Nutrition

Fall Recipes Can Be Very Bariatric Friendly

November 14, 2013

Fall, with it’s chilly daytime temperatures, is in full swing in Connecticut. Most of us are looking for delicious comfort foods that keep both our body and soul warm. We are looking for simple recipes that make our homes smell wonderful and that require spending minimal hours in the kitchen, so we can curl up with a good book by the fire and enjoy some time relaxing before dinner. The good news is that slow cooking, such as stewing or using a crockpot, make meats extraordinarily tender and bariatric friendly. After bariatric surgery, such as the Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy or the Lap-Band, some meats can be harder to digest. Mainly, this is because foods need to be chewed thoroughly, since the stomach is not able to further break down food. Meat that is dry, such as chicken breast meat or tougher cuts of beef, can be difficult to digest for some. The key to easy digestion is to keep lean protein moist. Fall cooking naturally lends itself to tender meat. As a bariatric patient, you want to look for... Read More

Adding up the sugar

November 1, 2013

Now that Halloween is over, it is a good time to reevaluate how much sugar is in your (and your family’s) diet. Sugar is the downfall of weight loss surgery. It can slow down weight loss and also cause weight to be regained. Although it is true that about 80% of patients who had Gastric Bypass will experience dumping syndrome (lightheadedness and GI related symptoms after eating simple carbs), it is by no means a deterrent long term. Even patients who experience dumping syndrome will lose this negative feedback over time. The best policy is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, regardless if you had a Lap-Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass. A healthy lifestyle after bariatric surgery means choosing foods that are nutritionally dense, such as lean proteins, whole grains and fresh vegetables, while limiting fried foods and simple sugars such as candy, fruit juice, sugar, white pasta and white flour. Of course, daily exercise, getting enough sleep and taking time for yourself make adhering to a healthy lifestyle easier. Naming the Sweet Stuff It is hard to know... Read More

Combatting the Munchies

September 27, 2013

In some form, all bariatric surgeries restrict the amount of food you can eat in one sitting. Of course, some procedures, like the Gastric Bypass, also restrict some food absorption, but for the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on the food restriction that is accomplished via Lap Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass. It works this way: The stomach (or pouch) is made much smaller, which fills up faster and thus leaves you feeling satisfied with less food. This leads to greater weight loss because you are not feeling ravenous like you did before surgery. But there is one catch: it only works if you do not graze. What is grazing? We commonly refer to grazing as eating a little bit of food throughout the day. One piece of candy here, a bite of cheese there – nothing that would make you think of noting it to your food journal. But it adds up. Suddenly you find yourself in a position where you realize that you were able to eat a large bag of potato chips and... Read More

Bringing the healthy bariatric lifestyle to your kid’s lunchbox

August 29, 2013

Bariatric surgery is a life changing event. After weight loss surgery, patients become healthier and are more active. What about the other family members? The trend shows that kids, too, are living a healthier lifestyle. The holy grail of children’s nutrition is still the school lunch, so we thought we would give some ideas on how to increase nutrition without having to have your kids eat the brown paper bag. Pack the rainbow – Everyone eats with their eyes first. It is no wonder that candy is brightly colored – it attracts kids. Include fruit and berries and veggies in their lunch daily. Surprise your child by including purple carrots or orange cauliflower. Make it a game and soon you’ll have a child who cannot wait to open his/her lunch bag. What unusual veggie or fruit can you or your child think of? Serve only real food – It may sound a bit confusing, but think about it: Is that tube of yogurt really yogurt? What makes these chips glow in the dark? Why is the ingredient list one paragraph... Read More

Snack Attack –Bariatric Friendly Snacks to Make at Home

July 12, 2013

The truth is everyone wants a snack sometimes. The key to success with bariatric surgery, or any healthy lifestyle, is to have healthy snacks available. Since it is summer in Connecticut and many of you are busy enjoying the beaches and state parks, we thought that some take-along snacks would be in order. Baked Apple Chips When you are craving something sweet, these wafer-thin apple chips hit the spot. Just slice two washed and cored apples very thinly (preferably with a mandolin) and spread in a single layer onto two baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 250 degrees for half an hour. Apple chips are crispy, sweet, guilt-free goodness. Baked Kale Chips These chips are super popular for a reason: they vanish as quickly as you can make them. Yes, even your kids who would never touch anything green will love them. They are so simple to make that you can make them while you fire up the BBQ and have them ready to munch on while you wait for the... Read More

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