Question:
Desperately need some meal ideas...

I am two months post op from having the sleeve. The nutrionist says I am still not getting enough protein. Please share your meal ideas with me. I am having trouble finding new things to eat and the same meals are getting very old.    — Bridgette M. (posted on May 16, 2009)

May 16, 2009
Hi, I'm getting a little food bored right now too but am trying different ways to prepare the high protein foods that I eat. The core of my breakfasts are no-fat cottage cheese, carbmasters yogurt, and eggbeaters. Lunch and supper are primarily alternating between chicken breast, shrimp, scallops, tilapia, cod, and salmon(3-5 ounces per serving). I blacken, bake, stir fry and steam. I've used multiple spices and combinations of rubs, soysauce and vinegars. In the last month I've averaged 430 calories per day with 69gms of protein per day. I've lost 68 pounds since my surgery (lap RNY) March 9th. This is partly due to the fact I'm male which gives me quicker weight loss and partly due to steady exercise. Hope the food ideas help. Let me know what you're doing for meals, I am getting a little bored with what I'm eating but if I vary much from the above my protein intake falls like a rock. Thanks, Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

May 17, 2009
I had that problem for a while. The first thing is to find a drink that you like, and bars that you like. Then I found out that things I have always loved have protein, A Venti Skinny Vanilla latte from starbucks is sugar free, fat free with 140 calories but has 15g of protein.... Salad shrimp, pre cooked, peeled and ready to eat 4 oz only 50 calories and 15g of protein. Think of some foods that you have always like and find the protien in them.
   — phyllismmay

May 17, 2009
Try this website: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Eggface is the one to inspire: she's in the same boat we all are, but she has much better paddles!
   — jtoothman

May 17, 2009
Hi there. I was in the same boat as you for a while, but now have some ideas that seem to work for me quite well. For breakfast, I have a medium scrambled egg with a quarter cup of Fiesta Mexican shredded cheese in it. At mid-morning, I have either a Weight Watcher's String Cheese stick or 2 ounces of Starkist Garlic and Herb Tuna (from a pouch) or Mango Chipotle Salmon (also from a pouch). For lunch, I either have a two ounce slice of Braunschwaeger or two pieces of Wal Mart's Great Value fat free turkey breast lunch meat with a third of a slice of Kraft Deli Delux American cheese wrapped up in each one, or two ounces of finely cut up skinless grilled chicken breast with a slice of American Cheese melted over it. For dinner I might have more chicken or turkey with a little broth to moisten it, along with a half an ounce of broccoli with cheese sauce, or more salmon or tilapia with two or three bites of a vegetable. For my snack at night (1 hour before bed), I have two ounces of cottage cheese mixed with a little dry Original Buttermilk Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, or an ounce and a half of Trader Joe's Plain Greek Style Yogurt with a tablespoon of reduced calorie - reduced sugar strawberry preserves stirred in. I alternate these things with, for instance, Hebrew National 97% fat-free franks, well-trimmed pork chops, finely chopped sushi scallops just by themselves (mixed with a smidgen of mayo and smelt roe), tofu, flank steak, sugar-free-fat-free pudding with a little protein powder added, and several of the recipes from the old Dr. Atkins original cookbook, modified to use the lower fat items like low-fat or fat-free sour cream and mayo, and stuff like that. You can also get some good ideas from Susan Maria's "Before and After" book - the last half of it is all recipies - something like 135 of them - for the WLS patient. Hope this helps!
   — Erica Alikchihoo

May 17, 2009
Some things I enjoy are: Greek yogurt with fresh fruit or cottage cheese with fruit, black beans or refried beans, Wendy's Chili is always a good standby. Special K has a high protein cereal that I have in the morning. I really enjoy salmon and ground beef. I usually have left overs for lunch the next day. It will get easier as time goes on. I had to drink a protein shake everyday at that stage to get my protein requirement in.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 17, 2009
As mentioned the worldaccordingtoeggface is great. I get alot of my protein from fish and all types of beans. I spice up the beans and use different types of salsa's to change it up. Also make turkey chile. One other great idea that has saved me is making omelets in baggies. Got this idea from my sister. You can make as many as you want a head of time. Take a zip lock plastic baggie, combine one or 2 eggs, add anything you want to make an omelet--chesse's veggies meats etc. Make it in the baggie, and put in fridge. When you want an omelet you just put the baggie in boiling water and cook for about 12 minutes, while you get dressed or what ever. The omelet will role out of the baggie and taste great. Is a quick meal, and no clean up. Good luck on your continued journey. Carolyn James
   — Cjames3259

May 17, 2009
I have been watching a show that comes on the Lifetime channel called "Cooking Yourself Thin" Professional show guests how to make delicious recipes that are low in calorie. Hoever they do not tell how much protein is in the dish. This may be a show that can give you some ideas. I ecently ordered the cookbook from Amazon.com and am waiting for it to arrive. I told my nutritionist about the show and cookbook and she thought it was a great idea.
   — cxperr01

May 18, 2009
If you can drink milk it is a great protein source. Have it after each meal. Nuts are great snacks and high in protien. Then find a protein bar you like Snickers Marathon is 20g protein and taste like candy. It is a litte high on calories 290 but with a glass of milk, there is 30 protien out of the 60 I need. Not bad. I use it to replace lunch when I have a really busy day. It has a lot of B vitamins calcuim and Iron as well as others. try to see what you like. Dont buy too much at a time because they all get tiring if you eat them all the time.
   — trible