Finding healthy alternatives for junk food cravings

It's called "junk food" for a reason. You mentioned that you weren't a good cook, well, now's the time to start experimenting with new things like zucchini chips, parmesan crisps, roasted edamame or chick peas or cauliflower. Search Pinterest, The World According to Eggface, Bariatric Foodie & use MyFitnessPal to export the recipes for the nutritional information you need so you can stay the course. Good luck!

You can be my taste-tester. Might want to stay close to the bathroom, though. If my own cooking makes me gag, I can't imagine what it would do to someone else.

"Practice Makes Perfect" goes the saying! LOL....you can make this work.

Quinoa Chips have been a real help for me.  I was craving crunchy and salty but don't want to regress at all.  Quinoa chips have a fair amount of protein in them as well.  1 serving = approx. 20 chips, 140 cal and 9g of protein.  They've given me back a satisfying salty crunch!

Awesome! Where do you get them? Do they come in flavors (like sour cream & onion or cheddar?)

I get them from a great local store but since it's not a chain it doens't really help you.  They are made by a company called Simply 7 and they have an online store locator HERE.  I like the sea salt ones because I was craving the crunchy salt thing but they do have a cheddar version and barbecue verions.  Hope you find them near you!!

Looks like they sell them at Harris Teeter! I'll have to check it out the next time I'm there....probably wednesday.

Yea!  I didn't add that they have a sour cream and onion variety too.  Let me know what you think!  They've been a God-send for me.  Hope you like 'em!

I refuse to daydream about the old things I used to eat - there are so many awesome things that we get to eat, why mourn the loss of crap like boxed macaroni? Start looking up meal ideas or recipes for things that fit within your post-op eating plan, I've found that a lot of Paleo style recipes are great and can easily be adjusted for our portion sizes. I take just as much pleasure from making and plating a beautiful little piece of steak or fish and some roasted vegetables or wilted greens as I ever took from gorging at a ****ty buffet restaurant or eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's at home alone. 

Everyone has a different opinion on the snack/don't snack spectrum.  I'm only about 8 months out, but here's what I keep around to snack on.

-cheese (everyone keeps cheese, right?)

-nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews)

-rice crackers (15 of them are 100 calories and have a very satisfying crunch - I really need that sometimes)

-small squares of dark chocolate (i've never been a chocoholic but when my Aunt Flo visits, I get an occasional craving.  I have a dark chocolate bar in my kitchen that i've been eating on for 5 months... LOL )

-skinny pop ****ep myself honest with the 100 calorie bags)

-PICKLES - all kinds...cucumbers, okra, cauliflower, garlic, carrots, onions, green beans, cabbage...if you can pickle it, i will eat it.  also a very satisfying crunch! 

Seriously... don't knock the pickles.  They've saved me several times! :)

Good luck!