Question:
need advice on recipe by RNY patient.
These might seem like some dumb questions but I need an answer from someone knowledgeable. I am 8 weeks out of RNY surgery today. This weekend, by requests from my wife & family, I am making my beloved Sweet Chili. This 6 quart recipe calls for a half cup of sugar, which neutralizes the acidity of the tomatoes and adds sweetness to the flavor. Considering the ratio of sugar - a half cup, to the entire pot - 6 quarts, do you think I can eat this without any danger of dumping syndrome ? Also will the sugar I get in a bowl hurt my weight loss ? I'll probably have a bowl for supper two or three nights in a row. Another question, if I use Splenda instead, do you think it will react the same as sugar in the chili ? This is a favorite recipe, my family & I enjoy several times a year, I also make it for several church and social functions thus I'd like to try to make it work for me as I'd just as soon not ban chili from my diet. I love the stuff !! The rest if the ingredients are tomatoes, red beans, corn, shredded carrots, chili powder, and lean ground venison. Is this ok for me to consume ? Any answers, opinions, or ideas would be greatly appreciated. — PorkyPug (posted on February 6, 2006)
February 6, 2006
I have yet to have my surgery, but speaking from experience, Splenda IS
sugar, at least derived from it. So, you can use it everywhere you can use
regular sugar, w/o dumping! Enjoy!
— Ky_Kutie
February 6, 2006
My doctor give us the guideline of anything less than 6 grams of sugar
would be ok per meal. Now I know every one is different and some may dump
on 4 or 5 grams. But in a pot of 6 quarts I don't think it would be an
issue. Considering you are only 8 weeks out you will not be eating a large
portion. Also protein slows down the sugar rush to the intestines. I
called the makers of Splenda and spoke at great length to them regarding
the product. Splenda grandular IS real sugar sprayed with a chemical so
that our bodies to not break it down. So if you added Splenda you would
still be adding sugar to the recipe. I hope this helps.
— Irislady
February 6, 2006
Hi! Im almost a year post op and I CANT do sweets However I do use splenda
and it takes LESS than the what we all call real sugar. I get so sick with
the least amount of sugar But I have use the splenda in alot of my cookings
and I use less than what it calls for and I do ok... But every one of us
react different to sugar and If I were you I would not go there at all as
that is one thing that helped get us FAT and we dont want to go back
there... Just my opinion. Use your BEST judgement!
Flo
— Flo
February 6, 2006
Hi Bill...with the amount of sugar you are planning to use it should not be
a problem at all....the only thing I think you might have a problem with is
the beans....I can only say have your malox handy LOL but enjoy and make
sure you chew that venison up real well.
— HubbysBrat
February 6, 2006
I was going to suggest carrots but it seems that you use them already.
What if you prepare the chili without the sugar and remove a portion or
portions for yourself and then add the sugar to the pot for the
"regular" people. You can then experiment with more carrots and
splenda in your own little pot. You may not even miss the sugar in your
pot. I haven't had any issues with sugar other than the fact it is too
sweet for me. I went so long without it that it really is too sweet and if
I do crave something I can usually find it sugar free and then only a
serving. If you carmelize the onions in food very slowly they take on a
sweet taste.
— 1968 Loser
February 6, 2006
Bill, I agree that it's doubtful that 1/2 cup of sugar to 6qt's chili will
bother you ,alot of post op's eat chili from what I have read on obesity
help so I don't think that would be an issue either plus the beans and meat
add protein probably a good amount.I also reccomend Splenda I use it in my
spaghetti sauce for sweetness and a pinch of baking soda for the acidity
that's what my Grandma taught me. Good Luck in your journey.It's a
wonderful one. :^)
— sunnie
February 6, 2006
Bill,
Just take try it and then relax a while before you know how it will react.
If all goes well, enjoy! I don't see how 1/2 cup of sugar in an entire pot
of chili could amount to all that much per serving. Anyway, sounds great
and please, save a cup for me for the Feb meeting at the Library. In fact,
make an extra pot just for the meeting. LOL
— JenLW
February 6, 2006
Go for the Splenda..shoot I don't even have any sugar in the cupboard
anymore, I use Splenda for everything. Good luck!
— DebPKansas
February 6, 2006
hey if you use real sugar yes you will get the dumps so use splenda its
great and you can't tell the differance
— marywyatt
February 7, 2006
You've gotten lots of good replies to your question and probably already
made the chili! My surgeon told me that I will most likely be able to
handle up to 16 grams of sugar in a serving. Now, before everyone jumps
and says "WHAT???" she is not advocating that much sugar, but
advised me to relax a bit and not panic over the amount of sugar I found in
a bowl of tomato soup. 12 grams! Anyway, fwiw, I don't think the sugar you
are adding to your chili is going to cause dumping or bother you. If it
were me, I'd make it with the real sugar unless you have a diabetic in the
family.
Of course, cooking with Splenda works, too! It's that nasty aspartame
that doesn't heat well. Good luck and congrats on your surgery. I had my
Lap RNY on Dec 1st and am just getting the hang of what I can and cannot
eat.
— LauraA
February 7, 2006
Bill,
I did the math... 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon. There are 2 tablespoons
(6 teaspoons) per ounce. There are 24 teaspoons (6t x 4 oz) in 1/2 cup of
sugar. There are 24 cups in 6 quarts. Sugar has 4 grams of carbs per
teaspoon. So, in each 8 oz serving, there would be 1 teaspoon of sugar (4
carbs & 15 sugar calories per cup). This would be in ADDITION to any
sugars naturally found in the other ingredients.
So, I would say no, the sugar wouldn't be a big deal. On the other hand,
I have substituted Splenda in cooking sloppy joes, chili, etc. and it works
fine.
Shadow
04/23/2003 Open RNY Revision from 1984 Stomach Stapling
295/190/170
— Shadow51
February 7, 2006
Hum. . . . my take on this is: Chili at 8 weeks???? watch out. 1 cup at 8
weeks? Doubtful. I was a bite size anythings at 8 weeks and at 2-1/2
years can barely have a full cup of anything, let alone pure chili, with
venison even. Good luck to you. I would take one bite, wait 5 minutes,
and then another, otherwise you might have some real major dumping (and not
because of the sugar).
— Missy H.
February 12, 2006
Don't forget that tomatoes are high in sugar, too! However, you will
probably eat so little right after surgery that it will not be an issue.
— Novashannon
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