Blog

What Our Dietitian Is Eating: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

January 19, 2016

Using a slow cooker is ideal for post-op bariatric patients because slow cooking meats produce meat that is tender and moist (a must for patients that cannot tolerate dry/grilled meats). Slow cookers are also a great way to prepare meals when you are short on time – dinner will be waiting for you when you get home! I always loved my mother’s chicken cacciatore dish growing up. She made it the traditional way – by braising the chicken and then frying the vegetables in the remaining fat. If you’re short on time and are looking for a way to reduce calories – you can simply skip the braising (and added oil), remove the skin, and place the chicken right in the slow cooker. The recipe that follows is quick and easy. I’ve included nutrition information for a “post –op” portion, as well as for a regular portion (for your family members). Enjoy! Larissa Zepko-March, RD, CD-N Clinical Dietitian Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Serves 8 1 ¼ pound skinless, boneless chicken breast 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes 1 medium onion –... Read More

What Can the Planetree Philosophy Do For You?

July 2, 2015

Our Planetree philosophy focuses on supporting your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We believe our bariatric surgery patients can thrive in an environment that holds itself to the highest surgical standards while also providing compassionate care with a patient-oriented approach to healthcare. When undergoing procedures such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, our patients have the benefit of many unique programs designed to nourish the body, mind, and soul. Good nutrition is an essential aspect to the recovery process and leading a healthy lifestyle. Under our care, we provide culturally diverse meal options, nutrition education for your post-bariatric diet, as well as cooking demonstrations. Our arts and entertainment programming keeps patients intellectually engaged during their stay by integrating art, music, games, and nature. For our patients who lead active spiritual lives, our practice also offers meditation programs and chapels to provide time and space to tend to the soul. Even after you leave our facilities, we offer continued care with our post-bariatric surgery support groups to ease your transition to your new healthy lifestyle. - Dr. Rishi Ramlogan For more information... Read More

What Is the Planetree Philosophy?

June 25, 2015

At Griffin Hospital Bariatrics, we offer a number of bariatric procedures to help our patients lead happier and healthier lives. While many bariatric surgeons across the country use gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy to achieve significant weight loss for their patients, our practice differentiates itself with our Planetree philosophy. Every aspect of our practice is designed with your best interests in mind. Only a select number of hospitals in the United States and around the world participate in the Planetree model of care. Practices that employ the Planetree approach are committed to creating an environment that fosters genuine compassion and support while maintaining the highest surgical standards. This specialized group of healthcare providers focuses on creating healing environments that simultaneously care for the mind, body, and soul. We believe in honest and open communication, emotional and spiritual well-being, healthy nutrition, and patient education – essential components to optimizing surgical results and improving our patients’ overall quality of life. - Dr. Rishi Ramlogan If you would like to learn more about how we practice the Planetree approach at Griffin Hospital Bariatrics, or... Read More

The Connection Between Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

June 18, 2015

When you sleep, your mind and your body have the opportunity to recover from the day’s events, stressful, happy, and neutral alike. However, if you’re not getting good quality rest each night, a number of unwanted effects can occur. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing periodically during the night. There are many risk factors that can lead to OSA, and one of the most common is excess weight. To help our patients identify if they have this condition and seek treatment, our team at Griffin Hospital has provided the following quiz that you can use to assess your sleep quality. In the event you receive a score of 10-24, we recommend you seek out a sleep specialist that can diagnose your concerns. For more information about OSA, weight loss surgery, or to schedule a consultation with our experienced bariatric surgeon, please contact us today. Take Our OSA Quiz

I Had Bariatric Surgery, Now What?

June 11, 2015

So you completed your pre-operative checklist, the insurance said “yes,” and you have now had bariatric surgery. It may seem like the most important part is over, but continued long-term follow-up care is essential to your overall success. Dr. Rishi Ramlogan, our experienced weight loss surgeon, and our entire bariatric team wants your surgery and weight loss efforts to be as successful as possible. Here at Griffin Bariatrics you will be seen one week after your surgery in our bariatric office. At this time we will make sure you are feeling well, your pain is managed (if you have any), and your surgical sites are healing appropriately. Additionally, we will discuss starting vitamins and supplements. Your follow-up schedule will continue with a 1 month visit, 3 month visit, 6 month visit, 1 year visit, and annually thereafter unless otherwise specified or needed. Throughout your follow-up office visits we will be monitoring your weight loss progress, overall nutrition, and periodic blood work to treat any vitamin deficiencies and to address any questions or concerns that you may have. Our bariatric team will provide... Read More

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