Cooking for the fam, post-op

[KaiserKid 81]

Hi guys,

I'm just curious as to how many people here are the primary cooks in their family.

It's just me and my husband, but I do all the shopping and 95% of the cooking. He can make eggs, grill (which we only do in the summer) and easy stuff like a frozen pre-made skillet dinner. Handling meat is very scary for him (LOL). I'm not bitter, I enjoy cooking and it's been a hobby of mine for a number if years. My favorite is making big Sunday dinners for us and maybe a few friends.

So that being said, I know a lot is going to change once I have VSG (scheduled for 11/11). For a while my husband and I will probably be eating different things, but after some time, I'm curious to see if the change in diet will change how I feel about cooking. I'm not "worried" that I'll miss the food itself, so-to-speak, but I guess that I'll lose a passion that I once had. For example, we are (way, way past) due to purchase a new cookware set, and I'm kinda sad and wondering if I should even bother since I'll kinda be just cooking for hubs and I'll be on liquids and soft foods for a while. For me, it's not just the food itself, but the creation and work that you put into the food that makes it enjoyable. Then again, this type of thinking is probably why I need WLS in the first place!

Any insight or tips as to how I can handle this transition better?

[sc101071 398]

I love to cook too. Even two months out. I made my wife the best French toast ever last night and stole only one bite. Turkey spaghetti for her last weekend. I have made veggie chili 4 times since surgery, and I came have that. If you want to, even during weight loss you can keep cooking.

[gina171 626]

I find that I appreciate cooking even more and enjoy it just as much. I am just much more mindful about what I cook, how I plan it, portion it, etc. I promised myself that if I could eat only a little bit, then EVERYTHING I put in my mouth will be delicious, no more just eating whatever is available and easy. So this makes cooking and eating more special, honestly.

And buy yourself that new cookware. It's a joy to use beautiful tools to make the food that you love. And you will find so much to love after surgery, I promise.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Pescador 1,374]

My thoughts are Simple is Better. A salad, microwaved potato, and nice little steak seared stovetop makes such an easy meal, and crockpot chili which you can freeze in smaller portions, always on hand. Pretty soon you can eat the chili. A patty of ground chuck steak seared stovetop for your hubby, with a side veggie. My husband loves a fajita style meal with steak, peppers and onions. We have no bread in our house, I love bread so I do not buy it. Good luck!

[Dub 9,922]

I avoided cooking.....or the kitchen in general for the weeks leading up to my surgery and the two months afterwards.

I have a teenage son that wasn't having that. He let me know in very well defined terms that is was well past time that I get my arse back in the kitchen and fire up the grill outside, too.

I listened to him.....next morning my two month post-op arse was walking around the supermarket...pushing a cart and constantly pulling up on my falling gym pants.

I loaded down the cart with various cuts and went home and started cooking every day for the next several days.....until he said he was good for a while....and could we order out for pizza, lol.

What I found was that I could continue to enjoy cooking stuff.....and preparing it....just like I always did.....hell, I could even taste test it for a bite or two and never really sit down for another meal. Thusly, I am finding more and more that I actually enjoy food so much more now.....12 months out.....than ever before. I get to make stuff that others enjoy and enjoy the flavors myself.....but not be guilty over it. I generally leave off the carbohydrates from my meals....except for raw greens and some cooked vegetables......but I fully enjoy the steaks, ribs, chicken, fish, shrimp and etc.

I am so grateful that my son snapped me out the kitchen-avoidance phase.

It is very gratifying seeing others happily share and partake in something you enjoy. Figuring out that food isn't evil....it's actually something that can a big part of family life....heritage, culture, memories.....it's something that you now have better control of...to put into perspective.

All things can be enjoyed....moderation and self restraint are now muscles you can flex at will. Go have fun !!!!!

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,444]

Cooking is cooking.

There are no limitations to creativity.

The acts of peeling and chopping and slicing are ever cathartic.

Good cookware opens more possibilities for creativity and pleasure.

Why look for ways to think smaller beyond your body?

[Diana_in_Philly 1,426]

I am the primary cook for my family. I didn't cook much the first 2 weeks -- hubby grilled for himself and the two teen daughters. Once I was cleared for purees, I went back in the kitchen. To be honest, in those first 2 weeks after surgery, I didn't want to be in the kitchen, I was tired and not feeling great. Now, I'm 7 weeks out. I'm cleared to eat a normal diet. I eat what they eat, but smaller portions. I roasted a chicken yesterday with roasted potatoes. I ate about 3 ounces of chicken thigh (without skin) and about 1/4 cup of roasted potatoes. Tonight we'll have chicken Soup from the left over roasted chicken. Tomorrow, probably steaks with asparagus. It's really no big deal once you get past your liquid diet. I just put everything I made for them into the blender for me when I was on purees.

Maybe meatloaf on Wednesday -- have to see if I have meatloaf mix in the freezer. Need to start planning my menus again so I'm not running like a maniac after work trying to figure out what to cook.

[Djmohr 6,965]

@@KaiserKid

I do 100% of the cooking in my family. I am Italian and my family was very used to the big sunday dinner scene at our house.

I will say that for the first 6 months, it took some getting used to. I began cooking less of the mixed meals like spagetti and meatballs and really focused on good quality Proteins and lots of veggies.

I found a whole new passion for cooking like this and now love to cook. At first my family missed things like Lasagna, Tater Tot casserole......things like this but I do still cook them very occasionally.

They got used to having a Protein, veggie and a salad instead of so much starch. I still cook potatoes and rice but it is maybe once a week or so and not every meal.

I also still bake for my family but it is less frequently. I would much rather have some fresh fruit.< /p>

You will get the hang of it. It will just take some getting used.

I literally find myself on pinterest everyday looking for recipes to makeover and make them friendly for me.

[blizair09 3,250]

I made my partner's Breakfast every morning while I was on the liquid stages post-op. It kept me sane. When I was able to resume having scrambled eggs, I began making eggs for both of us each morning.