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

Cooking/meal prep for family during recovery



Recommended Posts

How did you handle this during the days leading up to and weeks following surgery? I am the one who usually prepares meals for our family, and would rather not burden my parents with cooking each meal for the kids. Nor do I want them to eat fast food every night (if left to my parents). Did anyone prepare/freeze a bunch of meals in advance? My thoughts are the more that is done for them, the more likely it is the kids will have better tasting, healthier meals. Plus I doubt I'll have any desire to cook right away. Also DH is about to undergo surgery himself, so I don't want to burden him with this during his recovery process.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi! I took the prep diet opportunity to use the things that have been sitting in the pantry and freezer for too long because I was very busy with teaching as a full time job, teaching math tutorials after school and weekends, and driving the kids to their lessons and fast food became my handy friend. Being on summer break and a liquid diet, I cleaned out the food that's been sitting there and turned it into meals that I froze for my kids and visiting friends when post op recovery rolls around. I literally don't have any more room in my freezer because it is so stocked with prepared meals! I didn't have to buy much to add to the recipes so I saved money (money that went to buying my Protein shakes :)

I didn't have any issue cooking with regards to temptation or torture. I actually enjoyed it. It gave me something to focus on instead of my hunger pains.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't have kids at home at the time but my husband and adult brother who lives with us were there....they can make toast. I cooked after the first 3 days and it didn't bother me...I like cooking so it was a relaxer for me. There were only a couple of times in the immediate after surgery that I thought....wow that would be awesome to eat...but it really wasn't a problem becuase 1 I knew I couldn't at that point and 2. I knew I could again some day :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I prepared a bunch of freezer meals that could either be thrown into oven or crock pot. I never had any problem cooking luckily but it made life so much easier. I just asked the kids what they wanted the next night and took it out...I did make a list of what I had prepared. Pinterest had lots of freezer meals.

There are still some left, 3 months out, but most I can't gave due to Pasta or rice but once the few that are left have been eaten, I am going to make lots of WLS friendly meals as my family is trying to avoid carbs too now. It took a full day of cooking, a day ahead of recipe shopping, (for food and disposable oven ware), but my daughter had a blast helping me.

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 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

    ×