Cafe

Ways to Save Money on Food during the Pandemic

June 17, 2020

Still at home? Here are some ways to save money on food during the pandemic. This pandemic has brought with it a unique set of challenges for bariatric patients. While some people are able to work from home, some have been laid off altogether making finances (and eating healthy) a challenge. The positive side of being home more often is that you have more time to prepare healthy meals. Now that you have a little more time to focus on food, let’s look at a couple ways you can save money at the grocery store. Purchase dry beans instead of canned beans Yes, rinsing, soaking, and cooking dried beans takes time – around 3-24 hours depending on the bean; however, the cooked beans can then be frozen for future use in chili’s and soups. The prices difference is significant if you purchase dry beans. According to The Bean Institute a serving of dry pinto beans comes in around 15 cents while a serving of canned beans can be as high as 48 cents. Another benefit of using dry beans? There... Read More

Eating a Balanced Diet after Bariatric Surgery – Choose More Plant-Based Foods

March 6, 2020

Are you so focused on getting in enough protein after weight-loss surgery that your diet is lacking in essential nutrients? It might be a good time to start adding in other foods – specifically plant-based foods. Switching to a more plant-based diet does not mean becoming a vegan or a vegetarian. A more plant-based diet would mean eating less animal products, such as meat and dairy, and consuming more vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and fruit. Plant-based eating and your weight A weight-loss plateau is a common complaint among patients following surgery. Patients will steadily lose weight each month and then…...nothing. In my experience counseling patients I have found that adding some whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (plant foods) back into the diet has actually helped people get past a weight-loss plateau. In other words – eating a more balanced diet might trigger your body to start shedding pounds again. Research shows that consuming a more plant-based diet reduced body fat in overweight and obese individuals. The exact reason for this is unknown; however, we do know that plant-based foods... Read More

Healthy Dinners During the School Year

September 5, 2019

With the kids back in school, I’ve been hearing a lot of complaints from patients that they don’t have enough time to prepare and eat healthy dinners. If you’re working all day and then driving the kids around to various sports practices and activities in the afternoon, it can be tempting to stop for pizza or takeout on the way home. Doing this on a regular basis can quickly add to weight gain or a plateau in your weight loss. Continue reading for some ideas on how to avoid the back to school bloat. Make Your Dinner in the Morning As crazy as this sounds, this might be the only time for busy parents to make dinner. Here are some of our favorite ideas: Crock pot meals: If you don’t already have a crockpot, consider investing in one. A crockpot meal can be thrown together in less than ten minutes and then it’s ready whenever your family gets home. Try this salsa chicken recipe. Prepare some of the ingredients for your evening meal. For instance, if you are planning on... Read More

Tips for Safe Summer Grilling

July 18, 2019

With the grilling season upon us you might find yourself reaching for lean grilled protein, such as fish or chicken, at your next BBQ. Traditionally, BBQ grilling has been touted by our weight loss surgeons as a healthier, and still tasty, way to prepare meat and poultry (when compared to cooking methods like frying). Grilling relies on heat from flames underneath the food, while frying/sauteing, uses fat (oil) to transfer heat to food. Fried foods, which are high in fat and calories, have also been linked to a risk of early death according to this study on the health dangers of fried food published in the BMJ. Comparatively, grilling your food uses little (if any) added fat making it a heart healthy and nutritionally superior choice. Unfortunately, grilling is not without its own caveats. Read on to learn our important tips on how to grill safely so you can enjoy that chicken healthfully and without guilt this season. HCAs (heterocyclic amines) and PAHs (polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons) are two compounds that are formed when meat, poultry, and fish are prepared using... Read More

Reduce Food Waste for Health, Financial, & Environmental Benefits

May 23, 2019

We’ve all been there – you stuff your fridge with colorful produce with the intention of eating nutritious meals all week. By the time Friday rolls around, all the food is still there and it’s not looking so fresh and some of it is past the “use by” date. What’s one to do? Turns out most of that food can still be eaten. Read on to learn tips on how to utilize your food instead of just throwing it out: Don’t take “use by” dates so seriously Those “Best if used by” and “Sell By” dates are not federally regulated. According to the USDA, many food products (with the exception of baby formula) can be safely consumed after the date label phrase. Foods that have spoiled will have an off texture, flavor, or odor and should not be eaten. For more food safety information visit the USDA website. “Revive” your food Floppy carrots and limp lettuce and celery can be crunchy again and good as new when trimmed and soaked in water. Better yet, learn how to store your food... Read More

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