Question:
Need help preparing menu with new job...

I had the sleeve March 2009, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I have dropped 87 pounds and are presently 5 pounds below my goal weight. Yea! My issue now is...starting Monday I will be working two jobs. My first one starts at 5:30 am until 1:30 pm. Second job will be starting at 2:30 pm until 7:00 pm. THANKS TO THIS ECONOMY! I need some ideas for some healthy snacks to carry with me. If anyone has any packed meal suggestions for such a long day, please share!!    — Bridgette M. (posted on January 9, 2010)

January 9, 2010
I always have some tuna salad made up - I use the lemon pepper tuna in the pouch (lower fat and calorie content, higher protein). I take the whole pouch, add 2 tbsp of Best Foods light mayonnaise, 1 chopped hard-boiled egg, and a tablespoon of dill pickle relish. You can do the same thing with canned or "pouched" chicken breast meat. I eat 2-3 ounces of that at a time. I buy the Grilled Chicken Breast strips from Costco, and measure out 3 ounce portions of them in snack bags. I measure out 1 quarter to 1 half cup of fat free cottage cheese (and I add either 1/4 tsp of dry Hidden Valley Original Buttermilk Ranch Dressing mix OR 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar-free Polaner Strawberry preserves with Fiber - depending on whether I want something "savory" or "sweet"). I also LOVE Oikos plain Greek Yogurt with a tsp of vanilla extract, 1 packet of Splenda and a tablespoon of the sugar-free Polaner Strawberry preserves with Fiber in it all mixed together, too. It's absolutely delicious. Then, there is the Kroger brand CARB-Master Yogurt, which I mix with a couple of teaspoons of Nutricology ground flax seed (for my fiber fix). Oftentimes, I will spend a few hours on a Sunday cooking up tilapia or catfish by seasoning them with a favorite spice blend, and frying them up in a non-stick pan sprayed with a little Olive Oil, and measuring out 4 ounce portions and putting them in snack bags. I also buy those little Green Giant "single serving" vegetables (mostly broccoli or cauliflower). Then, there is always something like "Jack Links" jerkey nuggets - one serving is one ounce, and I measure them out in snack bags, too. Then, each day, all I have to do is put some of the blue ice in my lunch bag, and grab a snack bag with fish, a container of cottage cheese, a container of yogurt, a snack bag with jerkey, a container of tuna, a snack bag with the chicken breast strips, a half a piece of double-fiber, low-carb English Muffin or La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Whole Grain tortilla, and I'm set to go. Oh, and you can add in a piece of Weight Watcher's String Cheese, or a Baby Minibel Lite cheese round, or a Laughing Cow Light Garlic and Herb Cheese wedge, and you feel like you've had a feast.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

January 9, 2010
I am a paramedic that works 12 hour shifts. Since I have been back to work, I have had to come up with options for a small snack bag. 1. Boil eggs 2. oh yeah protein bars 3. pouch tuna 4. sugar free pudding cups (a carry a snack pack baggie of protein to add once I get the cup open I add and stir) 5. pre-made shakes (EAS, muscle milk) 6. laughing cow cheese wedges 7. bottle or two of water 8. unsweet apple sauce cups (another baggie of powdered vanilla protein) None of this has to be refridgerated!Good Luck with your new job!
   — Medicfem

January 9, 2010
I wish I could eat cheese, but I am having a MAJOR problem with MAJOR constipation. I am to the point that I have to be on MOM or some kind of constipation aid each day. I went to the colorectal Dr and I am going to have an colonscopy on the 29. I think it is all the protein shakes I have, I can't tolerate protein from chicken or fish, and I am not supposed to eat beef for another month.
   — FSUMom

January 11, 2010
Hi, I am almost two years out and am soooooo happy with myself for the first time in 60 years! The one thing I take with me every where I go is peanut butter. I also sleep with the peanut butter jar close by because now I have episodes of low blood sugar in the night. Because I am 25 pounds below goal weight I have soda crackers with my peanut butter. I never ate peanut butter before RNY surgery but sure enjoy it now! I started creamy peanut butter at six weeks after surgery but now love the crunchy style and always JIF reduced fat brand.
   — elizabethannemarch