www.wlslifestyles.com- well stocked bariatric kitchen

saw this post on the lapband board- very good info, so figured I would re-post it

Remember, a properly stocked bariatric kitchen starts with a good grocery shopping list. Use the list of suggestions below to stock your bariatric kitchen.

A well stocked bariatric kitchen has the proper tools at hand:

• Measuring spoons and cups
• Food scale
• Individual food storage containers of various small sizes
• Ice cube trays for freezing small portions
• Snack size zipper lock bags
• Plastic eating utensils for travel/work

A well stocked pantry has:

• Canned tuna (or pouches) in water, canned lump crabmeat
• Canned chicken
• Seasoning blends (i.e. Mrs. Dash)
• Apple cider and/or balsamic vinegar
• Artificial sweetener (i.e. Splenda, Equal, Stevia, Sweet n’ Low)
• Light or low-fat mayo, mustard
• Low calorie, low-fat salad dressings for seasoning and marinating
• Individual sizes of packaged fruit packed in juice
• Canned vegetables
• Canned diced tomatoes, jarred tomato sauce, salsa
• Canned beans/legumes (garbanzo, kidney, black, red, fat-free refried)
• Low sodium broths and soup bases (chicken, beef, vegetable, seafood)
• Whole grain, high fiber, high protein pasta
• High fiber, protein rich hot cereal packets (i.e. oatmeal, multigrain, farina, oat bran, etc.)
• High fiber, high protein cold cereal
• Whole grain crackers (such as WASA, Ry-Vita, Kashi, low-fat Triscuits)
• Crystal Light, Diet Snapple and other low calorie beverages or powder mixes
• Carnation Instant Breakfast, no sugar added
• Pre-made diet gelatin cups, diet pudding cups

A well stocked bariatric freezer has:

• Individually frozen shrimp in a bag
• Skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
• Lean chopped meat frozen in small snack size zipper top bags
• Sugar-free ice pops, sugar-free fudge pops
• Bags of frozen fruit pieces (no sugar added) for smoothies and snacking, either bought already frozen, or freeze your own sliced banana, berries or grapes to add to yogurt or cereal

A well stocked bariatric refrigerator has:

• Pre-washed and cut fruits and vegetables (try the supermarket salad bar for variety)
• Yogurt and yogurt smoothies (small containers, low-fat, artificially sweetened)
• Part-skim ricotta cheese
• Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese (small containers)
• Low-fat cheese wedges/mozzarella “string cheese” sticks (i.e. Laughing Cow brand, Polly-O brand)
• Pre-shredded low-fat cheese blends to boost flavor and protein of foods
• Deli sliced turkey, ham or chicken breast
• Fresh eggs, hard boiled eggs and egg substitutes
• Pre-cooked grilled chicken or turkey strips
• Skim and 1% milk
• Assorted pre-washed and cut salad green blends
• Low-calorie salad dressing/spray dressings
• Imitation Butter in spray form (such as I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter)

Be creative…

Need some creative, healthy easy combinations for meals or snacks? The challenge is to keep food choices creative and flavorful; inspiring your taste buds is crucial in order to keep you interested in healthier food choices.

• Romaine lettuce leaf wrapped around 2 slices deli turkey with mustard or low-fat salad dressing
• 4 oz. fat-free yogurt with 2 oz. fresh berries and 1 Tbsp. fiber rich cereal
• Part skim mozzarella stick wrapped in sun-dried tomato slice or roasted red pepper (not packed in oil)
• 2 oz. seared tuna steak with low-fat dill sauce (fat-free yogurt, capers, dill and lemon juice)
• Laughing Cow low-fat cheese wedge spread on multigrain WASA cracker
• 2 oz. fat-free milk, 2 oz. fat-free yogurt, 2 oz. fruit of choice a few ice cubes, sprinkle sweetener to desired taste and pulse in blender.
• Freeze half of small banana or 10 frozen grapes
• Hot cereal (one packet) mixed with water or skim milk, artificial sweetener and fresh fruit. Or try hot cereal add vanilla extract, artificial sweetener and cinnamon.
• 3 oz. grilled chicken over salad greens and low-calorie dressing of choice, lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

Thanks Beth! This is very very helpful! You're awesome! Jules

Great information, thanks for sharing Beth!

Laura

Yes thanks for sharing the info, Beth!

well.. that is pretty much my kitchen at home! thanks for the info!

Thanks Alexia,

I guess I am on the right track.   I guess, I will have to get the I can't believe it's butter becuz right now I use regular butter, when I do use it (not very oftern).

Robin

I really recommend the spray form of it!!  Not only do you tend to use less- it is FANTASTIC for buttering corn on the cob- and it is getting that season

Thanks Alexia,

I will do that!

Robin