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The first time I ever heard of or tried quinoa was at a destination spa I went to about three years ago. The restaurant at the spa focused on healthier preparation and choices. Turkey burgers instead of beef, gluten-free dishes, vegetarian, etc. Whole wheat breads, organic eggs...all that type of stuff. I was bowled over by how delicious the quinoa was. Glad to see that it is so much more well known now and available pretty much everywhere. I've also seen it substituted for certain pasta dishes and that's always a better alternative than processed food.

OK here is what i tried today and it was OHHH so tasty!! Vegetarian re-fried beans. No fat sour cream Louisiana hot sauce.( Me Likee hot stuff , But just a touch i'm only brave to a point! ) Fresh made salsa 1 scoop of non flavored protein powder ( 18 grams of protien ) and a touch of water to balance out the powder Sick it the blender for 15 seconds and voila! creamy spicy tangy goodness. Its been 2 hours and no bad side effects yet.... FYI I have been very lucky no problems with anything I have eaten/drank I guess God gave me a free pass so far ,but im sticking to the plan TTFN RJ

Hi there! I'm a lazy cook and it's gotten worse post-op because although I love good food, who wants to put a lot of time into little meals? Here's some stuff that works great for me: Veggie soup: I make a giant pot then freeze in 1 cup portions in sandwich baggies. I add Protein when serviing. chicken. low fat meatballs, turkey sausage are all good. Here's my fav veggie Soup recipe: http://savingdinner.com/healthy-vegetarian-recipes/soup-good-food/ I don't use the potatoes. I add more turnips instead. Meaty chili: I make my chili with enough meat to get 3 oz. in a 3/4 cup serving. Freeze the same way as soup, but in 3/4 cup portions. I don't have a recipe, but I use a couple pounds very lean ground beef, 1 large can chili Beans, 1 large can tomatoes, 1 chopped onion, chili powder. In a stew pot, brown the onion and ground beef. If needed add a little oil. If any oil cooks out, drain. Add tomatoes and chili beans. Add chili powder to taste. Cook down till it tastes good to you. costco Chicken: I buy the roasted one from the deli, then freeze in 3 oz. and 2 oz. portions. Great for salads, sandwiches, and stir fries. Buy the bagged lettuce already chopped and put the salad dressing in one of those tiny plastic glad storage cups. Two of my fav salads: - Southwest style: Mix chicken with a little BBQ sauce. For salad, use lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and either 1/3 c. black beans or 1/3 cup corn. Dress salad with 1 T. lite ranch and top with BBQ chicken. - Asian Chicken: Mix chicken with a little Newmann's own Lite Sesame Ginger dressing. For salad, use lettuce, 1/8- 1/4 c. mandarin oranges packed in splenda, 1/8-1/4 C. snow pea pods. . Dress salad with 1 T. Newmann's own Lite Sesame Ginger dressing and top with chicken. Now that I'm at goal, I sprinkle 2 T. of slivered almonds on top. Two of my fav stir frys: - Italian: I use a mandolin slicer to slice zuchinni, yellow squash, onions, and peppers. Saute quickly with a little oil and some fresh basil. Add cooked chicken or shrimp and a few cherry tomatoes, cut in half. - Asian: Saute Snow pea pods, thinly sliced brocolli and carrots in a little sesame oil. Add cooked chicken or shrimp, a splash of soy sauce and a tiny splash of OJ. I like mine with a few thin slices of ginger. I also like to roast veggies and then mix iwth a little protein. I use a mandolin slicer to slice zuchinni, yellow squash, onions, and peppers. Oven roast at 425 with a little oil. Cool and freeze in portion sizes that you can eat. Mix with chicken and a little balsamic. Quick Proteins I don't have to cook: 98% FF ham rolled around a light string cheese, Bistro Sensations Chicken Sausage http://www.walmart.com/ip/Benetino-s-Bistro-Sensations-Sausage-Chicken-Habanero-W-Monterey-Jack-Cheese-Meat-12-oz/10403147, Tuna with dressing made of 1/2 light mayo, 1/2 greek yogurt, dash of prepared horseradish Frozen shrimp, cooked and deveined. I just pack them frozen and add cocktail sauce at lunch time. Lynda

I am vegetarian and have been gathering ideas of things to eat in the first 2 atages: Full Liquid stage: unjury chicken Flavor Protein powder (vegetarian) Strained Amy's soups (zap the Soup fillings in processor and freeze) Hot decaf tea with lemon and unflavored protein pwder Protein pops (crystal light, unflavored pp) chocolate milk (choc Protein Powder with a bit dutch cocoa and SF almond milk) Soft food stage (can add unflavored pp to any if not getting all in): Soup solids zapped in food processor (will have some frozen from liq stage) Ricotta bakes (searched this forum and got a TON of ideas) Soft Tofu blended with flavor inhancers (sauteed onion, garlic, etc) Quinoa FF Refried Beans blended with a bit of salsa and greek yogurt (my fav!) Greek yogurt Cottage cheese Tempeh bleded with cilantro and soft tofu These are just a few I can think of right now, but if you find things that work well for please send me a message! I love new ideas.

Peppers stuffed with ground tur- key & Quinoa ave you ever heard of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). An unusual word, I know. You’ve probably never heard of it be- fore. In fact, many people are unaware that quinoa is an amazing super food. This plant is indigenous to South America and has been used by local people there for a long time. The plant was eaten to help give Incan warriors energy on their long journeys and during battles. The Inca’s thought so highly of this food that they treated it as a sacred plant. It was part of almost every meal that they ate. The quinoa plant produces seeds, which are the part that is eaten. The seeds can come in a variety of colors including yellow, red, pur- ple, green and white. They have a nutty flavor and a fluffy but slightly crunchy texture, much like rice. Quinoa is considered a whole grain. However, it is less known than other grains such as wheat, oats and rice. Quinoa has an abundance of health benefits associated with it. This grain definitely packs a nutritional punch. It provides 12 grams of cooked fiber per cup of cooked quinoa. The daily recommended intake for adults is 25-25 gms of fiber/day. This is a great way for many people to get their fiber in. Quinoa also provides 9 gms of protein per cooked cup. This is higher than any of the other whole grains. For individuals who fol- low a vegetarian or vegan diet, quinoa is an easy was to include pro- tein in the diet and ensure adequate intake. Protein is an important macronutrient to help maintain lean body mass which supports as increased metabolism and protein keeps you feeling full for longer. Other benefits of this nutrient-dense grain include iron, magne- sium and calcium content. All of these minerals are very important in the diet and help boost energy levels, reduce headaches and mi- graines, lower the risk of hypertension, and increase bone health. An additional upside of eating quinoa is that it is gluten free, so those individuals with celiac disease can consume this grain without any problem. Quinoa is also a quick and easy food to prepare and is available in most grocery stores. Before cooking the grain, it should be washed first to make sure and saponins (the protected outer layer) are re- moved because they can cause it to have a bitter taste. To prepare it, take one cup of uncooked quinoa, combine it with two cups of water, allow it to boil, and then simmer for 10-15 minutes. When done, the seeds should be very white or almost translucent. It can be served hot just like oatmeal or cold in a salad. Add nuts, berries, flax seed or veggies to it for a healthy and delicious dish. Enjoy! HQuinoa: A Super Food

I am a vegetarian and haven't had any problem with any vegetarian forms of protein--you can do tofu, tempeh, Morningstar soy products, Greek yogurt, low-fat cheese, etc.

Wow! Heartfelt congratulations, PotterGirl!!!! :-) Way to represent the vegetarians, too!

I absolutely agree that our food supply is whatever the opposite of "natural" is. I work with analytical chemists of all stripes, and some (very few, here in the States) do food analysis. In other parts of the world, there is constant routine testing going on...not so much here. A few recent examples that I have come across: - ractepamide is a beta blocker that routinely gets fed to pigs to produce leaner meat. The practice is completely legal here, but banned in the EU as well as in Russia and in China (!!!). The lab I worked with is just now starting to offer this test because the local pork producer is interested in exporting pork to China...when they were selling to US vendors, noone cared - antibiotics are routinely fed to farm animals at subtherapeutic levels because the animals will gain more weight (e.g. produce more $$ on the market). Again, that practice is banned in Canada and the EU but perfectly legal here. The main concern is that these animals help with the generation of antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella, E. coli etc. - and lest you think vegetarians are much better off, the USDA is just now getting around to starting some (extremely low level) testing to verify pesticide residue levels in "organic" produce. Once a producer is certified "organic", the testing sort of just "went away", it's really an honor system at this point. Again, labs only sell testing services for produce destined for export, noone seems to care about the American consumer Having said all that, I am not aware of any evidence linking veterinary drug and pesticide residue to obesity and I would caution against "chemophobia"...not all chemicals are evil and it takes some research and/or education to sort the bad from the good. It would, however, be nice if Americans as a culture would care more about their food than its price and its convenience

Sorry you are going through this. Do you try to eat more frequently to compensate? When you say 3 bites, is that 3 bites of dense protein, or anything? Can you drink protein shakes? I am just a week short of being 5 months out, and I definitely don't have that issue. I can eat about 4 to 5 small veggie meatballs with a little (like less than a tbsp) of ricotta and a little parmesan or 2 soy protein sausage patties with cheese (I'm a vegetarian). At first I could only eat about 2 to 2.5 veggie meatballs, so my capacity has increased. I can eat about a cup of salad, but not if I am eating protein, so I usually eat veggies as snacks. I would definitely talk to your surgeon.

So, there are brands that are commonly certified like Nature's Own or Vermont Bread Company and many others. Here's a link to a page that shows the symbols you can look for on packaging. http://www.kosher-directory.com/supervisions.htm#USA Odds are that many items you already buy are certified; you just didn't know it because you aren't looking for them! In any case, there would be a symbol and then the letter "P" or the word "Pareve" after the symbol. This verifies that the bread is non-dairy. It is also becoming more common for a company to say when their product is vegetarian or vegan right on the packaging - so perhaps shopping the organic/health food section of your supermarket will give you some more options if you find your regular bread shelves lacking. Or just bake your own bread and don't add milk or butter. That's what I do, and my kids are so spoiled that they won't even eat the store bought stuff anymore. ~Cheri

Thank you both very much, this is very helpful and mind relieving! We are vegetarian, so a vegan kitchen is perfect!

I love love love their salad with grilled veggies on top. Sometimes I add cheese (I'm a vegetarian), but I think you can get it with grilled chicken. I have come to think of pasta as tasteless, a waste of space (I'm post-op), yucky/gummy, and low bang for the buck given its lack of nutritional value. I feel so good putting a healthful tasty salad in my body instead. And everyone at the table will probably look at your salad longingly, wishing they had ordered it. You will feel great after eating it, too! I would pass on the bread or maybe have half a piece with the dipping oil bc that's the best part (since you are pre-op--post-op, you won't want it). You can get a side of sautéed spinach with garlic (not sure if it's on the menu, but they will do it), which is sooo good and good for you. Most of all, I hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones!

I am sure that is frustrating but luckily it shouldn't last forever..... A few years ago I decided quite quickly that I was going to become a vegetarian, mid summer aka BBQ season. It was absolute torture every time my neighbor would BBQ I would sit and longingly stare out the window at his dogs as they ate the left over rib bones (exaggeration, but you get my point) It was very important to me not to eat meat so I didn't cheat, not once. The first couple months were rough, but then something amazing happened..... It didn't matter anymore, the smell didn't bother me, I didn't start drooling, and what was even more amazing, was around 6 months later I had a cheeseburger for the first time and something I used to love.... tasted like cardboard, wet, greasy, cardboard.

Ok just recorded my daily totals I saved calories so I could eat something at the wharf I ended up having prawns (4) with a bit of cocktail sauce. Total today 461... I was down an additional pound today so it will be nice if that sticks tomorrow also. FYE you make vegetarianism look yummy!! Sweetums, yes nights are the worse for me too. I don't know if that part will ever get easy!

I've been eating tomato soup made with milk, vegetarian vegetable made with water and strained, split pea, chicken broth,

My brother is a vegan and I know several vegetarians, and that is not a ticket to thinness. But, they are more aware of what they put in their mouths than others. I think it is a commitment to making the right choices just like getting the LB is a commitment to a different, healthier lifestyle. We are at a point of surgery to make this choice stick, I'd say that's a big commitment and requires some soul searching and being honest with ourselves. I love all those fast food places, but like someone said, I like the idea of a long, healthy life more. Or something like that. Good thoughts!!

I am almost 7 months post-op & I think I might have developed a problem with dairy. I've only noticed over the past couple of weeks. I am a vegetarian so I use dairy a lot towards my protein. I eat A LOT of cheese sticks. I haven't needed the antacids that they give you post-surgery for months. I use almond milk in my coffee and smoothies. I don't think that it is an acid problem as I have no upset with coffee, tomato sauce, oranges, etc. I had 2 string cheeses for lunch & I have been in horrible pain for the past couple of hours...acid reflux up to my throat, a lot of burping & gas. (Gross, I know. Sorry.) I'm just wondering if anyone else has developed problems with dairy. I'm also wondering what I am going to do for protein of I cut out my cheese & yogurt. My NUT is very supportive of a vegetarian diet, but not so much a vegan diet. Any experience or recommendations?

I think if you eat too much of anything you can get fat - except maybe celery, it would be pretty hard to get fat off celery - but it is a lot easier to get fat eating a smaller amount of bad food than it is to get fat eating huge amounts of good food. There are loads of things that I love that arent necessarily bad when taken individually but when you add a cream sauce they become calorific, steak au poivre with asparagus, sweet potatoes and sauted baby carrots springs to mind....... I have to say as well that my step sister is a vegetarian and her love of cheese definitly, as she will admit, is reflected in her butt size

you guys are wonderful... i truly appreciate each and ever one.... My meaning is .. and cassy is right (hope i can call u Cassy) I have a cuz named Cassandra... love her.... anyway. I think to me.. its more of wanting people, like me... , to look deep inside and evaluate what they really are doing. and you all are right... i guess if one over eats anything it could be a bad thing.. my experiences with my son's GF's and friends that are "vegetarians" and "healthy" eaters are that they are all very aware of everything they eat. I have never met an over weight one... but that's just me. some people .... I think.... this is just me talking here.... and lying to them selves about what they truly are doing to their bodies that's .... Really making them fat. dose that make since...? sometimes i know what i want to say... but my words don't come out like i want them too.... lol

I think there is some real truth in here that when we hold up a mirror to ourselves, if we're getting WLS we make poor food choices. I agree with Cassandra tho, organic food and healthful options (vegetarians, vegans, etc) can still lead people to being overweight if portions are out of control. Maybe you're including that within the poor choices - because chronic overeating is for sure a poor choice - but I don't think it's absolutely always the case that McDonald's is at the root of the problem - portion control can be the root issue as well. (all that said, i don't mean to misrepresent myself. i love fries. i've just decided i love me and the idea of being around for a long time a lot more.)

So just a little vent... I think i have been pretty good on here lately with keeping my mouth shut. lol... i can think what i want... Anywho. The amount of people come on and saying they are getting them band to "control" there eating... ONLY.... Because they eat "healthy". People that eat healthy are not fat.... have you ever seen a fat vegetarians ... or a fat organic eating person? I haven't... Those people eat Healthy.... WEEEEEE are fat because WEEEEEE eat McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell..... Just because you go to Wendy's and order a Salad to go with your burger instead of the fries... Dose not make you a "healthy" eater.....What kind of delusional world do some living in. And i'm going to the all caps now...... IF YOU ATE HEALTHY, YOU WOULD NOT BE NEEDING THE LB..... WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!! We all needed the LB because we ALL eat too much and eat not the best choices. Be real people.... if you can't come here, in a forum, of fat and former fatties and be honest... what do you have too look forward too. I tell you what you have too look forward too.... blaming your band for not losing weight. I know why i have gainded back 7 lbs in the past few months.... because 1. my hubby lost his job and has been home and I have been making bad choices.... 2. i have been eating way too much junk. 3. I need to get my butt back too the gym. End vent... Peace and Love...

Hello I have become pretty much vegetarian and juicing vegetables has helped me lose ! I go to the gym every night and lift weights I also never eat more then 1200 cals a day and eat extremely clean!!!

Hello, sleevers! I am so happy I found this place and looking forward to sharing our journeys. I've been overweight for 30 years (since age 8), but never considered WLS. I've gone on every diet, tried every weight loss med, been a vegetarian, a raw foodist, and an exercise nut. I never lost more than 15 pounds. I am capable, however, of gaining 30 pounds in a month. I do not have PCOS, thyroid issues, or even insulin resistance - my body just doesn't want to let go of weight. Most recently, I spent four months in residential treatment for binge eating disorder, where I was treated like an anorexic. They took away all my exercise (had JUST gotten into a regular cardio/resistance routine), told me it was ok to eat Cookies, candy bars, and ice cream every day (so I did - all three - every day), and drilled into me that there was no reason to be afraid of food (I never had been, other than the fear of not having enough). I gained 20 pounds in treatment and was told I hadn't gained at all (we were not allowed to weigh ourselves or know our weekly weights). The experience was great for my head, as I learned many valuable tools for dealing with my emotions, analyzing my thoughts and behaviors, and communicating with others, but bad for my body. I've gained 15 more pounds since leaving treatment in November. I still overeat - I just don't feel guilty about it anymore. I've never felt like a fat person and I know I'm not meant to be this heavy. Now I'm starting to have knee and back pain on a daily basis and I have bruises all over my body from bumping into things (I'm that unaware of my recently increased size). I resisted the idea of surgery because it was unnatural, like many people who've never struggled with weight, I thought I just wasn't trying hard enough. Then I realized it was no different from having LASIK or dental work; I am grateful for every day I wake up and don't have to put on glasses or deal with contacts to see, and I'm glad I have straight teeth, not the crooked, overcrowded mess that would have resulted if I'd never had those teeth pulled. Now I see WLS for what it is - a viable shot at freedom. Thanks for reading.

I am a vegetarian 5 days post op. This first week has been very hard. There is no protein in vegetable broth, so I add a little none flavored protein to it before warming it up. But now I can't stand to even look at veggie broth. I'm not getting almost any calories right now. There has to be something I can eat while in the liquid stage. Once I am in the mushy stage, I will be doing a thousand times better. There is so much more I can eat in the mushy stage. Until then, it's horrible. I'm sorry. Research it better if you can. There has to be more that we can drink the first week.

Having surgery June 26th, and as a vegetarian, I'm concerned by the first month of liquid or soft food. Has anyone tried some of the "Greens+" or similar products in powder form to add to your daily protein drinks?