Question:
Post Op Grocery Cost

As a single mom cost is always on my mind. I would like to start picking up some of the items that I will need post=-op now. I figure if I pick up a few things every week (protien shakes, popcicles, vitiamins etc.) it wont be so costly. Can anyone tell be what I should be picking up.    — Athinnermom (posted on November 12, 2009)

November 11, 2009
Well for the first 3 weeks after my surgery all I had was liquids. Propel, Protein shakes, broths, Sugar free jello and sugar free kool aid. I do have to say ever since my surgery my grocery bill has been cut almost in half. I have saved so much money.. I don't eat out much anymore, just don't have that craving anymore. Good luck and you will see how much you will save soon.
   — okbuffy

November 11, 2009
I was sent home on full liquids, so I ate yogurt, sf jello, sf popsciles, protein shakes, crystal light, carnation instant breakfast, decaf coffee. Then you will have the soft stage and that's another list. You can send me a message and I will message you more. Good luck.
   — Meeky

November 12, 2009
First of all, don't buy any protein until after your surgery. Your taste buds change and what you like now, you will not (maybe) like later. So that is saving money. Do your sampling at GNC. Sometimes websites or the bari surgeon's office will have samples just to get you through the first few days. But as far as what to eat: Liquids and only Liquids. Chicken broth, beef, vegetable. Anything you can see through or example but don't do: get through a straw. The other post explained it well. The vitamins you can get liquid form in small amounts at the GNC store, I had liquid and chewable and hated the pineapple chewable and ended up throwing those away. The costly items are the protein items. So, again wait for those. But I like Atkins Advantage (thinned out with water)It is pricey, but you will only be able to consume a small amount at first anyway, so a little will go a long way. But I also liked the Whey Protein. IT comes in a 5 lbs tub and use a protein shaker mill with it. The flavor is good and it isn't lumpy or gritty. The main thing also is don't buy a lot really of anything until post op, just to save even more money.
   — Kristy

November 12, 2009
Well, I signed up for the Bariatric Advantage Multi-Vitamins automatic shipment every three months. They're very reasonable, and if you do the autoship, they don't charge you the shipping costs. I buy the Twinlab Chewable Calcium Citrate with Magnesium and Vitamin D from either the Vitamin Cottage or the Vitamin Shoppe. I buy nearly all my other vitamins from the Vitamin Shoppe. They're really not too bad, cost-wise. My nutritionist has us taking 2,000 IU of Vitamin D (which are tiny little gelcaps that come 200 to a bottle), 1,000 mcg of B-12 sublingual, and 1500 mg of Vitamin C chewable (I get Solaray). I know that some people's tastes change after surgery but thankfully, I'm not one of those people... before surgery, I bought a "sample box" of stuff from BariatricEating.com that was invaluable to me. It was stuffed with sample packages of protein powders from different manufacturers, and contained 4 ready-to-drink bottles of protein shakes (that's where I discovered that Oh Yeah Vanilla shakes were so YUMMY!), and a book called "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach that is like a pre-op and post-op journal, a section on question and answer that is superior, and half of the book is delicious WLS recipies you can cook for your family, with calculations for your portions. The box also contained a shaker bottle and other information. It was pricey, but I learned what protein powders I really liked and what ones I didn't, without having to buy big $30 tubs of them, or pay $3 to $5 for a package to try from a health foods store. I will say this... if you can find a vanilla protein powder or RTD shake that you like, you can choose from about 50 flavors of DaVinci sugar-free syrups from the BariatricEating.com site to put in the shake to make it into a yummy different flavor, like pralines or toffee, or mocha, or peppermint... Same goes with a good chocolate flavor protein powder. My favorite is Syntrax Nectar Sweets Chocolate Truffle, which you can get at the site or at the Vitamin Shoppe for $5 cheaper without the shipping. I make it every night with hot water from the faucet, for a "hot chocolate" nightcap. Yummy!
   — Erica Alikchihoo

November 13, 2009
Stocking up on protein and such is not a great idea...After surgery my tastebuds changed dramatically and the protein I stocked up on, I could not drink PO...I also became lactose intolerant and couldn't drink whey...I also became intolerant of some artificial sweeteners as well...Vitamins are good to stock up on and have ready... And any of the soft foods you will be eating the first 3 mos...After the 3 mos, I was eating what I cooked my family after changing to a more healthy menu for all of us! Cutting out snacks, junk food, bread and sugary drinks (including fruit drinks) is a GREAT money saver as well...and cereal such as oat meal is far cheaper than sugary boxed cereal as well...So what you save in eating healthy pays for some of the changes you make in your families lifestyle...and you can make the kids protein smoothies by adding milk, ice and fresh fruit in the blender...It's like a milk shake only healthier than ice cream! I buy fruity teas as well and made the kids hot decaf tea (cinnamon apple, berry, gingerbread etc) You can chill it as well for cold tea drinks...CHEAPER than juices...Make then eat their fruit for fiber!
   — .Anita R.