What Not to Stuff this Thanksgiving

Stuffing yourself at Thanksgiving is no longer an option after bariatric surgery. Imagine a typical Thanksgiving meal. The Calorie Control Council estimates the average Thanksgiving meal can add up to 3,000 calories. The entire day can add up to over 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat. That’s 3 sticks of butter’s worth of fat.

Check out www.caloriecontrol.org/articles-and-videa/feature-articles/stuff-the-bird-not-yourself to find the calorie content for typical Thanksgiving foods as well as healthier recipes.

How do you survive this calorie and volume challenge? First, remember you are a bariatric patient. Second, have a plan about what you can eat on Thanksgiving. Know what bariatric diet phase you need to follow.

If you are pre-surgery and not on the all liquid diet, practice chewing to applesauce and stop eating when you feel comfortably full. Remember, before surgery it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to recognize that your stomach is full. If this is your first Thanksgiving after surgery, consider skipping the main meal and joining the group for visiting later. If you are comfortable enough to join the gathering, bring your own food or protein shakes.

Consider bringing your own Pumpkin Spice shake. Start with an 11 oz. ready to drink vanilla protein shake with at least 15-20 grams protein or make your own. Mix together with 2 tablespoons canned, 100 percent pumpkin and ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix. This is a shake you can have before the pre-surgery liquid diet or starting 6 weeks after surgery. May you have many blessings this Thanksgiving.