Question:
I need suggestions from single people who have had this surgery
I am single and will probably have surgery in October sometime. My question is for after I can start eating real food. I am single and have no real prodpects for that to change. How have you other single WLS folks fed yourselves after surgery. I am a disabled person but was a chef for many years and do not know how to cook for one person. Let alone 1/2 a person LOL did you all just buy low fat freezer meals or have you actually learned how to cook for one. — D P. (posted on August 20, 2003)
August 20, 2003
Hi I am single and wa really worried about cooking as I loved to ccok
before surgery. I just make little mini meals now or I make things I can
freeze. Instead of chicken breast I buy the chicken strips and cook 2 or 3
and have them as left over or will cut up on salad. I don't cook every
night any more because I have left over. Do watch you can have a lot of
waste if you don't eat the food leftovers
I try to have a couple different choices just so I have a variety of
different foods. I am still eating small portions. And I haven't tried to
many different foods yet.
being a chf you will get the hang of cutting the portions really fast. If I
have friends over I make their food then
take a piece of theirs or a couple of spoons. Don't worry to much your
pouch will tell you how much you can have. I did retire my big pans have a
small individual size that I use to cook with.The best of luck you will do
great.
— carla S.
August 20, 2003
Fast food and commercial freezer meals are not the best choices post-op.
You will do better when you control the portion size, the salt, the sugar
and all the other ingredients that go into your food. I am single, and
haven't found it to be as big an adjustment cooking smaller portions for
one as I thought it would be. I eat very nutritious meals, based on
protein. What I do is divide up the groceries when I get home from the
store. I cut up pieces of fish or meat into 2 to 3 ounce portions (use a
scale, and you'll get the hang of how much is 2 ounces fairly quickly), and
freeze a single serving portion. Then I will cook two of those in the
evening, have one for dinner, and keep the other for lunch the next day.
I'll steam a couple of green beans or something (either fresh or frozen)
and call it a meal. My George Forman grill has become a very useful
appliance as it easily fits two servings, cooks quickly, doesn't heat up
the kitchen, and is relatively easy to clean. I had a harder time
adjusting my grocery shopping than I had with the cooking. If I do cook
something "big", like a pot of chili, I'll measure out my portion
for dinner, and then freeze more pre-measured servings that I thaw in the
microwave when I want them. Freezer bags and those Glad
reusable/disposable contaners are great. I strongly encourage you to avoid
pre-packaged food. This adjustment won't be as hard as you think.
— Vespa R.
August 20, 2003
D P,For several months you wont be eating much.I lived on CARNATION instant
shakes,small containers of applesauce,cottage
cheese,cheese,oatmeal,eggs,etc for months For meat canned chicken and tuna
are good.Most everything you can have comes in small sizes.. Nancy
— NANCY P.
August 20, 2003
I found I wasn't strong enough to stand in the kitchen and "cook"
for about four weeks. I could make jello and pudding and open a can of
soup. The biggest challenge to me, single, was shopping - more that
cooking. Taking time to read labels and see what I could eat was tiring
and time consuming. And with weight limits (first 5 lbs, then 10)on what I
could carry, it was hard to get grocery bags I could carry into the house.
— Margaret G.
August 20, 2003
My teenage son lives with me but he doesn't eat much more than I do. I
find that if I keep a big bowl of steamed veggies in the fridge that I can
just heat and eat then I'm never tempted to eat fast food or freezer foods.
I steam broccoli, green beans, onions, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, and
asparagus with water to which I've added tons of spices and herbs so the
flavor steams right in. This bowl lasts for several days and, because it's
so easy to make, I don't have a problem making more if I need to. I also
make all of my "meats" once a week to save time. Between taking
care of my son, working two jobs, church, the gym, and about to go back to
school, there isn't a lot of time for cooking so I cook pretty much once a
week and give my microwave a serious workout the rest of the week. Good
luck.
— Vicki H.
August 21, 2003
Re-learning can be a real eye opener. I just never thought I eat so much
food. I remember the 1st meal I felt like cooking. It lasted me a week
and I finally had to though it out. LOL. I was always cooking 2 of
everything or 4 of everything. Now, I can cook 1 chicken breast and make 3
meals out of it. I love to cook. But I do a lot less of it because I
freeze stuff or refrigerate it. On Sundays I will cook a meal and portion
it up for the week. You'll adjust. Best of Luck!
— Lora T.
August 21, 2003
As I am just cooking for myself and my 4 YO daughter, I know what you are
talking about! When her dad was living with us it didn't matter how much I
cooked, it usually disappeared in short order. LOL Now I have learned to
cook a nice meal for the two of us that doesn't waste food but allows
plenty of variety.<p>I cook a protein or meat (steak, chicken, pork,
beans, shrimp, etc.) in a pretty large quantity, then freeze whatever I
won't use in the next day or two. Then I fix two veggies to go with the
protein, usually steamed or stir-fried or quick-roasted. That way we can
vary the sides that go with the protein to get plenty of variety in our
diet. One of my daughter's favorite meals is black beans with a quesadilla
(made with chapati--a whole wheat tortilla). Talk about FAST!
<p>Fixing a one-pound bag of black beans leaves me lots of little
containers in the freezer. LOL That's the key: Fix plenty, but store it in
single serve portions. And make sure to label it with either the date you
froze it or an "expiration date."
— ctyst
August 21, 2003
Single Here! I have been struggling with this. I love to cook, but I
always cook too much. Since surgery (5-5-03), I've found that I rarely
like to cook anymore. I am experimenting with a few things now but limit
my cooking to items where I can really control the amounts I am cooking. I
found a great protein item that I've been crazy about lately. It's Tyson
chicken strips (not breaded). They are glazed and already cooked lean
breast meat pieces. They are delicious and you can cook them in the
microwave in 3 minutes and they are moist and wonderful. I've been cooking
those by themselves or then adding them to a salad or to other veggies that
I cook up quickly and I'm really happy with this selection. I've heard
that they have various flavors of chicken and I'm going to try more. I got
them at Sam's Club (like Costco, etc.) I also got the already boiled shrimp
(frozen) at Sam's Club. You thaw for a few minutes under water and they
are pretty good. If you are a chef, you may not be satisfied with the
quality but, for a quick protein meal, they ain't bad! Good luck!
Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. If you have any questions, feel
free to email me.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 21, 2003
I am disabled, live alone and my grocery list consists of the smallest cans
of tuna and chicken, small bags of shredded cheese, protein bars, protein
powder to mix with other foods to add more protein. My meals are very
small, so 1 small can of tuna or chicken made in to salads last me all day.
My protein bars I use mainly for late afternoon for a snack. Protein powder
is used in whatever I make during the day, from soup, to drinks. Hope this
helps.
— betterfitness
August 21, 2003
Forgive me but I think your being a chef is a non-issue here. How to make
a one-person portion? Buy and cook what you want, cut it into measured
portions, freeze what you don't eat. Voila! Scramble one egg. Toast
one-half slice of whole-wheat bread. Eat half a carton of yoghurt. Buy in
small quantities if its easier. Or buy in bulk and package for storage.
There is always a way to make it work if you want to badly enough. Good
luck!
— Deborah M.
August 21, 2003
Personally I think it would be much easier only to worry about food for
yourself. You don't have to prepare meals for others or even have other
food in the house as a temptation.........Nancy
— nancysho
August 21, 2003
Being a chef certainly does make it more difficult to cook small
portions... and avoiding tasting after each addition...forgetaboutit...lol.
I find it very difficult to cook for one... my husband is a vegetarian, so
any protein I prepare is just for me. Unless I am going to start eating
tofu and soy dogs, that is. I have found that shopping at Whole Foods
Market has been a good thing for me... if there is one near you, it is the
way to go. I like being able to buy two boneless skinless Bell and Evans
organic chicken thighs... rather than a package of nine at the supermarket.
I dont like to freeze meats... I would rather buy just what I am cooking
for the day or two. I like the organic meats at Whole Foods as I feel that
since I can only eat small portions, I may as well eat healthy organic
grain fed, no antibiotic meats and poultry... and wild ocean fish. Even the
produce section is set up where I can buy ONE perfect zucchini rather than
two pounds in a tray wrapped in plastic. I buy small perfect portions...
and bought a small nonstick chefs pan... and a small grill pan. At least
you can cook and dont rely on frozen prepared crap like so many on these
boards. ciao, Suze
— SusanMaria
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