Helpful ideas needed...please

Hi All... I will be starting regular diet next week as well as going back to work. I tend to not have alot of time to prepare meals. I would like to know if anyone has any meal ideas that will be weight loss friendly (as well as family friendly)? Also, when can we start eating cheese? and what kind/how much? I want to be sure to get in my protein and watch the sugars, fat and calories. I know I am asking alot, but I would appreciate any/all input! Take Care, Roxanne

Hi Roxanne Congratulations you are moving on to the next food stage..... I use low fat cheese....and I started it as soon as I move to food stage... You might try cooking once a week alot of food and pre-package it and freeze them so the family will always have dinner..... Are you taking protein shakes that helps with getting in your proteins.....make hard boiled eggs and leave them in the fridge and that them as you want disreguard the yok..... I still have yogurts, cottage cheese, cheese, chicken, veggies(sauted) and I have soups, I eat tuna fish, baked salmon, any thing that is protien...and I have protien drinks, and plenty of water.... What did your doc tell you should eat? Good luck Christine

Roxanne I make a bit pot of chili and use it for the week, So yummy and good protein/fiber! I pretty much ate cheese from the get go, ricotta, cheddar cottage etc. I take protein shakes with me. As for the family thing, I cook pretty much the samebut just eat a lot less of it. Thank goodness my kids are pretty good eaters and my husband will eat anything. I obviously don't have the starch I make for them. What types of things were you cooking before? Is it possible to still eat them just less? Good Luck, let us know how it goes. Tina

Hi Tina, Unfortunately I am a pasta, bread person...I have alot to adjust as far as that goes. Chili sounds sooooooooo good...so does cheese! I have been eating cottage with a little fruit in it. But I will be eating more soon (cheddar, ricotta, etc). I heard someone say they made lasagna without the noodles...everything else the same. I am going to try that too. Do you eat protein bars? If so, what do you look for as far as values go? I will definately keep in touch. Thank you for the support! Take Care, Roxanne

Roxanne OHMYGOD, so am I a pasta, bread person. Before surgery I pretty much ate those three meals a day unless I made a conscious effort not to which was pretty much never and then snack were usually candy so I know what you are going through. But I believe we can do this. I do protein shakes and bars religiously. I am definitely going to make this work. I use unjury shakes which are good for 8 oz you get 20 grams of protein and I can tolerate them. Protein bars I like the carb well peanut butter ones, somedays I put on more pb and it is so good. luckily I always loved pb. I try to get 10-15 grams of protein and as few carbs as possible some of those bars are a bit high in carbs so I try to stay away from them. No joke this stuff is hard whoever thinks it is easy is sadly mistaken. Good Luck to you. Keep on keepin on. Tina

Roxanne: I am not crazy about the protein drinks, but find the Atkins granola protein bars absolutely delicious! I have the peanut butter one and the chocolate chip one. They are 17 grams of protein and 200 calores, so you have to add the calories into your daily plan. But they have 0 sugars and only 2 sugar alcohols. Alot of the other brands have a lot of sugar, so watch out. But these are really good. Good luck. I am 7 weeks postop. Lynne

Lynne, Thanks for the input...I am not aware of what to watch for as far a sugar alcohols... I bought a chocolate peanutbutter bar that has 22gm protein, 270 calories, 80 calories from fat, 9gm total fat,0trans fat....but, it says on the side : total carbs 30gm Fiber - 2 gm Sugar alcohol -26 gm ---------------- total impact carbs 2 gm I dont understand what to look for per serving! I am 6 weeks post op... Take Care, Roxanne

Roxanne, I'm not on a regular diet yet, but today at our General Dollar store, I found these little individual packets of ham salad, turkey salad and chicken salad premade with a packet of crackers with them for only a buck. my hubby tried one tonight and it didn't look half bad. he said they were good. i also found potted meat, vienna sausages and all that kind of stuff too. these were 3 for a buck. just a thought. terri

Terri, Thanks for the info...will definately try. I meant to ask you before...how did you do your web page? I would like to create my own and I am a HUGE Pooh fan...it is so cool how you have the floating Eyores. I dont know if you are still on soft diet but, I enjoy deviled eggs with fat free miracle whip and a touch of mustard. Any more ideas...dont hesitate to share Take Care, Roxanne

Roxanne, Gina from obesityhelp did the website. Im not sure if you can click on her name on my profile to get ahold of her or not. They just did it for me. I tried a little scrambled eggs last night - mashed the crap out of them and chewed chewed chewed and threw up. Having a hard time getting anything down except the cream of wheat. I really want something else though. I might get adventurous and try other things but I get so nervous afraid it is going to hurt. I have to start planning on what to do as well since I go back to work in a week. I"m going to take those little packets of stuff I talked to you about before, and gonna see about mashing up some soups and stuff to get the protein in. Not really hungry but I know it's important to get the food in as well. Good luck and keep me posted, Terri