Protein foods

I often see postings about edamame, Fage yougurt, greek yogurt.  Can someone tell me exactly what is this?  I often look for this but cannot find it here in MS.  Also, if we drink SF kool-aid, Splenda is ok isn't it?

Edamame looks like a pea pod to me.  I never noticed it before I had my surgery but I know that a lot of grocery stores carry it, Kroger, Meijer, Wal Mart.  My sister told me that she saw it in Costco.  (I personally haven't tried this as I am not much of veggie eater yet.) Fage yogurt is a brand of greek yogurt - don't know much else about it as I am not a yogurt person but people rave about it all the time. Hope this helps.

GOOD QUESTION THERE THERESA,      I TO HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.... HERE IN GA THERE IS SOME I AMAGINE FLOATING AROUND BUT NOT TO MUCH TALK ABOUT IT IN THE DEEP SOUTH... GUESS IF IT AINT FRIED ITS NOT WORTH TALKING ABOUT LOL....I JUST SAW SOME EDAMAME'S IN THE GROCERY STORE AT WALMART THE OTHER DAY BUT HAVE NEVER TRYED THEM... DONT EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.. THE YOGURTS??? MAYBE SOMEONE CAN HELP ALSO IN THAT DEPARTMENT. BUT IM THE QUEEN OF SPLENDA AND EQUAL. LOL WELL THE WALMART BRAND... CANT AFFORD IT ANY OTHER WAY WITH THE WAY I USE IT...LOL... I DRINK TEA ALL THE TIME AND YES NOT DECAF SO USE IT ALL THE TIME... CAFFEINE IN MY WORLD IS OK BUT OTHERS CHOOSE NOT TO USE IT WHICH IS FINE. I SAY GET LIQUID IN WHICH EVER WORKS BEST FOR YOU... KOOLAIDS HAVE NO MANY FLAVORS OUT THERE NOW AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE FLAVORED PACKETS YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU AND MIX IN WATER BOTTLES.... IT CAN GET PRICEY BETWEEN BUYING WATER ALL THE TIME AND THE DIFFERENT PACKETS BUT IF YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE USING IT OR CAN AFFORD IT I SAY GO FOR IT.... ALSO I HAVENT BEEN TO A STORE YET THAT DOESNT HAVE THERE BRAND OF FLAVORED WATER PACKETS AND HAVE TO SAY ARE PRETTY GOOD.... HUGS MARGE

Edamame is a green soybean - the best place to find it year round is in the frozen section.  You can find them in the pod or already shelled.  In the pod you boil them in salted water and then pop them out of the pod and eat them.  Its kind of fun, don't eat the pod though.  Out of the pod they are nice to add to soups, stir fries, bean salads, or anything else you can think of.  They have a mild green taste and a nice texture when they are cooked correctly - sometimes if you don't cook them quite enough they can have a little crunch or bite to them.  They are high in fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients, as well as having soy protein in them.  You should be able to find them anywhere. Fage yogurt is one brand of greek yogurt, found at Trader Joes mainly.  You can often find Greek yogurt in the grocery store, but sometimes you need to go to higher end stores to find it - in the yogurt section.  Greek style yogurt is a lot thicker, and consequently higher in protein.  You can make a mock greek yogurt by draining regular plain yogurt in cheese cloth for an hour or so, but the real thing is richer and creamier.  I've seen a few different brands.  I am not  a huge yogurt person, but I've used greek yogurt to make sauces for grilled chicken, and also in place of sour cream.  Hope that helps.

Edamame is soybean pods.  You can buy them in the pod or shelled outside of the pod.  In one serving of the shelled edamame (1/2 cup) there is 11 grams of protein.  I've not had them since surgery but I hear people rave about them.   Fage is a brand name of greek yogurt.  There is much more protein in the greek yogurt and I bought some last week at publix.  I've heard people say you can get it at walmart, but I've not seen it yet.  I also saw it in a specialty foods store here in Pensacola.  It costs more than regular yogurt and has a different texture.  I'm not a big yogurt eater, but used it in place of sour cream the other day on my pork tenderloin. Any type of non-caloric drink is just fine following surgery.  I drink a ton of water and use crystal light but have been reaching for the Lipton's iced tea packets to add to the water lately.  I am a caffiene drinker but not a ton.  I don't worry about the caffiene.  I drink one cup of coffee in the morning and to counteract the dehydrating effects of the caffiene, I don't count it in my daily fluid intake.  I don't worry about  the tea caffiene because the mg of caffiene in those are in the mid twenties range versus over 300 mg for my 16 oz starbucks in the AM.  I also have packets of True Lemon and True Lime which is all -natural and I really like them for a change.  Here's a website to get a free sample: http://www.truelemon.com/sample.html You sound like you have a renewed energy to make this happen.  Getting back to the WLS rules you followed post surgery will definitely get you back on track.  Don't get discouraged though and lean on us all you need to!

I know everyone else answered already but really if you get the chance try this stuff! A lot of Japaneese resturants will have edemame on the menu for an appitizer. You can eat it hot or cold.  I love it! When everyone would want to go out after my surgery I'd order this and have it for my meal. Greek yogurt is another one of my favorites. I buy the Trader Joe brand and get the nonfat, it's got 22 grams of protein per cup! I add Splenda and berries to it, but at first when on soft foods I'd just put Splenda in it. I also use it now in place of sour cream. I don't buy Fage becasue the TJ's brand is cheaper and higher in protein. SF kool-aid is fine. Everyone reacts different to Splenda, but I do fine with it and use tons of it daily.

There are alot of really good posts on here already...But one food I find yummy and full of protein is chili...Turkey chili is just as good as hamburger chili and its low in fat and high in protein and I really like it....I am not at all good for protein advice....but the chili is good lol  Good Luck!  Estelle