LAP-BAND^® Food Stages Lists Suggestions

dyslansmom - could you recommend any blended cream soups? Thanks.

Grammy in Columbus

Your request gave me a chuckle as I started mushies and made soups all day today. But unfortunately, I made a GREAT one that it's too soon to eat. Cauliflower and black bean puree. I only had a couple of tablespoons but it made me very gassy. When you're ready for it:

put a little olive oil in your soup pan and add a the standard combo of chopped up onion, carrot and celery. When soft but not brown, add in loosely chopped caulflower and the can of beans. Cover with broth...I use the veggie broth that comes in a box- I get it at Trader Joes. I threw in a couple of pinches of cumin and coriander, salt and black pepper. I don't spice heavily ever. Bring to boil and then simmer on a very low light until very tender. Let cool a bit, then pulverize in a blender. I froze most of it for down the road. It's brown in color but tastes great. You can also melt a little low fat cheddar cheese on top. Lots of protein between the beans and cheese.

I also do butternut squash and puree veggie soup as well. Same start on all. With butternut I use a very little spice but add nutmeg when I serve it. Also I use a pinch of splenda.

How this helps.
Gwenn

*STAGE 1 - LIQUIDS

START: When you return home from your surgery

DURATION: For 2 weeks post surgery, or until your next dietitian appointment.

DIET: Clear and full liquids

GOAL: Aim for at least 64 ounces of fluid for the day by continuous sipping.

This is pretty similar to my docs recommendations, with the addition of thinned refried beans and scrambled eggs added to the full liquid phase. My question for those who are on similar restrictions for the first 2 weeks (once on full liquid) do you partake of any of the items below any time of day? My diet suggests the full liquids (1/4 c) only for 3 meals a day, with sugar free liquids the rest of the day. I AM STARVING!!!!

LIQUIDS RECOMMENDED:

Water
100% Fruit Juice (No sugar added)
Bouillon
Strained soups or broths
Skim or 1% milk
Soy milk
Milk Shakes - thinned
Gatorade or equivalent sports drink
Yogurt Smoothie Drinks - not including homemade
Crystal Light
Sugar free beverages
Herbal or decaffeinated tea or coffee
Popsicles (Pedialyte)

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275.2/266/229.8/169

I had a different post-op diet. 3 weeks clear liquids which to my surgeon also included protein shakes and milk. And cranberry juice. I wasn't told when to drink what. Just to get 75 grams of protein a day plus other fluids as much as possible. I sipped all day including the shakes which are filling. I used Atkins, but Slim fast now has a low-carb shake without sugar that has 20 grams of protein in each. So you don't need as many. I also had permission to use the 25 calorie no sugar hot choc my supermarket sells. That was actually very satisfying. I wasn't really hungry. When I was, it was gone in a few sips.

If you really are hungry, you should check in. Maybe he'll move you forward faster.

Gwenn

Dylansmom,
Thank you so much for this list. After 1 1/2 years of no changes (OK, no ups, but no downs either), I was desperate for help. Trouble with fills (Dr can't find port, bends needles, and then gets angry at me), so going to find a new doctor. But FIRST, I want to learn how to use the band, something I haven't done.
The core plan is the thing: From that I can work out a simple weekly menu that works.
Cheers,
cacrider

Hi GDF18......Yum! I love soup!! Thanks for the receipe

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Thanks for the reply. I may check out the low carb Slim fast shake.

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275.2/266/229.8/169

Once you can have solids again, I have an even better recipe, one that even my dietician at the surgeon's office asked me for.
It's brownies made with black beans and eggs. Good protein source and it tastes delicious:

Black Bean Brownies (TRIED AND TRUE)
1 15oz. can of UNSEASONED black beans - drained and rinsed well.
4 large eggs (or 2 eggs and ½ cup of egg beater type product)
1 cup Splenda
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder –darker is better.
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. oil (I use olive oil- 2 FULL Tablespoons- I even let it spill over as I fill them.
1 Tbs Vanilla ( I let this run over also)
½ tsp baking soda
chopped nuts or a handful of dark choc chips- optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a food processor or
blender- blend very very well. Pour into an 8x8 baking pan sprayed with cooking spray or oiled with
canola or olive oil. Bake for 30-40 minutes. (til toothpick pulls out clean). Outer edges tend to be a little dry but it should be nice and moist inside.
Variations:
Ice the brownies with lite film of peanut butter or sf ff chocolate sauce. Peanut butter inside gets too dry. Or, make with white beans (no cocoa of course). Many people like kidney beans(with the unsw. chocolate) and you get a sort of red velvet brownie. If you can find sf marshallow fluff (like Walden farms), pour ½ batter, use white beans, drop in some of the marshmallow, then add balance of batter. Sort of an SBD “Twinkie”.

Wow...double Yum...thanks for sharing! Becky

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Can't wait to try that brownie recipe - thanks!
What helped me get through was taking a can of fat free refried beans and throwing it into a blender or food processor with lean, reduced sodium deli ham and a little water. Even my husband said it was tasty!

Sounds good too! I'll tell you what, after drinking liquid protein for a couple of weeks EVERYTHING tastes great. I find that I am not using the salt shaker as much because everything tastes so wonderful! Becky

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I'm finally feeling better with food. Guess I'm so old that it's taking a while for my system to kick back in. I've added baked potato and whole wheat crackers to my world and I think they're helping. Switching back to sweet pots soon. I'm finding myself on something close to South Beach. High protein, whole wheat, etc.

Enjoy Memorial Day.....watch out for the bbq sauce!
Gwenn

How's it going? I'm one month post op today. 2 weeks til first fill!!! My lastest kick - veggie cheese burgers and turkey burgers. A little ketchup and they're YUM Still looking forward to salad

I'm still struggling. I don't know if it's me or my head. Maybe I should just plow into foods. I did add crackers last week and they were not on my doctor's list (bad girl!) but boy, the tasted good.

I do think I may need to go back on Previcid. I went off it after surgery because I was told I may not need it any longer, but I've got a tight feeling or burning after meals and today it was difficult to get down cottage cheese, and I eat that everyday. So, I'm thinking I better go back on and see if the discomfort goes. If not, I'm going to have to have a long talk with the surgeon when I go for my first fill. I need to eat a wider group of food. Tonight I'm having filet of sole and mashed potatoes. Maybe I'll try some string beans with it. We'll see.
Just tired of not feeling 100%.

Other than that, the scale is happy so I'm glad about that.I have to change my signature to show that I'm down 30. Yippee.

Gwenn

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gwenn

banded 4/30/08
Dr. Khalili, Los Angeles
Starting weight: 315
Current weight: 246.4

I think it is the old eating habits that are the most difficult to overcome. We can do this!!!

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Surgery Date: 5/1/08 (5.0 cc LAP-BAND^®)
Surgeon: Kurt Roberts (CT)
First fill: 5/27/08 (1.25cc)
2nd fill: 6/24/08 (1.0cc)
3rd fill: 7/23/08 (.5cc)
4th fill: 8/27/08 (.25cc)
5th fill: 10/6/08 ( )