How does WLS change...

Hey everyone:)  I hope all of you are enjoying this beautiful evening!!  I am cooking dinner and remembered a question that has been on my mind....How does WLS change the way you feed your family?  Have you all tended to cook healthier meals?    One worry I have is that I will not want to cook for them at all since I will not be able to eat it:)  Thanks for the warm welcome so far:)  Crystal

I found that I started to cook healthier because it made it easier. I refused to make a 2nd meal when my daughter was little so I adapted that to say they will eat healther because that what I am cooking. 

If they are little ones, they should adapt easier, grownups are harder to get to accept.

Bottom line, You do what you have to do to take care of your nutrition first, others a close second. 

That is only my philosophy,

Karen

Hello Crystal.....I am sure you will find many more healthy and wonderful dishes to prepare for you and your family as you go along..
When my family is here everyone eats what I can eat. When I am with them they cook things that I can eat. No one complains.
Overall they are all eating much healthier. I am always sending them new recipes.
You have a family in the home so that makes it alittle harder. I agree.... put you first....eating healthier won't hurt them. They will get used to it and not mind when they see how great you will be doing.
If my grandchildren see me eating something I don't normally eat they remind me of it right away!!

Remember protein first!!

Hugs sweetie.....connie d

I've always cooked pretty healthy meals for my family, so that didn't change at all. For me, the big change was not cooking AS MUCH as I did before. It was really hard to scale down and I'd always end up w/a TON of leftovers. By the time we could get around to eating them, they'd be almost spoiled, if not already. It's taken me a loooong time, but I've finally got it to where "if" there is anything leftover, it's maybe 1/2cup or less. That 1st year was hard for me as well because the smells would get to me. I also had to teach myself to stop sampling everything, because then I'd still try to eat w/the family and get so sick and be in pain. I still love to cook though, just in smaller amts.

I'm like Traci - my bigger problems have been learning to cook less and not to sample while cooking.  I didn't sample a lot pre-op, but now I don't want to sample at all so I try to have a guinea pig nearby for things that do need to be tested.

Hi there! I'm not betty crocker my any means. My family is lucky if they get a meal cooked by me. My husband does most of the cooking. I think at home we eat much healthier than we have in the past. Lots of chicken. Although there are meals that I have made for my family that I can have or don't want to try such as pasta. For me I do not have a hard time feeding them something different than me. I try to remember why I made a life change.

You will do great. Wishing you all the best.

My husband does all of the cooking.  There are 6 of us at home.  So before WLS he was used to making one or two things just to please everyone.  Now he makes a meal for everyone else and then I modify it accordingly.  Often times he will grill up a few veggie burgers and keep them in the fridge.  Or he will heat up some refried beans for me.  (Beans for dinner?  Yep.  Topped with a little cheese and salsa - my favorite!!)  It is a great opportunity to start breaking into new habits for the entire family.  Slowly replace items with healthier items.  Hopefully they won't notice much of a difference.

It works out just fine.  Takes a little time.  So be patient!  Good luck!

KellyAnn

I would say that in my house, the whole meal planning/cooking thing really has NOT changed much.  The way I EAT has changed a LOT!  If there is pasta or rice or potatos, I just have a very small amount, and focus on the protein.  I'd LIKE to get more creative with the cooking, try some of the fun recipes, but my family isn't very adventurous that way.  (Although they all LOVE LOVE LOVE Ali's rotisserie chicken soup!!!  YUMMM!!!)

Crystal,

It changed a little........We all eat more Protein and WAY less Carbs like potatoes & rice......We all just eat a little healthier with less portions.

One major change, we don't eat after supper......It was such a BAD habit to sit on the couch at 8-9 pm. and snack......No more.........

Hope that answers your question.......

Kelly

I don't have kids but I was nervous about this before sugery since my husband is such a picky eater.  He won't eat salad or fruit  (He has never even tried an apple or a pickle in his life!!!! ) so we use to eat a lot of rice, pasta or potatoes with our meals or I'd give up not knowing what to cook and we would just go out to eat.  Since surgery its surprised me that I like to cook again.  I stopped worrying about what he wanted and just made what I could eat which is usually just some type of protein source like steak or chicken. I haven't made rice, pasta or potatoes in nearly 7 months and he's survived!