What to cook?

OK here is my problem. Does any one out there have a picky meat and potatoes husband? My husband although very proud that I have decided to have weight loss surgery asked me the other week, what does this mean for him? (as far as food and eating)  That got me thinking! What does this mean for him and my daughter. I dont want to have to cook 2 or 3 different meals each day. right now I am under the supervision of a nutritionist, breakfast and lunch are easy since I am at work and only need to fend for myself, when I get home it is another story, my husband wants steak and baked potatoes, or pork chops,etc. I can handle that now and weight everything I put in my mouth, Most days I will only eat a salad, but that will get old. Any suggestions on keeping my kitchen a kitchen and not a Denny's restaurant.

Thanks

Patty

I personally think that Meat a potatoes couldn't be better. Buy leaner cuts of meat, Chicken, turkey chops, and even steak and pork chops if that's really what he wants. Make a potato and a veggie.  Use less butter and less salt ( both of which can be added at)  the table if he wants and just eat the meat and the veggies.

You can even make some casseroles and crock pot dishes  that WLS Friendlyl.  One of my favorite recipes is:

Taco Soup

ground turkey ( or beef)
1 can corn
1can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1/2 -1c chicken(or beef) stock

Don't drain anything  brown the meat along with the seasoning packet.  Once it is cooked add in the cans of beans and corn and tomatoes.  Stir well and let it simmer for about 1/2 hr to 45 minutes.Add chicken stock to it to determine how soupy you want it... DELICIOUS.

It takes 2 seconds to put together and everyone always loves it.  Thubby can eat it like a sloppy joe  in a hogie roll, or with a handful of tortilla chips  shredded cheddar cheese and some sour cream on top.

Also, I like this no name dish:


2-3 lbs of chicken pieces ( i like dark meat for this one because breasts tend to dry out for me)
1 can of black beans <-- an you tell I LOVE black beans
1 can of diced tomatoes with mild green chilis<-- these are not hot
Seasoning salt  or Adobo to taste
1c Chicken stock

Rinse and drain the beans. Season the chicken and then arrange them on the bottom of the pot. Over top, pour all of the rest of the ingredients together in a crock pot and let simmer on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-9 hours while you are at work. I've also made this one with rice in it which I didn't like personally because the rice got too soggy in the crock pot the whole time.


For the hubby, serve over a bed of rice cooked separately.  The chicken itself  and the beans are a filling meal.  If you aren't a bean person, you can forego them all together or use baked beans and chicken with no tomatoes.

I hope you like them!

Now those sound wonderful. I may have to stop at the store on my way home from work and pick up those things for dinner tonight.  Thanks

For several months following your surgery you will have to cook different meals for yourself because you won't be able to tolerate dense meats and a lot of other foods, but eventually you will be able to cook for your family and enjoy most of what they eat. For the first few months it was tough for me because my mother lives with us and does most of the cooking, and she couldn't understand that I wasn't able to eat most of her cooking - it took me some time to get her used to it. Now I do a lot of the cooking and make sure there are things I can eat with them too.

I still drink protein shakes and eat protein bars, but I can also sit down at restaurants and with friends and family and find good things to eat - its as huge learning process but you will get there, and hopefully your family will understane and be supportive while you find your way thru good healthy foods that you can eat and tolerate. My mother honestly thought I was starving to death the first few months, but she finally got over that.

Wish you all the best. Kathy

My guy is very meat and potatoes and I didn't have a problem.   Personally I could eat meat right at the pureed stage.  Alot can't.  For me, it was pork I couldn't eat until about 5 mos. out and salmon I still can't 3 years later.  Whatever the dinner for the family I just put a little of it in the blender for me with a spoonful of gravy to moisten it.  You want to avoid drippings  but you should start buying leaner cuts anyway and probably won't have much and what you do have, just drain/sop with a paper towel.   You need to do a couple shopping runs where all you do is read labels so you can make a list of what brands you use conform to your dietary guidelines and what brands you need to find a new substitute and try the options out on him.   Some here have even volunteered to go with a newbie for consult.  Maybe you can find someone nearby you who will meet up w/you.   Just ask.  We post plenty of recipes online and Liz even does a cooking class monthly.  

These are things I use....the only tomato sauce I'll use is Classico, the only gravy Franco American brand, the only hamburger meat 90% or more lean, steak is Filet Mignon.  Safflower oil for baking and sauteing (olive if its for something Italian).   Smart Balance for spreading butter, I can't believe it's not butter for spraying butter on corn.  Pam, of course.  Sea Salt if you have to use salt at all (I switched to seasonings like McCormicks cracked peppercorn, w/crushed red pepper, bay leaves, onions and celery on my roasts, french herb seas. on roasted chicken, etc.).  Taco seasoning, hot sauces in hamburger meats for mexican flavoring.   1% milk only (2% gives me the runs, FF makes my tummy nauseous); its an experiment.  Diabetisweet Brown and White sugar for baking.  Avoid products made of "concentrates" like tomato paste and some tomato sauces that say made from tomato concentrates.  You will dump on those.  Anything concentrate (which will include alcohol if you are a drinker) will hit your pouch quick and hard and you will dump.  

Sorry to run on....it's a starter for you, there's so much more but asure the hubby he won't starve. 

my hubby is tyhe cook of the house, but I would ask your family to work with you.  Send them to a cooking class or show them how to prepare, or prepare meals on Sunday and freeze for the week.
Spring and summer is here...meat on the grill is great!

Once you can eat "normally" it's quite easy. But as another poster said, you will have to seperate your meals for awhile.

We pretty much eat a meat, a pasta or potato, and a veggie every meal. We are huge grillers. WE grill 5-7 times per week even through snow and rain. LOL

I just eat the meat and veggies. Sometimes only the meat if it's one of those days my pouch can't handle too much food. And my SO and kids still have an extra side dish. I also try to make the pasta or side a little healthier in case I am craving some myself. But there are nights that instant garlic mashed potatoes take over........LOL

my husband does not eat any veggies other than:  lettuce, raw carrots (and that is RARE), potatoes.  Absolutely no fruit. Absolutely no seafood.

I have never had any problems with meat so it has worked out fine for us.  I make a veggie for me and a size for him.  Sometimes I eat a bit of the side, sometimes I don't.  It depends on the day and the mood I'm in.

And on occassion at 16 mos out I'd be lying to you to say I never have something that I'm not supposed to have.  Do I have a slice of pizza?  Sure.  Have I had chinese take out?  Absolutely.  Now, it's a small portion and maybe once a month but that's it.  And for the first 8 mos I was as close to perfect as one could probably get while still being human.

You'll do fine.  You may have to separate your meals for a while - but even the pureed stages I would make meatballs for the hubby and just puree mine up.  Just start to buy lower fat things and leaner cuts of meat.  In fact - my hubby has even started using fat free half and half and things like that because it's what I buy and he didn't notice the difference in that so I keep buying it.

Good luck!

Pam

Like Pam I have a fairly picky hubby - but we eat the same dinners. The first stages you will have to make accomodations for your needs but after that we ate the same things! HE has even gotten used to not having a "carb" with dinner everynight. I will make him noodles or rice and maybe I'll have a forkfull or 2, but I stick to meat and veggies. He has totally gotten used to sugar free and low fat things and even requests them now! It is secretly a diet for them too! lol

Good LUck!

Liz

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You guys are fantastic. Your tips and ideas will be put to good use. I did stop on the way home last night and picked up the items needed to make the Taco soup, but had a PTO meeting and was rushed for dinner so I just ate a salad (the usual) hubby and daughter fended for themselves. So the plan is to make it for dinner tonight if I ever get out of work.

We are big grillers also, I heard all the horror stories on how most people can not tolerate red meats after surgery, I am hoping I am not one of those people. My husband is a hunter and an avid fisherman, so the freezer is usually filled with deer meat and fish I will keep my fingers crossed that I will still be able to tolerate those foods.

Thanks again for sharing.