So how do you other Foodies deal with being banded and your interest in food?

You know what I mean by Foodies, right? You know you like the history and the science behind how food is what it is.

It is such an integral part of who I am. I'm not really having issues reconciling my Banded self with my Foodie self, but I was wondering what others might be doing.

For example-I'm in love with steel cut oats instead of instant oatmeal. I'll eat goat cheese on a salad in place of American cheese. I've rediscovered root vegetables....

Please share your thoughts:hungry:

OH Juli

I have also thought about ordering off of the appetizer menu, but I went with a full meal and was able to eat 2 dinners and 2 lunches from it. Awesome!

I would consider myself a foodie, love food the network. As far as ordering food while I am out. I still order off the main menu. I can’t get past the thought of not having enough and an appetizer would leave me hungry. I know this is not the case but that is what is stuck in my head. How do you have a portion last for so long? Two dinners two lunches if I am lucky I could get one other meal out of it.

Boise, Idaho... let me know if you can make it!

I'm in Ohio. Idaho/Ohio they're the same, right?

my friends are just now getting their arms around the fact that i'm cooking healthier - which they like, but still want me to make my big italian or jewish meals.

when hubby and i moved out to the country 3yrs ago we realized we're always going to have wkend company! each wkend we have at least 3 houseguests, that come - wine in hand wanting me to cook for them.

which i really do enjoy - i spend a lot of time getting really good quality fruits / veggies / meats / dairy & researching new recipes. sorta new hobby now.

Being banded has made it even better being a foodie, because now I can indulge my passion without giving myself a guilt trip. I eat everything I ate before banding - love exotic cuisine, my vacations revolve around food - and now I don't have to constantly berate myself for enjoying too much of the food I love. I used to watch restaurant critics and see the massive amounts of food they'd try at a restaurant. I couldn't figure out how they could do it. Obviously they take small portions of each thing so they can review it. I was never able to eat like that. If I ordered an appetizer, I finished it. Same for each course. No wonder I have a weight problem! Now I eat like a food critic! I try stuff, share with others, have one bite of dessert, and walk away feeling like I just ate a ten course meal because I am stuffed! It's awesome!!! I wish I had been banded years ago. And I still enjoy cooking new things, too. It has allowed me to enjoy food as always without the struggle of overdoing it.

Thanks kbinaz! That is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Cheers!

food is an occupational hazard for me. I'm a culinary school graduate and pastry chef (I own my own biz)... and boy is this going to be hard. We are taught in culinary school to "Taste, taste, taste!" which adds up to so many extra calories at the end of the day (I gained 30 lb. in 9 months during school).

I just recently had surgery (3 weeks ago today) and hope that it's going to make all that "tasting" a little easier (a bite instead of two or three... heh.)

I'm already planning monthly dinner parties for my friends so that I can start cooking very healthy meals for them as well. I like to go all out (appetizers, salad, meal, dessert, etc.) and having people over and doing this in a healthy manner will now replace going out to restaurants I think.

I can't wait to hear about your dinner parties and menus! Keep us posted.

Cheers!

I never knew there was a word for this! I am ready to enjoy food for quality, not quantity! I hate to cook, but love to eat...of course! I do like to watch cooking shows, but don't usually try to cook anything. Maybe now I'll give it a shot!

~C

Hey all. As of yesterday I am 5 weeks post op and starting to flirt with solid foods. I went for Ceviche first and it was SOOOO good. Being in South Texas I realize not everyone knows what that is. Think salsa with fish "cooked" in citrus juice, not heat. We took whole wheat tortillas and backed them for chips. I basically got 4 means out of it and still left some for DH.

For a great recipe try the South Beach one. food Network also has about 50 different recipes.

I just wanted to share this joke I saw somewhere. It might not be appropriate. I hope you don't mind.

FoodTV- espn for fat people.

I have also seen

FoodTV- porn for fatties

I only laugh at myself because I love high end food and cooking, and I have a biiiig butt. I do watch FoodTV with a little too much excitement.

And it has only gotten more intense since being banded (not that I've been banded long) because now those itty bitty fine cruisine dinners would fill me up, when before the main course looked like an appitizer to me.

No offense taken here! :wink2: I'm having some tuna and yellowtail sashimi for lunch, but even more exciting is that soft-shell crabs are finally in season (albeit they're saying it'll be a short one). Floured and seasoned, sauteed in butter with a little fresh lemon juice... Ahhh....

Hey all. As of yesterday I am 5 weeks post op and starting to flirt with solid foods. I went for Ceviche first and it was SOOOO good. Being in South Texas I realize not everyone knows what that is. Think salsa with fish "cooked" in citrus juice, not heat. We took whole wheat tortillas and backed them for chips. I basically got 4 means out of it and still left some for DH.

For a great recipe try the South Beach one. food Network also has about 50 different recipes.

Hi Texgirly, I'm also from Texas and only 9 days post op. I'll be curious to hear how you do with other Mexican foods. It has not hit me yet, but I know it will eventually - you know what I'm talking about - the overwelming craving for Mexican food! It's always been my comfort food and one of the first things I have after traveling outside Texas for any length of time. Ceviche sounds soooo good right now....

Cheers!

I just wanted to share this joke I saw somewhere. It might not be appropriate. I hope you don't mind.

FoodTV- espn for fat people.

I have also seen

FoodTV- porn for fatties

I only laugh at myself because I love high end food and cooking, and I have a biiiig butt. I do watch FoodTV with a little too much excitement.

And it has only gotten more intense since being banded (not that I've been banded long) because now those itty bitty fine cruisine dinners would fill me up, when before the main course looked like an appitizer to me.

Okay - that made me laugh so hard I snorted!

I just wanted to share this joke I saw somewhere. It might not be appropriate. I hope you don't mind.

FoodTV- espn for fat people.

I have also seen

FoodTV- porn for fatties

I only laugh at myself because I love high end food and cooking, and I have a biiiig butt. I do watch FoodTV with a little too much excitement.

And it has only gotten more intense since being banded (not that I've been banded long) because now those itty bitty fine cruisine dinners would fill me up, when before the main course looked like an appitizer to me.

That is laugh out loud funny.

No offense.

I'm glad that noone takes themselves too seriously.

Has anyone seen this show- Turning up the heat with Gavin. It's on TVone where I live. He is such a good cook.

I didn't realize the rest of the world called the food Network porn - since day 1 my husband and I have referred to it that way. hehehehe!

Winegoddess - I had the same concern. Here is what I have found to be perfect. When ever you hit mushy stage, make an outing to Chili's. They have a great chicken Tortilla Soup that will make you feel like to ate Mexican food. I used my fork to pull out the bigger pieces and then with a spoon I went to town. My husband also made me some avocado soup. Yum! Think like you are going to make guacamole, but add a low fat milk or cream and blend in the blender. It was great but had to eaten on the first day. Day 2 it was not worthy.

Once I moved closer to solid foods (maybe week 4 after band) my co-workers and I popped into one of our favorite Mexican food places. It is called Ventura's Tamales. Naturally I took a stab at a tamale and it was perfect. I also was able to eat some of the Beans. But forget the rice.

And now my big confession to all of you - I have had steak! I am a fan of the filet. Can't help myself. I even secretly think I married DH because of his talents behind the grill. He grilled one for me last weekend. It was soooo good. He seared the outside and left the inside deliciously red and juicy. It was one of the easiest things I have eaten (still can't eat a chicken breast but who cares if I can eat beef!) Also, it was about a 7.5 oz filet, so I got 2 meals out of that bad boy. Life is good!

I'm with all of you, this is a great thread. When I was considering banding, my biggest concern was the impact on entertaining. I am 10 weeks post op and had my first dinner party at 3 weeks post op ... granted it was for a small group of very close friends who knew that I had surgery. It was a "mushie" dinner party, but they were great sports. I had them over last week and one person was obviously relieved when I served food that did not have the consistency of mashed potatoes!

I've also been focused on quality and making choices about what I really want to eat, versus making sure I am just filled.

So far, I am doing okay eating out, entertaining, etc., but I struggle for simple dinners at home. I am single so what I would normally cook lasts for days and I get tired of the same thing several nights in a row. I find myself staring at the fridge, not wanting to cook or cooking and having way too much. Any thoughts on meals for the single banded person?