Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

One more can of tuna or chicken and I'm gonna puke! Need lunch ideas.



Recommended Posts

I have eaten tuna salad or chicken salad every day for the last 4 months and if I have to eat it one more day I am going to puke. I am almost 6 months out and find myself snacking on crackers because I can't stand the Protein anymore. This has slowed my weight loss down (only lost 10 pounds in the last 3 1/2 months). I don't want to fall into the trap I did before and start going out for lunch everyday. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A lack of variety is on of the most difficult things about the post-op diet. I know how you feel. I have been doing egg salad and chicken salad. I have done some grilled cheese and some shrimp. I've also done a lot of Soups - clam chowder, chicken enchilada and some chicken noodle. And of course fish - salmon, mahi mahi, and catfish (grilled of course)!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hate tuna so I never have it. I like canned chicken but only have it occasionally. What about cheeses, eggs, deli meats, other types of meats that you can prepare ahead and portion out for lunches, like ground beef, Italian sausage, turkey, etc?

I'm a carnivore and love meat. If I have a steak I can make three meals out if it. I don't hesitate to eat it for Breakfast if my band cooperates. Do you like hummus? That's a new favorite for me with celery or carrots.

Good luck getting out of the food rut.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

With what has been said about some being sick of the same Proteins, I have decided to invest in a bariatric cook book.

One of the recipes I have seen bandied about on WLS websites is the ricotta cheese bake. I am surely going to try that. There are also so many bariatric recipes on Pinterest. Good luck. You might want to invest in a recipe book especially for WLS patients. Good luck to you in your endeavors.

Edited by Arlene G

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a big fan of leftovers. If I go out to dinner, I have the second half (or third, depending) for lunch the next day. Other non-cooking ideas: rotisserie chicken, refried Beans with cheese, deli meat, Protein Shake or pudding, steak, omelets. I'm lucky that I can eat most things but boredom has never been a huge issue.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tried two crazy ideas to get away from tuna and chicken salads - canned oyster salad, and... wait for it... canned escargot. Like I said, crazy! The canned oysters with mayo and relish were truly disgusting! I heated the escargot in the office microwave with some spray butter, garlic, salt, and parsley, and believe it or not, they weren't bad. I even gave one to a workmate and she thought it was pretty good. It's something I might do once every couple of months, but I'd saute them at home and reheat them at work. I shared this mostly for a laugh, to show the extremes we'll go to to change it up a bit. Actually i find that leftovers make a great lunch -- grilled chicken breasts, homemade Soups, Beans (kidney/black/black-eyed, etc.), steak, and one that I haven't seen mentioned, Jenno-Extra Lean Turkey Ham. A hearty slice (4 oz.) cut up into cubes and dipped in my favorite mustard is 120 calories with 16 grams of Protein. And if all else fails, there's always a [shudder] Protein shake. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

"heated the escargot in the office microwave with some spray butter, garlic, salt, and parsley"

You didn't. Snails and garlic heated up at WORK?

Omg. I thought it was bad having to smell my coworker's sandwich loaded with onions every day.

Sorry. I'm on two days of liquids after a band adjustment and I'm hungry and crabby.

*drinks her Protein shake and waits for 5pm when she can have food again*

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

"heated the escargot in the office microwave with some spray butter, garlic, salt, and parsley"

You didn't. Snails and garlic heated up at WORK?

Omg. I thought it was bad having to smell my coworker's sandwich loaded with onions every day.

Sorry. I'm on two days of liquids after a band adjustment and I'm hungry and crabby.

*drinks her Protein shake and waits for 5pm when she can have food again*

Hah! Actually it didn't have much of a smell, at least that I could tell....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My Protein has been hamburger pattie on George Forman ( 1/2) eggs ham thick sliced with hidden valley flavored greek cream cheese rolled in it , greek yogurt and almonds

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I slow cook turkey drumsticks, flavor chicken very well and have cheese. Not super exciting but it works. I had a bad reaction to seafood. I have so much in my freezer I just want to give away but it's hard to explain handing out frozen foods.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have frozen dinners for lunch. Lean cuisine, Atkins, Weight Watchers Smart Ones. A different one every day. They are approved on my plan and its cheaper for five in a week than one lunch out. I may not eat the entire thing, but the convenience is great.

If you like lunch meats, why not do a roll up with a piece of ham and swiss or turkey and cheddar? They are super easy for when you are on the go. If you cook something for dinner like a roast chicken, make yourself your own TV dinner for the next day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all for the suggestions! Many of the things noted here I have tried for dinner. I guess I just need to plan better for lunch. Running out to get my escargot and oysters now! LOL NOT!!!!!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all for the suggestions! Many of the things noted here I have tried for dinner. I guess I just need to plan better for lunch. Running out to get my escargot and oysters now! LOL NOT!!!!!!!!!

Hah! Love it!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I never plan in advance for lunch. I'm just not that organized! Lately I have been eating P3s for lunch. They are in the lunch able section. They have 3 proteins......turkey/ham/chicken bites, almonds or cashews, and cheese bites. They are the perfect amount of food with 14 g of Protein. And best of all...easy to grab as your running out the door!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Onedayatatime365

      Looking to connect with others who are also on the journey of better health. Post-Op Gastric Sleeve (4/11/24).
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×