Protein

Hi everyone, I feel like I am running out of options to get my protein in especially for breakfast. I am already at the point where eggs taste like I do not like cottage cheese, and I want to eat (normal) breakfast food, but it seems like that's mostly carbs. Any suggestions. Also in the lunch category, I usually bring tuna, or pastaless lasagna, and that's gettin a littl' old too. I am not yet able to totally tolerate chicken, so I'm afraid to bring it for lunch. I need to broaden my food thing. I cannot tolerate any of the protein shakes, powders...they are just too grainy for me. Maybe I need a trip back to the nutrionist. I do eat yogurt and sometimes some almonds; cheese doesn't appeal anymore either cuz I think I burned out on it in the beginning. I want to eat "new" stuff! Also veggies of any kind give me horrible gas! Any suggestions? JA

Try the Carb Countdown smoothies and milk witht the cereal. You can get some of the low carb cereal. Atkins brand isn't that bad. The smoothies are great on the go meals or snacks and pach a whopping 13g of protein. I also try to eat a protein bar a day. My favorites are Detour bars and Tri O Plex bars. I personally find these to be the best tasting ones. Detours have 15g and Tri O Plex has 32g, (Impossible to eat a whole bar at one sitting for WLS people) I try to do a half of bar a day. Egg beaters with Kraft 2% cheese makes great omelettes and is a great source of protein. I eat a variety of lunch meats, meats. I spent a couple of hours at the grocery store really reading labels and have not gotten bored yet. If you miss your sandwiches and are lucky enough to have a Pannera around. They have a great selection of fresh baked low carb bread that has only 6g of carbs a slice. Toast this to make a half of sandwich and you'll be in heaven. Good luck. Let us know how you make out and if you find any good things to try. Maggie

JA: I know what you mean. I finally found a protein shake I really like. I usually have 2 a day to get in 50 grams of protein (74 grams including the CarbCountdown milk). Food really does not interest me lately. I live on: Protein shakes CarbCountdown yogurt and smoothies cheese almonds deli peppercorn turkey Q-smart bars Chili Tuna (small amounts on occasion) I have not thrown up. I can not even look at chicken!!! I am very picky that is why pre op I lived on CARBS!!! Since they are a trigger food for me I have avoided them post op. No bread, cereal or potatoes for me low carb or not. Let me know if you want me to bring you in a scoop of the Zero Carb Isopure Vanilla to the meeting tomorrow so you can try it. I add 1 teaspoon of No sugar added Nestle chocolate powder too. It is yummy. Then shake away. Chryssie

Chryssie, I hear ya. Carbs were my best friend prior to surgery. I find now that I can have a few here and there and not miss them to the point that I gorge on them. (Thank you God) This was mine and my husbands biggest concern about having the surgery. I eat very little bread and potatos, but once in awhile I do treat myself. I didn't start until I really needed something different. Maggie

Hi JA I've tried almost all of the low-carb cereals and find that the one I like the best is Total Protein 3/4 c is 110 cal, 2.5g fat, carbs 7 net and 14 g protein I mix it with 1/2 c milk which adds 4 g protein breakfast is difficult for me too since I can't eat eggs and really don't like cottage cheese. lunch is usally a roll up of some sort of lunch meat & cheese. have you tried making homemade chicken soup. I find if the chicken is really tender and moist its okay for me. One of the first things I made was in the crockpot, chicken, can of crushed tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions etc. It was soooo good and went down ok, although I made enough to have for a month It will get easier as you're able to add more things. So hang in there!!! Hope to see you tomorrow at the support group, Mary Lou

Hi JA, I too can't handle the protein drinks. For breakfast I tried not to have too many eggs a week so I alternate. I have tried Carb Well Cereal, it comes in golden and cinnamon. I have that with 4 oz's of Carb Countdown fat free milk and its 17 g of Protein. Also between meals I try to get in a glass of Carb Countdown Chocolate Milk which is 12 g of protein per 8 oz's. I just tried an atkins low carb high protein cereal today. The Banana Nut Harvest. It was ok. For Lunch I enjoy Low Fat Ricotta Cheese with any type of sauce, could be your own meat sauce with a low fat string cheese melted in it. It tastes Yummy. Like the insides of a stuffed shell. Also they have low fat Peanut Butter. Like Atkins brand is good. If you can handle part of a Banana (1/2 of a small one). Put a serving of peanut butter on it. Nice treat with some added protein. If I come across anything else I'll send them your way. Good Luck hun. ~Julie~

Hey All, Just thought I would throw mytwo cents here on the food suggestions. First off though I have a comment on protein drinks. I am not sure everyone is aware but if you are mixing your own there is a way to mix it so it is not so grainy or lumpy. Also the ones made with water are often more tolerable than the milk based ones. That said here are some suggestions for easy foods to eat (at least they were for me!) Home made Turkey chili.....got hooked on that for lunch many a day. I say home made because then you can control what you put in it, don't forget that beans are a good source of protein. Cereal is good, nothing wrong with plain ole Cheerio's if you don't like the other low carb cereals. Add a tablespoonful of powdered milk to your regular low fat milk for some extra protein (or flavorless protein powder) Ricotta Cheese is a good source of protein. Mix with some flavoring (sugarless of course!) or a bit of extract or some fruit. If you aren't into sweet try some mixing in some horseradish sauce or garlic salt or chili sauce. Alot of people prefer ricotta to cottage cheese. Atkin's Crunchers are a life savor for me. I miss the salty potato chips so these replace the nasty carbs with Protein!! Crab meat was something that I craved early on and was easy for me to eat. For some reason I was really into crab cakes Fish......yes folks there is alot of other fish out there besides tuna and shrimp... couldn't have proved that by me pre-op. I have found Trader Joe's to be a great resource for fish that is often stuffed with things other than bread stuffing. Had some wonder stuffed fillet of flounder (crab meat and cheese) last week. Have to go back for more! Anyway hope that helps some. Of course I have a million ways to cook chicken or turkey if anyone is interested. Linda

What great suggestions, I am printing this post! Thanks.