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in Scotland and vegetarian food i am finding is far and few between..i am struggling to get my numbers on.....yikes!

woops...double post if i were vegan and not lacto ova....i wouldn't have had to be sleeved.... and are indians not considered vegetarian even though east paneer cheese...i know i have this vegetarian cookbooks with vegetarian on the cover....i do realize all Indians are vegetarian though

I've been a strict vegetarian for most of my adult life (more than 20 years). I am eating more dairy and eggs post-VSG than I did before, which I'm not exactly happy about, but it will do for now. As I get farther along in my journey, I may try to eliminate them or at least reduce my consumption. For me, vegetarianism is a lifestyle and deeply rooted in my belief system--akin to others' religious beliefs. It is founded on kindness for all living things and a respect for all life (not just human life). I do not eat cheeses that contain rennet. I do not wear or buy leather, wool, or silk. I do not eat things with meat stock, and I definitely don't eat Jello. I don't buy Protein drinks that contain Gelatin. So although I am "just" a vegetarian and not a vegan--I consider this belief to be a huge part of my way of life and deeply rooted in my belief system. It comes from a love for animals--all animals--that I have had since I was a small girl and met my mom's friends who became vegetarians after watching pigs they had raised get slaughtered. I don't think that vegetarianism has lost its meaning--to me it is more meaningful than ever.

please share with me your game plan in getting in protein. any recipes you care to share? two great finds ,friendship brand protein percent cot cheese...1/2cup 16 g p over the hill brand milk 11 g p per cup.

I've always 'dabbled' w vegetarian type food--- however id really like to 'embrace' it now---- I do gave a big fear of carbs - in the past the ONLY thing that worked for me was Atkins but very very low carb and cal-- Any ideas for me --- I've been researching it but now I'm overwhelmed and confused lol I'd love ideas on how to go about - I've 'friended' fully raw and vegan and vegetarian type things on Facebook but I can't have anything like that yet-- I am 2 1/2 weeks preop-- thank you Sent from my iPhone using VST

Pureed: sweet potato with yog or Peanut Butter greek yog with banana and protein powder ( I like Chike Banana) cream of wheat made with fake chicken broth split pea soup with a dab on greek yog Iced muscle milk with coffee (I used decaf) The seitan Jerky is great but wait till solids (I think the one I get is Primal) eggface protein ice cream recipes cauliflower soup made with milk and cheese. I missed veggies early on and would make pots of soup and puree till I could eat them chunky. bean soup with veg bacon salt .....I have done it all vegetarian(lacto ovo) for the last two years with success.

I couldn't help it, I googled.... FUNNY - Vegetarians would have you believe that the "perfect" stool (that is, one uncontaminated by the consumption of animal parts) is the Floater. Many vegetarians have spent their entire lives in the Quest to produce perfection -- when in fact no particular diet can reliably produce Floaters. The vast majority of us bring forth Sinkers. SINKERS it is.... that my vote!! Sinkers really need a good P.R. person -- they have gotten a bad rap over the ages. Sure, Floaters are cute and all, but a good solid Sinker will never let you down. :sneaky:

Here are some more ideas for you: Vegetarian (or not!) chili Cabbage Rolls with potatoes Kofta Curry Muttar Paneer Stuffed Poblano Peppers Kafta Kabob Huevos Rancheros (skip the tortilla) Vegan Sweet Potato & Black Bean "meatballs" with shiitake mushrooms Menemen Dalia Khichdi Masoor Dal Dal Makhani Baba Ghanouj with Cauliflower or Zucchini Fritters (add protein powder) Blackened Salmon with Smashed Potatoes Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon over Zoodles Mahi Mahi w/ Aji Amarillo, sauteed zucchini Thai Red Curry with Mahi Mahi Tilapia w/Pesto, Roasted Root Veggies Vegetable Beef Soup (use ground beef & no corn) Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes (skip the bun), roasted carrots Swedish Meatballs & potatoes Ground Beef Stir Fry with broccoli & mushrooms Kibbeh Harira Crustless Quiche Basically anything that uses ground meats is probably safe. Get creative with veggies to either cook with or along with the meat. Some things that may be light on protein may need some unflavored protein powder mixed in.

Morningstar Farms is a line of vegetarian products in the freezer section. Their "griller" is a vegetarian burger, and they make veg sausage patties, "chick'n" patties and other stuff. Seems like they sit well with me, sometimes better than actual meat, and are really high in protein.

I can eat fish and shrimp very well but I find that most meats are hard on my stomach. Ground meat sits pretty well but that is all. I was a BIG meat eater before surgery but I told my husband just last night I might as well be a vegetarian. Lol. I guess I have had the foamies although it feels like drainage in the back of my throat before I throw up or something don't agree with me.

I am having some problems figuring out how to lose a little(20) and stay there. I seem to be able to stay where I am right now.... I have gained 18 and am staying there. I log everything and exercise. I am experimenting at eating more for an extended time without gaining more. I was eating 1200 a day, exercising and NOT losing. I figured my body may be screwed up from not eating much for so long. I have added in about 300-800 a day more, depending on how much I exercise or not. I am staying the same at this.... not gaining from when I was eating 1200 a day. I am sort of following the TDEE plan, eating between my BMR(1600) and my total energy expenditure(2100) or around 1800 a day (which should be my energy expenditure at my goal weight if I continue the same exercise routine. I just think its crazy to weight over 190, exercise and only eat 1200 a day and still gain weight or stay the same! Im seeing if I can normalize my intake. This seems to work for some people who have trained their bodies to live on very little. I still have restriction, and the protein first rule does work for me too. I am eating pretty clean, with planned snacks and still vegetarian. I guess Im in maintenance right now, but hope to s-l-o-w-l-y lose back to where I was at the end of my "honeymoon" a year ago by eating more for a while,then cutting back a little bit to lose slowly. We will see! I am so happy I got the sleeve, but I am not happy having to go up one or two sizes after I gave away most of my larger sizes! PANTS TOO TIGHT!

I'm 8.5 months out at this point and am crawling along at a snail's pace. At my 6 month follow up the NP said I was doing so great, and only had 10 lbs to go - I said that I really had about 20 lbs to go, but you know how they formulate it differently to have as many success stories as possible. 70% of excess weight rather than healthy BMI. But whatever, I told her my personal goal was 128 not 138. I asked for guidance on how much I should be eating as I was aware of less restriction and more hunger - she told me 600 cals a day until I go back at the 1 year mark. That seemed extreme to me, but I did it for a while. I'm a compulsive tracker - have 8 years worth of tracking on MFP. Daily, I track weight, calories, protein, water, carbs, fat, steps, exercise, bowel movements, menstruation, ovulation. The scale didn't move on 600 and I gained a little. And my energy was terrible, my skin awful, and I began having more food cravings. Honestly - and I am a PCOS weirdo, and none of us are in any way typical at all, and I am not saying anyone else should do this - I only see consistent downward movement on the scale when I up my calories to 1100-1200 and up my carbs to 100g. It is terrifying to me to eat more carbs, but for now I'm going with it. My stats, graphs, and charts show a real correlation that I don't think is coincidence. I am well used to being disciplined - I think as PCOSers we all are - so I will stay on this protocol for a while and if it stops working, it won't be hard for me to go lower again. I avoided coming on here for a while as I felt like I was a fraud or a cheat or I would be admonished for not doing things the "right" way - but I know my body and I'm honest with myself about what I put into it, so for right now this is what is working for me, and me alone. I don't think it helps that it is the last 20 lbs I am trying to lose, and everyone always says they just don't want to budge. (I am also a vegetarian BTW - have been since I was 6 - and I don't have any trouble getting plenty of protein from food. I haven't had to have protein shakes since 6 weeks out. I do a lot of dairy though: FF cottage cheese, FF Greek yoghurt, light babybel cheeses.)

Are these foods that were in your normal diet and tolerated well before surgery? It sounds like it may be a matter of adaptation of your gut biome (all those little buggers that live in your intestines that help digest your food.) A probiotic may help repopulate your gut with the bacterial species appropriate for digesting what you are now eating. This is an adaptive thing, and our gut adapts to what we eat; make big changes to our diet and the gut needs to adapt to the new diet. Vegetarians can eat a lot of legumes and cruciferous veg that would have most of us farting to the moon are hardly bothered by them because their gut has adapted. Just having WLS and the major dietary changes (along with the anti-biotics that can kill of some of the gut bacteria) that typically go along with it can cause digestive problems owing to the biome no longer being compatible with the diet; a malabsorptive procedure such as the RNY or DS compounds this as it also changes the way digestion is done, but we adapt over time. Now you are adding in a new phase of changes that the gut needs to adapt to. It will pass in time (so to speak) but a broad spectrum probiotic can help speed the process.

How much is everyone able to eat now? I had a followup yesterday and I didn't think I was eating enough. He said I am fine. I eat three meals a day and one isopure. My meals are just a quarter of a cup. So I don't get much protein from those. I don't tolerate meat very well. I'm close to being a vegetarian. Doctor says that's healthy for me.

Hey all, May I get your collective brains together to help me come up with a pre and post op vegetarian food list together? :-) I figure those of you who have been through this, can maybe help me get this together? I do eat free range dairy and eggs. Suggestions for: Clear liquids Liquids Mushies And I think that covers it? AM I leaving a phase out? THANK YOU

you've had a bad go. Did you drink alcohol? are you drinking alcohol now? why i ask.... i like to have wine. Ive found though that it makes my stomach so acidic that i cant tolerate much either. I have had a lot of trouble in the last 21 months myself. I got to the point where i was having so much pain even inbetween meals that it was hard for me. i lived on antacids. i even went and bought somac. i was having nights where i was afraid to sleep because of regurgitation... and i would have to sit bolt upright. I was sliming and vomiting nearly every meal. My dr. visits were monthly, some months i would need some fill taken out, other months we would try a very small amount again. it was hard to get a good balance. Ive just had a fraction taken out again, about three weeks ago. Im not sliming now.... but i think im putting on a small amount of weight again. With christmas coming up thats going to create another issue in the new year im thinking. One thing i did find out though. Im now drinking orange juice about twice a day with a good two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in it. I started off with much less vinegar but have been able to build it up . this is extremely good in creating the right balance of alkalinity in the stomach. Wine especially is very acid. I originally started having more wine some days because it would relax the band some more but in the end the acid balance was all out and that didnt work at all. At the moment im having up to a half small cup of cider vinegar a day. its also helping me with my joints. Its got to be apple cider vinegar. i do have a lot of Soup. i add veges and meats to my soup... in fact i have 2/3 of my diet with soup. Im quite happy with that, Other than having cut up meat in soup, i do have difficulty eating meat myself. Pork isnt quite so bad. fish is o.k... so long as i take ages to eat it. My dr did tell me that it may be a good idea for me to become vegetarian completely. i dont want to do that though so im very careful but still have some meat. i dont eat much bread at all. i find it very hard to digest fruit. there are ways of getting around that though... for example the orange juice drink with the vinegar in it. i can only eat about a tablespoon of salad. i hope that your second attempt gives you much encouragement that it will work for you. its so good to hear that you havent given up. I believe that you will get there with perseverance. One thing for sure.. .we are all different. good luck

Also, since one of my roommates is vegetarian, even if he cooks something healthy and is kind enough to offer some to me, there's very little protein in the dish, and that's a dietary priority for me right now.

This purile behaviour is so sad :thumbup: I am sorry you have to be contact with these saddo's on a daily basis. I have only suffered this in the early days when I became a vegetarian, my reasons are ethical ones. I eventually became so tired of these cretins that gradually I attended less and less functions, and didn't bother eating in the work lunchroom anymore. Recently it became easier, as life and people move on, but I won't put myself in that situation now. It is a bit the same with my band, only my husband and I know, and I don't regret this decision. I feel so bad for bandsters who have shared their joy and hopeful expectations with, family or more particularly work colleagues, only to be really suffering mental anguish down the track. I really hope you can deal with this harrassment, Hugs

Great! The end of April is a lovely time to visit--Jazz Fest, beautiful weather, etc. There aren't a lot of veggie restaurants around here, honestly--tons of great seafood and creole/soul food places, though. I like Mediterranean places for the most part. In New Orleans, on Carrollton Avenue, there's Lebanon and Mona's Cafe, both excellent. There's a Zoe's out on Old Metairie Rd that is wonderful--my husband and I both really enjoy that. It's fresh, light, and really delicious; they make white Beans slow-simmered in olive oil and rosemary that will knock your socks off, plus it's the best Greek salad in town, I think, with just a light vinegar, oil, and herb dressing. Yum! Good thing I just ate Breakfast or I'd be getting hungry now. :-) Most of the Mediterranean places here do a version of moussaka that is yellow squash, onion, and tomato layered with olive oil and baked in casserole--it gets tender and delicious and is one of my favorite things ever. You can find hummus at almost any restaurant nowadays, so that's an easy one--I usually ask for cucumber slices instead of pita bread, since I can't tolerate the pita. On Magazine Street, check out Nirvana and the Whole Foods market--the market has a huge selection of prepared foods and a nice cafe area in which you can sit and eat. In the Quarter, it's a little trickier, but definitely check out The Green Goddess--yummy, yummy. Like all places on this list, they are not strictly vegetarian; most New Orleans restaurants will include seafood, if not all kinds of meat and dairy. Give me a holler when you're heading this way--would love to maybe meet up for coffee!

Kimmason, Sure. I'll give you a few typical days pre-band and post-restriction. Keep in mind I'm vegetarian, so I'll give you estimated calories so you can see the volume I'm talking about in comparison how you eat. Pre-restriction typical day: Breakfast -- two breakfast sandwiches with 2 eggs and cheese on 2 rolls ordered from the corner deli. Lots of ketchup. Probably 800 calories. (I did this 5 times a week, often). lunch -- large spinach salad (4 cups) with chick peas, feta cheese, walnuts, tomatoes, chinese noodles, FF honey mustard dressing. Plus a small bag of chips and a chocolate chip cookie the size of your face. Probably 1000 calories (but it was "salad" -- right??) Snack -- over the counter drugstore crap (candy, Cookies, chips) 500 calories. dinner -- 2 orders of nachos (they are kind of small orders by American standards) with Beans, cheese, sour cream, guac, salsa and 2 bean and cheese tortilla wraps OR a medium cheese pizza. Either way, probably 1200 calories. Wow. I've never actually faced that before. I certainly never calculated the calories before. I mean, that was really a typical day. Something like 3500-4000 calories per day. OK, now for the happier picture -- post restriction: Brekafast -- I usually forget to eat it. Sometimes I'll have 2 wedges of light Babybel cheese (70 cals total) or 1/2 c cottage cheese with a wasa cracker (75 cals) or a half packet of Protein enhanced cinnamon oatmeal (110 cals) or 1/2 a yogurt with some Kashi Cereal (100 cals). I probably forget to eat breakfast altogether 4 our of 7 days. Lunch - Small spinach salad (1.5 cups or so) with chickpeas, feta, tomatoes, mushrooms and Water chestnuts. I ditch the dressing and use balsamic vinegar, which has almost no cals. Total cals (300). Snack - low carb frozen yogurt (60 cals) or cheese wedge (35 cals) or a handful of chocolates that my evil office manager keeps around (200 cals -- even on a binge I never eat more than 8 and they're 25 cals each). So on average, 100 cals. Sometimes I forget my snack altogether, but that's only maybe 1-2 days a week. Dinner - 1/2 fillet of fish with veggies done in the wok (350) or homemade taco salad (400) or frozen fish sticks with veggies (300) or a crab cake with veggies (450) or my fave -- an egg and cheese sandwich made with one piece of wheat toast, 1 egg, 1 egg white and 1 slice of FF cheese with veggies on the side, but if I do this, I usually can't eat the whole thing because the bread fills me up too much (220). So, I usually come out between 850-1100, depending on whether I managed to stay away from the chocolate or not. I have to tell you, Kimmason, this is not hard for me. The hardest part is planning to have the healthy choices on hand. If they're actually in the house, it's easy (with restriction from the band) to choose them. I usually eat out about once a week, which ups my cals for the day substantially. Makes my weekly average come to about 1100, where, if I eat at home, it's usually well under 1000. I still eat pizza and nachos too, but they don't rule my life like they did before, and I try not to let them in the house. I have to go out for them. My advice to you is to start planning out little meals that have about 300 cals in them. You may not be able to actually eat that little until you have restriction (then again, maybe you can -- a lot of bandsters eat like a bandster even before they have restriction -- it just didn't happen for me that way), but when you do, you'll be prepared. I'm sure everyone else has some great suggestions for you too. We're all here to support you and I just KNOW you're going to come out of this a successful bandster. Just close your eyes and breathe through the next 14 days. You're going to get there!

Hey, also try the Morningstar farms stuff! I had an "original griller" today - 15g Protein and perfect size! I even put a piece of cheese on it (I'm eating too much cheese), and a little mustard. I also had a vegetarian crispy chicken patty the other day, and that was yummy too - 22 grams for two! I'm not doing well with regular chicken, but the veggie chicken did quite well. Just a thought... Oh, and I tried salmon yesterday. Let's just say that did not go well. 'Nuff said.

But You are a good little Vegetarian Wolf, lentil soup is also nice, better for you than evil Cheeseburgers could be. You can look at the world with clear clean eyes, not with Burger Belch! With a good veggie meal you don't miss meat at all, challenged my friend one day, proved to me you DON T need meat in a meal. It was good, it was filling, and, although I hated to admit it, I liked it very much.

I really wanted soup but my BF is a vegetarian so Tofu noodle soup and lazy biscuits. (Traditional noodles and flour used) and tofu soup w/o noodles. I didn’t want noodles in my soup and also didn’t drink the liquid

I have some hospital meals to post as well. They couldn't really do vegan (well, if you like starving it would have been possible I guess) but vegetarian minus the lactose was possible and I felt well fed.

Been doing these daily bentos. They're small little portions, perf for wls. I got this bento from a Japanese goods store. The biggest one is about 400 ml, about 1.6 cups (because im American lol) and the smallest one holds 180 ml or .75 cups/3/4. I get about 40 grams of protein depending on the food combo in them. Im a vegetarian so here I have vegan jerkey, vegan breadless chicken strips, edamame beans and white cheese. Got some veggies and fruit for fiber, some baked fries, and a serving of these no sugar added dark chocolate gems for dessert. I supplement the rest with a protein yogurt an/or protein shake. Takes me anywhere from 70-90 grams of protein daily. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app