The decision to go ahead with gastric bypass surgery is a big one to make for many people who are looking for a healthier weight and a fuller life. Getting the surgery done is just the first step. There are definite lifestyle changes after the surgery to achieve weight goals and maintain them for life. Recipes can be obtained from outside sources or by altering the recipes we already have of our favorite dishes. To design your own recipes, keep in mind the basic nutritional tips given by your doctor.
Nutritional Basics
To lose weight in a healthy way after gastric bypass surgery, it is important to adopt better eating habits. Sticking to a nutritious meal plan and staying away from unnecessary snacking is the basis of a post gastric bypass surgery diet. Certain nutrition guidelines must be considered when finding valid recipes.
Damaged body tissues need protein to repair the worn cells. The body doesn't store protein, so it will need to be consumed every day to fulfill the body's protein needs. Find recipes that optimize lean proteins such as eggs, poultry, fish and low-fat cottage cheese. You should be eating at least 60 grams of protein every day and at least one serving of protein with each meal.
Avoid too much sugar and fat in your recipes after gastric bypass surgery to reduce the risk of developing dumping syndrome, a condition that occurs when patients eat a diet that is high in sugar and fat. Dumping syndrome causes a rapid heart rate, nausea, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, sweating, sleepiness and light-headedness. To avoid this, use less than 10 grams of sugar and fat in each serving of your recipes.
Sample Recipe
One recipe that incorporates all of the tips above is chicken casserole. It has 21 grams of protein and only 2.5 grams of sugar per serving. The ingredients are a cup of skinless chicken breast cut into cubes, three cups of any kind of summer pasta blend (includes shells and mixed vegetables), Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup (use the 98 percent fat-free kind), a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, ¾ cup of water, canned mushrooms and seasonings for flavoring. If you use salt, make sure it is a salt substitute.
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. While you are cooking the pasta blend (pay attention to packaging for directions), mix all the other ingredients together; save half of the cheese to sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Add the seasonings to your taste. Mix the pasta blend and the other ingredients together and pour into a casserole dish. Spread out the cheese over the top and bake for about 30 minutes.
