vitamins minerals protein drinks etc.

Okay so I would like to do a little poll and ask to all of you who have had an RNY (I say RNY because the vitamins are different if you have a lap-band) what vitamins, minerals and protein stuff you use. I will be having surgery in May and I want to be SUPER ready so here goes: Vitamins: Type: Brand: Cost: Amount: when in the day do you take it: Protein: Type: Brand: Cost: Amount: when in the day do you take it: Also any protein yummy foods would be uper helpful. This may sound like a stupid question but can you put the protein powder that doesn;t have flavor on anything? like as a seasoning? You know, a little sprinkle on top of your food. Yes I realize that probably sounds crazy.  Also do any of you take the liquid protein advertised on this site? or anything like it? where its like 25g of protein with no sugar blah blah blah? Do you use it as a meal replacement or do you consider that part of your water in-take for the day?

Vitamins: Type: Fiber Choice Plus Multivitamin Brand: Fiber Choice Cost: Ummm....less than $15 for 90 tablets (45 day supply) at Wal-Mart Amount: 2 tablets when in the day do you take it:  One in the morning, before my coffee, the second in the afternoon with lunch. Type: Calcium Citrate (1000mg) Brand: Calcimate 1000 (at GNC) Cost: $14 for 120 tablets (120 day supply) Amount: 1 tablet when in the day do you take it:  One in the morning, before my coffee PS - Technically I'm supposed to take 1200mg of calcium, but my nutritionist prefers for us to get as much as possible through actual food.  I easily get 300-600 mg of calcium through food a day. Type: Iron (18mg) Brand: Iron 18 (at GNC) Cost: About $4 for 100 tablets (100 day supply) Amount: 1 tablet when in the day do you take it:  One in the evening before my last feeding of the day - it is important to take calcium and iron several hours apart because they mess with the absorbtion of the other. Type: B-12 (1000 mcg) Brand: B-12 1000 (at GNC) Cost: $7 for 100 tablets Amount: 1 tablet when in the day do you take it:  One in the morning, before my coffee. This isn't technically a vitamin...but a lot of post-ops end up taking something to help with constipation - so either a fiber supplement, stool softner or something else.  I am one of the lucky ones who needs both  and boy do I feel special.  So I take Miralax every morning in my coffee.  It is a lot more expensive than all this other stuff - along the lines of $18 for a month and a half supply - but it helps so it is worth it to me. Also remember, you can find these things GENERIC at Wal-Mart or where ever.  When you are shopping just make sure that they fit the guidelines, and if they do, who cares what the brand name is.  The reason I have most of my stuff from GNC is because I had a gift card to go there, so I stocked up on vitamins.  Wal-Mart is cheaper by at least a buck or two.  Protein: Type: FOOD Brand:  FOOD Cost: However much the FOOD costs Amount:  70-80g when in the day do you take it:  All day every day. I don't take protien supplements.  Hate them all except Muscle Milk.  Muscle Milk Light, the premade shakes (in chocolate, vanilla and chocolate mint flavors) have 20g of protien and only 9g of carbs (3g of sugar!) and it tastes great, but is sometimes too thick for me so I mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with skim milk to thin it out.  But otherwise, I get more than enough protien through foods.   Protien Rich Foods I Eat Routinely.... -Nuts (almonds, peanuts and macadamias are my favorite) -Beef Jerky -Cottage Cheese -Cheese Sticks -Pepperoni -Skim Milk -Muscle Milk -Carb Countdown Milk -Kashi Go Lean cereal (I eat it dry...) -Yogurt -Eggs / Egg Subsitute -Ka****LC Honey Almond Flax granola bars  -Lean Hamburger (use for things like noodle-less lasagna, taco salad...) -Shredded Chicken (I will cook a whole chicken in my crock pot to make it nice and moist - and then pull the meat off the bones and use it in things throughout the week - like home made chicken soup, chicken tacos, chicken caesar salad, chicken wraps...the possibilities are endless) -Lean Steaks (hint - the rarer the easier they are on your pouch - I get mine med-rare) The possibilities go on and on.   Hope this helps!

I'm interested in the noodle-less lasagna.. Do you just make it regularly, with no noodles?  Or is there something more to it?

The Baked Ricotta recipe is basically it.  To the marinara sauce I add diced onion and diced mushrooms - and then yeah, that's it. 

Here is the Baked Ricotta courtesy of the amazing Eggface Baked Ricotta 8 oz of Ricotta Cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 1 large Egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. I usually made it first in the oven and heated the leftovers in the microwave. You should check out her blog. It's full of wonderful recipes for Post WLS life http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/