of youtube videos of me (trying/learning to) cook. I bought a flip cam and set it up in the kitchen, and filmed myself giving a running commentary of what I was doing. (Like, when the pot boils over, saying "oh THAT'S why they want you to use a large pot".) Occasionally a friend would be a guest star if I invited them to dinner.

It made me laugh to do this, and it got me to cook new things, and eventually got me over my loathing of the kitchen. I never even posted the things.

Can you think of a creative way to make cooking fun for you? Inviting a friend and cook together also works well for me; we'll cook two or three Entrees and portion them out and split the results.

[labwalker 1,177]

I feel lucky in that I lost all interest in eating a variety of flavors, starting the 1st week post-op. I can eat the same ole stuff every meal for months before I get burned out. It makes life and cooking very simple. I get enough flavor variety to keep me satisfied by going out to eat on Sat nights with friends.

I'm also a dietary creature of habit!! If I find easy and healthy meals that are easy to repeat for days, I'll perfectly happy eating the same items for weeks at a time.

[Maineman 14]

Hi Amy, Same town and Doc. I'm over six months out, and already have to be careful not to over snack! The only thing that bothers me are fried foods. My weight hasn't budged in a month and a half. Maybe a bite of that doughnut will satisfy your urge, and you can move on. Good Luck!- Frank

[Forsythia 882]

I love to cook and bake, but I'm too busy to do so on weekdays. I go to the gym after work so my husband is on his own and he is cool with that. Still, I tend to eat the same things every day. Greek yogurt for Breakfast, a shake, grilled chicken for dinner, or a steak. And my lunches at work are a carousel of lean cuisines, weight watchers smart ones or Atkins meals. Not a whole lot of variety.

What I miss is baking. I was so good at Desserts. But they were all sugary, calorie laden Desserts that were carbtastic, which is what got me in the condition I was in.

So once a week I like to find a healthy recipe from cooking light or some other magazine and try it out. That way the hubs and I can have a nice meal that isn't going to be a calorie bomb. And in the process we both broaden our horizons.

[Teachamy 1,042]

@@Teachamy when I have a moment of weakness, I try to do a lot of self talk: "You already know what that tastes like." or "That sugar is going to give you a headache later." It works a lot of the time (not always!).

Obviously what you're doing is working for you...why mess it up?!

I won't mess it up, that's the point! A goody-two-shoes to a fault and it gets a little boring...

[Teachamy 1,042]

UPDATE: I wasn't in a donut mood today. In fact, all I managed to eat this morning was half a yogurt.No morning snack either, so by lunch I was pretty hungry. I went for one of my pre-sleeve favorites. Grilled salmon & avocado brown rice roll from Whole Foods. It was AWESOME!!! I managed to eat 4, but next time I know 3 will be more than enough. 30 g. of carb, just under 200 calories. Sleeve is happy. I am less bored. (And btw, I used to be able to eat 2 containers of these rolls in 1 sitting, today I ate half and gave the rest to my 8 yr. old.)

Now we'll see what 30 g. of brown rice will do to my blood sugar.

Back to being a good kid.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Teachamy

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

Hello,

I am 2.5years out and actually don't care that much about food these days. I do alot of salad with Protein, omelettes with veggies and Protein etc etc. I don't know what you mean about a side of slime. I don't eat that. I do eat salmon, chicken, other fish, beef etc. My favorite meals are cooked in nice restaurants.

[katesuccess 990]

I love the idea of the sushi roll-- good boredom break! I find myself motivated to cook more than about every two days, and I find it sometime stimulate me has hunger, so I just don't feel as much as I used to. I agree about fine sleep rest or premade things from the really good healthy, but I also go through the "world according to egg face" blog and read her Bento box lunches for quick grab and go things I wouldn't have thought of. My favorite go-to treat are the little thin strips of smoked salmon that come in a 4 ounce package; two 80 calorie high-flavor fabulous lunch Protein servings for me!

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Hmmm ... suddenly, lox sounds good.

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

Love getting sushi at wegmans. Yum! I eat more variety now than before weightloss Before I would have cheeseburgers, pizza, subs, wraps, Bagels, etc etc all the time. I was fat and didn't feel that great from that food. Now I will have yogurt or eggs for Breakfast, a burger or tuna or chili or even a few pieces of cheese for lunch and a small amount of whatever we are having for dinner. I eat guacamole, Beans, fresh fruit, cucumbers. I have a trail mix I make with almonds and dark chocolate m&ms. I don't get bad cravings anymore or rarely. When I do a spoonful of Peanut Butter stops it short. Life is very good! There is no need to get in a rut or be a goody2shoes. Quantities are small so make each bite count and be high quality and also delicious. Life is too short to eat rice cakes and green slime (I think you mean kale Protein Powder shakes!) but I will eat purple slime - blackberry/strawberry Greek yogurt shakes! Yum!