BaileyBariatrics

Besides sweating, we lose water from talking, exhaling, fever, infection, going to the bathroom, living in a dry climate, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, fatigue or sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, confusion, memory issues, tension, anxiety, lower energy, constipation, feeling hungry, darker urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded and muscle cramps. Water can be flavored but needs to be free of caffeine, carbonation and calories. Even though protein shakes have calories, most of them are water, so that counts towards your hydration. Sugar-free gelatin and popsicles count as water. Ice chips can be a nice way to get water when it’s sultry outside. Infused waters provide some flavor but no calories. Infused waters can be made by simply slicing citrus fruits or veggies, crushing berries, or adding herbs for steeping in your water. Cucumber and mint make a refreshing flavor combination. You can buy water bottles that have a tube down the middle that you can fill with fruits, veggies and herbs to flavor your water. How much is enough water? We start calculating your hydration goal by dividing by 2 what your weight would be if your BMI is 25. More is added if you are outdoors or workout a lot. Keeping a water bottle with you at all times can help you remember to sip enough fluids. Tracking fluids throughout the day is another way to know whether you’ve had enough fluids for the day. Have you sipped enough today?

Besides sweating, we lose water from talking, exhaling, fever, infection, going to the bathroom, living in a dry climate, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, fatigue or sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, confusion, memory issues, tension, anxiety, lower energy, constipation, feeling hungry, darker urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded and muscle cramps. Water can be flavored but needs to be free of caffeine, carbonation and calories. Even though protein shakes have calories, most of them are water, so that counts towards your hydration. Sugar-free gelatin and popsicles count as water. Ice chips can be a nice way to get water when it’s sultry outside. Infused waters provide some flavor but no calories. Infused waters can be made by simply slicing citrus fruits or veggies, crushing berries, or adding herbs for steeping in your water. Cucumber and mint make a refreshing flavor combination. You can buy water bottles that have a tube down the middle that you can fill with fruits, veggies and herbs to flavor your water. How much is enough water? We start calculating your hydration goal by dividing by 2 what your weight would be if your BMI is 25. More is added if you are outdoors or workout a lot. Keeping a water bottle with you at all times can help you remember to sip enough fluids. Tracking fluids throughout the day is another way to know whether you’ve had enough fluids for the day. Have you sipped enough today?

Finding unflavored protein in a single serve packet will allow you to sample a brand without having to buy the larger container first. Single serve packets of whey protein isolate are available online with Bariatric Fusion, Jay Robb and Unjury. Whey protein powder is also found in the bulk bins at Sprouts Farmers Market. You can buy a small amount to taste test. Our patients have also liked the larger containers of unflavored whey protein by brands like Inspire , Isopure (GNC, online) and online (online). Keep in mind, whey protein must be kept under 140 degrees, otherwise, it will curdle. Soy protein isolate is also available. Brands include GNC and brands like NOW Foods and Genisoy, which are available online and some natural foods stores. These will be in larger containers. Sprouts Farmers Market also has soy protein in their bulk bins, so that you can buy a small amount to taste test. Sometimes you can get a sample taste of unflavored protein in stores that sell natural foods, supplements and sports nutrition products. Ask about the return policy if you don’t like the product. There are many other brands of unflavored protein powders on the market. If you have a group of bariatric buddies, perhaps the buddies can buy different brands to try and share. This cuts the cost of taste testing. May your protein status be awesome!

Berries are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and water. Antioxidants help slow down the aging process by protecting our cells from oxidative stress, Vitamin C helps with healing and fiber helps with digestive health. Berries have about 15 carbohydrates and 60-80 calories per 1 cup serving but the type of carbohydrate in berries don’t raise your sugars very much. Bariatric patients can use berries by puréeing the berries and freezing them. Use snack size, zipper-type bags, fill with ½ cup purée and freeze flat, which will stack better in your freezer. Because antioxidants need some fat to be absorbed, consider adding 1 teaspoon canola oil per 1 cup puree. Use the pureed berries in yogurt or when you mix a protein shake. Use ½ bag of your frozen purée per small container (5.3 oz.) of yogurt or a protein drink. That is about ¼ cup berry purée. You may need to thaw some before using the purée. Berries provide a nutritional punch your body will love. Hope you have many berry good times this summer!

Berries are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and water. Antioxidants help slow down the aging process by protecting our cells from oxidative stress, Vitamin C helps with healing and fiber helps with digestive health. Berries have about 15 carbohydrates and 60-80 calories per 1 cup serving but the type of carbohydrate in berries don’t raise your sugars very much. Bariatric patients can use berries by puréeing the berries and freezing them. Use snack size, zipper-type bags, fill with ½ cup purée and freeze flat, which will stack better in your freezer. Because antioxidants need some fat to be absorbed, consider adding 1 teaspoon canola oil per 1 cup puree. Use the pureed berries in yogurt or when you mix a protein shake. Use ½ bag of your frozen purée per small container (5.3 oz.) of yogurt or a protein drink. That is about ¼ cup berry purée. You may need to thaw some before using the purée. Berries provide a nutritional punch your body will love. Hope you have many berry good times this summer!

Berries are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and water. Antioxidants help slow down the aging process by protecting our cells from oxidative stress, Vitamin C helps with healing and fiber helps with digestive health. Berries have about 15 carbohydrates and 60-80 calories per 1 cup serving but the type of carbohydrate in berries don’t raise your sugars very much. Bariatric patients can use berries by puréeing the berries and freezing them. Use snack size, zipper-type bags, fill with ½ cup purée and freeze flat, which will stack better in your freezer. Because antioxidants need some fat to be absorbed, consider adding 1 teaspoon canola oil per 1 cup puree. Use the pureed berries in yogurt or when you mix a protein shake. Use ½ bag of your frozen purée per small container (5.3 oz.) of yogurt or a protein drink. That is about ¼ cup berry purée. You may need to thaw some before using the purée. Berries provide a nutritional punch your body will love. Hope you have many berry good times this summer!

You can cook just about anything on the grill. Choose foods that are in your post-surgery diet phase. Find a recipe you like and then start grilling. Veggies can be grilled either on skewers or in a vegetable grill pan. Grill enough for leftovers during the week. Use a marinade for flavor and moisture. You can make your own marinade or use a low-fat dressing. A foil packet dinner is a great way to combine a protein, veggies and seasoning all wrapped up in foil makes for a quick clean up. Each person can customize the seasonings for individual preferences. Foil packet dinners are quite a trend right now and you’ll find many recipes on the internet. These leftovers are great to have for another meal, or 2 or 3 . . . Making a kebob is another quick and easy way to grill small portions of protein and vegetables. Protein sources can be chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, pork or beef. You may want to grill veggies on a separate skewer since these take longer to cook. What about fruit kebobs or grilling fruit right on the hot grill surface? A mango and shrimp kebob is a great combination. You can also pair grilled fruit with light yogurt or use in a fruit salsa to top grilled meat. The possibilities are endless. For some easy grilling ideas, check out this website: https://www.readyseteat.com/recipes/easy-grilling-recipes
Choose the recipes that suit your bariatric eating plan. What’s going to be on your grill?

You can cook just about anything on the grill. Choose foods that are in your post-surgery diet phase. Find a recipe you like and then start grilling. Veggies can be grilled either on skewers or in a vegetable grill pan. Grill enough for leftovers during the week. Use a marinade for flavor and moisture. You can make your own marinade or use a low-fat dressing. A foil packet dinner is a great way to combine a protein, veggies and seasoning all wrapped up in foil makes for a quick clean up. Each person can customize the seasonings for individual preferences. Foil packet dinners are quite a trend right now and you’ll find many recipes on the internet. These leftovers are great to have for another meal, or 2 or 3 . . . Making a kebob is another quick and easy way to grill small portions of protein and vegetables. Protein sources can be chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, pork or beef. You may want to grill veggies on a separate skewer since these take longer to cook. What about fruit kebobs or grilling fruit right on the hot grill surface? A mango and shrimp kebob is a great combination. You can also pair grilled fruit with light yogurt or use in a fruit salsa to top grilled meat. The possibilities are endless. For some easy grilling ideas, check out this website: https://www.readyseteat.com/recipes/easy-grilling-recipes
Choose the recipes that suit your bariatric eating plan. What’s going to be on your grill?

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

Sugar-free popsicles can be a life line during the 2-week liquid diet before surgery. Sometimes, however, they are hard to find. Sugar-free popsicles are basically water, flavor, color, starch, and a sweetener. Some brands found in grocery stores include Sugar Free Blue Bell7 Bullets, Sugar Free Popsicle7 and Budget $aver Sugar Free Twin Pops. The Blue Bell7 and Popsicle7 brands are 15 calories each. The Budget $aver brand is 30 calories for the whole twin pop, so you will need to use half, or one stick’s worth for a serving size.
The calorie limit for sugar free popsicles is 20 calories each to keep the calories low during this pre-surgery liquid diet phase. Although sugar-free, they are not calorie-free because, of the starch and sugar alcohol content. Check the ingredient list to make sure you can tolerate them.
Some of bariatric patients don’t tolerate sugar alcohols or aspartame, which are the more common sweeteners found in sugar free popsicles. Most of these sugar-free popsicles have at least one flavor that is red. No red colors are allowed on that last day before surgery, so use those first. Can you guess the major nutrient found in these sugar free popsicles? The first ingredient in all of them is…water! Nice to know it counts towards your fluid intake.

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

Several powder and liquid forms of water flavors now use stevia. These are easily available in grocery stores. Stevia can be plain stevia or listed as Truvia, which is a combination of stevia and erythritol. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol and will have a few calories. For powder forms of water flavors, look for the Crystal Light Pure and the Great Value version from Walmart. Crystal Light Pure does have four grams sugar per half-packet, so some patients may not be able to tolerate this product. In the liquid drop form, brands to look for include MIO with stevia, Great Value version, Skinny Girl, Sweet Leaf and Stur.
Add enough of these products to taste right for you. Too much can get super sweet in a hurry. For protein powders, look for Jay Robb and Syntrax Nectar Naturals. Even yogurts are joining in the natural sweeteners trend. Look for the Greek style yogurts Chiobani Simply 100 (has stevia and monk fruit) and Oikos Triple Zero (has stevia, look for black label). Experiment with different stevia or monk fruit sweetened products to see what you like.

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

For equipment, think about bringing a shaker cup or small blender to mix protein shakes, carry protein powder with you (try single serve packets or put a single serving of protein powder in a small container or small zip bag.), carry a stash of utensils (plastic forks, spoons and knives), and bring clean up helpers (paper towels, napkins or wet wipes). If you are going to a hotel that has a microwave, bring microwave-proof dishes or paper plates to heat a frozen meal or leftovers. A small coffee maker can make a decaf cup of coffee you can add vanilla protein to make a latte or chocolate to make mocha type drink. Drink it hot or cool it down and put ice in it. If make a hot drink, keep the temperature under 140 degrees.
If traveling in a car, bring a cooler packed with protein drinks, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt or protein snacks like the P3 Protein Packs. You can either buy the individual servings of yogurt or cottage cheese or get a larger container of these foods and divide into small, plastic containers. Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to purchase single servings of yogurt or cottage cheese. There are veggie-fruit-protein snack packs now in many of the produce section of grocery stores. Some convenience stores carry protein shakes and protein bars. These are usually found on shelves towards the back of the store. Other protein snacks include protein chips (Quest, Kay’s Naturals) and protein bars. Look for protein bars that have more protein than carbohydrates such as brands like Premier Protein, Pure Protein, Six Star Nutrition, Quest and Nature Valley Protein Bars. Pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna and chicken salad kits to make an easy meal. Softer texture jerky and nuts are other protein options. Pack your bags and pack your protein to have a great trip!

“Ricing” refers to vegetables cut up into small pieces about the size of rice. Cauliflower has gotten the most attention, but other veggies are getting in on the trend. Years ago, the South Beach Diet included a recipe for mashed cauliflower to take the place of mashed potatoes. The new kid on the block is riced cauliflower. The color is similar to rice and can be cut to look like rice. Some say it has a similar taste to rice, but use your own taste buds to figure this out. For bariatrics patients, riced cauliflower doesn’t have the type of carbohydrate that can swell in your stomach pouch, like regular rice does. Once you can add vegetables back to your food choices, you’ve now got a vegetable choice that can be seasoned many ways. Click here for a Riced Cauliflower recipe from www.whatscookingamerica.net, which also includes several flavor options. For an easier version, Green Giant and Birds’ Eye already have riced cauliflower and other riced vegetables in the freezer section. You’ll be able to whip up a vegetable side dish in a jiffy! Pizza crust recipes with riced cauliflower have also been enjoyed by our patients for several years. Yum! You now have a trendy, fun and tasty way to eat your veggies. Enjoy!

Finding unflavored protein in a single serve packet will allow you to sample a brand without having to buy the larger container first. Single serve packets of whey protein isolate are available online with Bariatric Fusion, Jay Robb and Unjury. Whey protein powder is also found in the bulk bins at Sprouts Farmers Market. You can buy a small amount to taste test. Our patients have also liked the larger containers of unflavored whey protein by brands like Inspire , Isopure (GNC, online) and online (online). Keep in mind, whey protein must be kept under 140 degrees, otherwise, it will curdle. Soy protein isolate is also available. Brands include GNC and brands like NOW Foods and Genisoy, which are available online and some natural foods stores. These will be in larger containers. Sprouts Farmers Market also has soy protein in their bulk bins, so that you can buy a small amount to taste test. Sometimes you can get a sample taste of unflavored protein in stores that sell natural foods, supplements and sports nutrition products. Ask about the return policy if you don’t like the product. There are many other brands of unflavored protein powders on the market. If you have a group of bariatric buddies, perhaps the buddies can buy different brands to try and share. This cuts the cost of taste testing. May your protein status be awesome!

Milk that has no fat is also called skimmed, fat-free, non-fat or 0 percent fat. The USDA National Nutrient Database uses the terms nonfat, fat-free and skim as descriptors for milk with no fat. The fat content of the milk refers to the percentage of weight that the fat contributes to the serving size. It does not refer to the percent of calories the fat contributes. Each 8-ounce cup of milk, no matter how much fat, will have 12 grams of carbohydrate as milk sugar.
Milk sugar is also called lactose. Each 8-ounce cup of milk will also have 8 grams of protein. An 8-ounce cup of skim milk has 80 calories. Milk with 1 percent fat is also referred to as low-fat milk and has 100 calories and 2 grams fat. Milk with 2 percent fat is also referred to reduce- fat milk and has 120 calories and 5 grams fat. Whole milk is also called vitamin D milk and has 150 calories and 8 grams fat.
Most of the fat in milk is saturated, which can contribute to elevated cholesterol. Increased fat also means increased calories and a potential for dumping issues. Along with protein, milk also packs in calcium, potassium and water. There are several lactose free milks on the market if you are lactose intolerant. For those that enjoy milk, you are getting a nutrition-packed fluid. Next week’s tip will be an overview of the other milks on the market like almond and cashew milks. Stay tuned!

Chew your food to applesauce consistency. Eat smaller meals. Stop chewing gum and drinking out of straws to prevent air from getting into your stomach. Stop using tobacco. Avoid high fat foods. Fat takes longer to move through the digestive system so food stays in your stomach longer. High-fat foods include using lots of cooking oil when cooking, whole milk instead of skim or 1 percent milk, regular fat cheese, deep fried foods and the fatty meats used in fast food hamburgers.
Other strategies include avoiding foods that can irritate the esophagus. Irritants can include hot peppers, spicy foods, carbonated beverages and acidic foods like citrus or tomato juice. Avoid peppermint and spearmint, because these will relax the opening between the stomach and the esophagus.This allows stomach contents to be pushed up into the esophagus.Sit or stand for several hours after the last meal before bedtime to allow food to pass into the small intestine can also help. Invest the time to have healthier eating habits. The payoff is feeling better right now!

Finding unflavored protein in a single serve packet will allow you to sample a brand without having to buy the larger container first. Single serve packets of whey protein isolate are available online with Bariatric Fusion, Jay Robb and Unjury. Whey protein powder is also found in the bulk bins at Sprouts Farmers Market. You can buy a small amount to taste test. Our patients have also liked the larger containers of unflavored whey protein by brands like Inspire , Isopure (GNC, online) and online (online). Keep in mind, whey protein must be kept under 140 degrees, otherwise, it will curdle. Soy protein isolate is also available. Brands include GNC and brands like NOW Foods and Genisoy, which are available online and some natural foods stores. These will be in larger containers. Sprouts Farmers Market also has soy protein in their bulk bins, so that you can buy a small amount to taste test. Sometimes you can get a sample taste of unflavored protein in stores that sell natural foods, supplements and sports nutrition products. Ask about the return policy if you don’t like the product. There are many other brands of unflavored protein powders on the market. If you have a group of bariatric buddies, perhaps the buddies can buy different brands to try and share. This cuts the cost of taste testing. May your protein status be awesome!

Having a smaller stomach pouch after surgery makes it a challenge to get in more veggies. Veggies you can sip instead of chewing to applesauce will make it easier to get in your vegetables. Think about blending veggies with protein powder to help increase your protein intake. Focus on non-starchy veggies. There are several ways you can sip your veggies.
One way is to experiment with blended smoothies. A blended smoothie has 3 main parts: fresh or frozen produce, ice cubes, and a base. The base can be water, milk or yogurt. For bariatric patients, a base can also be protein powder or ready to drink protein shakes. You’ll need a good blending machine like NutriBullet, Ninja or Vitamix. Look for a blender with at least 1000 Watts for best results. Next time you make a protein smoothie, throw in a handful of raw spinach or kale, cucumbers, shredded purple cabbage, frozen veggie blend, fresh herbs or something from your garden. Fruits are often a part of a smoothie, but you will need to calculate the carbs to stay in your carbohydrate goal.
Another idea is to make a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary. Stir a tablespoon of unflavored protein powder into 6 ounces low sodium V8 vegetable juice. This V8 is a blend of several vegetable juices. Throw in dashes of lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce, stir again and the pour over ice. Unflavored protein powder can be added to vegetable soups. Sprout’s has unflavored whey protein powder in the bulk bins, which is a way you can test taste this protein without buying a large canister. One tablespoon provides 10 grams of protein. If you use whey protein isolate, remember to keep it under 140o F. to prevent the protein from curdling. Healthy sipping!

The “no white foods” diet is still around. We encourage our bariatrics patients to give up white bread, white rice, white pasta or white potatoes. These foods typically raise blood sugars. However, cauliflower is not one of those white foods. One cup of raw cauliflower has 27 calories, 77 percent daily value for vitamin C, 5 grams carbohydrate, 2.5 grams fiber, 2 grams protein and is a good source of potassium, folate, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.
Cauliflower is a low glycemic food, which means is has very little carbohydrate to raise your blood sugars. Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous vegetable group which also includes broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables provide sulforaphane, a phytochemical linked to a decreased risk for cancer.
Instead of rice and potatoes as a side dish, think cauliflower. Whipped cauliflower as a side dish instead of potatoes has been around since the low-carb craze from a couple of decades ago. Here’s a quick recipe to try. You can make this recipe four weeks after surgery, when cooked vegetables are reintroduced to your diet.
Cauliflower “rice” is chopping this vegetable in a food processor or grating by hand to look like rice and then steaming it. Here is a recipe, which can be prepared in Phase 4 after surgery when fresh produce comes back in - four months after surgery.

Finding unflavored protein in a single serve packet will allow you to sample a brand without having to buy the larger container first. Single serve packets of whey protein isolate are available online with Bariatric Fusion, Jay Robb and Unjury. Whey protein powder is also found in the bulk bins at Sprouts Farmers Market. You can buy a small amount to taste test. Our patients have also liked the larger containers of unflavored whey protein by brands like Inspire , Isopure (GNC, online) and online (online). Keep in mind, whey protein must be kept under 140 degrees, otherwise, it will curdle. Soy protein isolate is also available. Brands include GNC and brands like NOW Foods and Genisoy, which are available online and some natural foods stores. These will be in larger containers. Sprouts Farmers Market also has soy protein in their bulk bins, so that you can buy a small amount to taste test. Sometimes you can get a sample taste of unflavored protein in stores that sell natural foods, supplements and sports nutrition products. Ask about the return policy if you don’t like the product. There are many other brands of unflavored protein powders on the market. If you have a group of bariatric buddies, perhaps the buddies can buy different brands to try and share. This cuts the cost of taste testing. May your protein status be awesome!