What foods do you eat that you use like medication?

I don't know if this makes sense.  I was at my monthly local support group meeting on Tuesday.  Some of us brought up the idea that we use certain foods (post WLS) as medication.  For me, I use every single day; spinach, tuna salad, Wendi's Chili, almonds, and walnuts to suppliment my regular foods.  I will eat a balanced diet and get in all my vitamins.  Yet I will eat these must-have foods to make sure that I am supplementing my diet properly.  Question...Are there certain foods you do the same?  Brian

My initial question is what medicines are these foods supplementing?  I can see getting vitamins or minerals from some foods, but I don't see the medicinal value.  This time of the year I eat a lot of blueberries (about a pint a day) but that's about to end as blueberry season is over.  I had been eating a banana a day for potassium, but my primary doc nixed that and put me on a presciption dose of potassium.    I suppose you are getting iron from the spinach, and added protein from the other foods you mentioned.  You wouldn't want to here what this carb addict eats on a daily basis.  But, I am thankful for the WLS since I am maintaing a weight loss of over 200 lbs.

Your right, I don't think medication is the right word.  I think I should have phrased it more like which foods do you eat (every day), to be sure you are preventing malabsortion?  This one woman at the support group who was 1-2 months out stated that she could not find a whey protein shake she likes.  She said she just drank it because it needed to be done, not for enjoyment.  At that point it almost becomes a medication...Brian

Whey protein, because it is so easily absorbed by the body and a quick source of energy. I feel it is a necessity. It's also said to contain antioxidants which prevent colds and similar ailments.

Then, almond slices for boosting testosterone (or so it's said).

Chicken salad with really finely chopped chicken (That's right -"chop your chicken!") provides me with a steady source of protein during the day. Not as readily absorbed as whey protein, but a lot more solid and provides me with a steady protein delivery during the day.

Dave

Not as a medication, but yes, because I have to.  Whey protein definitely is something I do because I feel I should.  I have now found some flavors I like (several Syntrax Nectar flavors, Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Mint, plus, for example, EAS vanilla in coffee in the morning is really great), but I have about 10 pounds of whey in flavors I hate.  Early in the day, I try to use the ones I like.  When I get near bedtime and I've only had like 80 grams of protein, I often just grab a scoop of the nasty stuff and "bottoms up." To a lesser extent, beef jerky has taken on this role.  I started keeping it at my desk as a way to snack on protein without having to mix a shake.  I'd just grab an ounce in the afternoon if my lunch wasn't very high protein.  But like the whey, I've found flavors I like, and so some days I'm eating several ounces just for the taste.  Unfortunately, it's not cheap (though Sam's Club has helped cut the per ounce cost a lot). Lastly, on days I work out during lunch, I take 6-7 dried apricots with me to the gym wrapped in a napkin.  I hardly even notice the taste most times, I just eat one by reflex every ten minutes or so to keep up my energy level (also has the side benefit of potassium, carotenes, some other good stuff).

Well theres a real catch 22 because I heard a different issue.   Post-op, i learned eating is not a plesureable experience but medically necessary for my body to function.  Food became more of a reality as fuel and less as comfort. Do I still like to eat for pleasure?  Absolutely,... but not like before WLS.  it is a truely different mindset about what good for the body than what is comforting to the mind since going through that period of liquids and soft foods and the miserable transition to reincorporating meats. A shake she likes. Uhmmm,..... I haven't found that yet and I think its maybe a good thing.  The closest I've come is mixing them up at home and throw in a scoop or two of Whey with the fruit and ice.  We have a Tropical Smoothie but the splenda smoothies are $4-$5 and add another $3 for protein or meal replacement mix.  It gets pricey. Everything I eat is for its value, except when I'm fudging.  pills and protein or banana for breakfeast, protein and oatmeal snacks and water in the midmorning and mid afternoon.  Beans or somekinda protein based lunch and or dinner.  If I can't eat something that's OK, then I supplement with 2-3 protein bars.   I'm not trying to sound self-righteous, because I munch on doritos or eat a muffin once in a while.  I have come to really enjoy a penutbutter and banana on wheat sandwich, but since starting this journey, my focus on food is so different because of the reading, experienceing, the listening to what makes my body rspond and what makes it ill or sluggish and the great influnce of the advice and experience from the guys on the board here. Eating is fuel not comfort.  refocusing comfort eating into exercise, yardwork, singing, hammering or swinging the axe (especially if I want to just beat the @#$!&%@ out of something), researching and rreading about something that perplexes me have all really been a major awakening for me.  Gojg out to eat to be with people rather what we are going to eat because I'm not going to be able to eat much anyway;....SERIOUS change of mindset. Don't get too worried about findng pleasurable food if that is in anyway an underlying motivation.  It is a canerous mindset that will derail your efforts  long term.