But...what do you DIP?

I am researching and trying various recipes for the post-surgical eating plans. But something keeps nagging me...

For the pureed food stage, I have found a lot of recipes for dips. Cream cheese, beans, artichokes, spinach...just a ton of nice, lowfat recipes to dip something in.

But...what can you dip? Even after the pureed stage is over and you are moving into the "food that looks like food" stage, my usual standards for dipping fodder are no-nos - breadsticks and bread, tortilla chips...even raw vegetables like celery, which wouldn't be high on my "eat the protein first" list.

Are you supposed to just dig a spoon in?
Or am I missing something?

I found a recipe for homemade pita chips that are great for dipping. I couldn't really find anything else...sorry!

I've used dip as a sauce on chicken tenders (unbreaded ones, of course). Problem with most dips is that they are not really that high in protein. Even hummus and beans dips.

When making any kind if dip use plain greek yogurt in place of sour cream.  You will not know the difference and the protein is jacked up.

Good idea about the greek yogurt.

I dip most meat in something to keep it moist...  I think its working because (knock on wood) I have never had something get stuck or had the foamies yet.

I always have greek yogurt dips and guacamole and salsa handy... they are great for turkey meatballs, grilled chicken/turkey, shrimp.    Veggies are great as your final few bites after protein and they are yummy in dip too.  I even put salsa on my scrambled eggs.  I am a big fan of sauces and dips now!

Once you are on the regular bariatric diet some fun dippables are cucumbers (peel and deseed them!), jicama slices, raw edamame, cheese sticks and of course like others mentioned, meats. 

This summer I have been dehydrating zucchini in big slices to make chips and also in long strips to make 'noodles' for zucchini lasagne.  The chips are AWESOME!   My fav. so far are the ones that I soaked in flavoured vinegar and then sprinkled with a little sea salt.  Salt and vinegar chips!  Woot Woot!

Have fun with every stage you are at and get the most out of each one, don't just make it through till you get to the normal diet.  There are so many great things waitiing for you!

Molly

Dehydrated veggies??  What an awesome idea!!  Homemade veggie chips!    You can also use long slices of eggplant as lasagna noodles too.  There's a good recipe on the Food Network for eggplant lasagna using eggplant in place of noodles.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/danny-boome/eggplant-lasa gna-recipe/index.html

I was thinking that you could probably use some of the protein snacks like they sell at Nashua Nutrition (like their protein pretzels or chips) for dipping too.  

http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/index.php?target=produc ts&product_id=153

I haven't tried any yet, but am looking forward to doing so once I am on a "regular" diet.  But now I think I have to go out and get a dehydrator to try making my own veggie chips!  LOL