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Things that Move and Serve Your Food: What to Look for

Read Part Four: Things that Make 

Key Points:

· Having your own food with you helps you stay on track with your nutrition. 

· Foods that need to stay cool will need some type of cooler, insulated lunch bag or ice pack.

· Bringing leftovers may require heating, so look for containers that are safe for microwave cooking. 

Lunch Bags

· The size of your lunch bag will depend on how many meals and snacks you need for your day. 

· Insulated lunch bags can keep food cold for longer periods of time if you don’t have a refrigerator available.

· You... Read More »

Things that Make: What to Look for

Read Part Three: Things that Mix

Key Point:

· Products listed were chosen to make preparing food easier to achieve. 

Slow Cookers: Small

· Small slow cooker brands include TRU (0.65 quarts), Proctor Silex (1.5 quarts) and

Crock-Pot (2.5 quarts). Prices range from $10-$30.

· Smaller slow cookers make cooking for one or two people more practical. There will be leftovers for bariatric patients. 

Slow Cookers: Large

· Crock-Pot, Proctor Silex, Hamilton Beach, Elite, Cuisinart and West Bend slow cookers with 4-8 quart capacities. Prices are less... Read More »

A Quest for a Cookie

Are you surrounded with holiday goodies? Do you feel left out? One way to have a low carb/high protein treat is by turning a Quest bar into cookies. Quest protein bars are available in the pharmacy section of Walmart and Reasor’s grocery stores. GNC may also have them in their stores. 

  Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or line with foil and lightly spray with non-stick spray.  Cut a Quest bar in eight pieces. Place several inches apart on the baking sheet.  Bake for three minutes. Remove from the oven and press down with the back of a spatula... Read More »

Things that Mix: What to Look for

Read Part Two: Things that Measure 

Blenders and Mixers….where to start? The Key Points:

· The main key is the power of the motor. The more powerful the motor, the faster the blades rotate. A motor that is 900 watts will mix much better than a motor that is 300 watts. An evenly smooth texture is more likely with more powerful blenders and mixers. 

· The products listed are ones our patients use more frequently.

· Look for a blender that is in your budget, works well for what you want to use it for and how easy it is to clean. Keep in mind how much space you have in... Read More »

Things that Measure: What to Look for

Read Part One: Products for Bariatric Patients

Key Points

· Measuring your food helps you keep track of your nutrition.

· Tracking protein is difficult unless you know the portion size.  

Measuring Spoons

· Stainless steel (heavier gage like 18/8 is more durable). Plastic measuring spoons are lightweight and can be put in a dishwasher.

· Aluminum is a metal that can bend easily and turns dull if washed in a dishwasher. 

· Look for a set that has at least a ¼ teaspoon up to 1 tablespoon measures. 

· Plastic sets are priced from about $1 to... Read More »

Products for Bariatric Patients

Measure, mix, make and move: When it comes to preparing healthy food, which cooking products are best? Rene put together a series of the best products for measuring foods and fluids, mixing protein powders, making meals and what to use while on the go. Here’s part one:

Key Points:

· Products listed were chosen to help you in your pursuit of a healthy weight.

· Choose what works best for your budget and lifestyle.

· Keep in mind what type of storage space is available in your kitchen.  

· Products that are dishwasher safe will make your life easier.

·... Read More »

The Food Pushers

Blessed are the food and beverage pushers. They are likely a lot more uncomfortable about your new way of eating than you are. 

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of an extended holiday season where you will be encountering people who push food and beverages not appropriate for bariatric patients. It might be your grandma at Thanksgiving wondering why you decline her beloved cornbread stuffing. Perhaps your supervisor tries to push you toward the dessert table that your office had catered by the best bakery in the land. Your... Read More »

Ode To Pumpkin

Pumpkin, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

You have an astounding amount of beta-carotene to protect our bodies with an assertive amount of antioxidant power. Beta-carotene morphs into Vitamin A to assist in healthy vision and immunity.

Pumpkin also delivers a punch of potassium, a comely amount of copper, an interesting bit of iron, a pleasing amount of magnesium and a fair amount of fiber. A caution for bariatric patients is the 10 grams of carbohydrates found in a ½ cup pumpkin puree. 

And who doesn’t love carving Jack-O-Lanterns with your children (or just... Read More »

What's in your bento?

How many of you pack a lunch for work? You may be a person who brings a lunch in a traditional bag, whether the standard brown paper bag or fancy insulated lunch bags that come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

In a case of something that is old is new again: Have you ever used a bento box? The bento box dates back to the 5th century when Japanese farmers, hunters and warriors packed lunches in sacks or boxes. Farmers found that the seed boxes with multiple compartments worked better to transport their food. Instead of seeds, people used the different compartments to separate... Read More »

The Great Sugar Hunt

Reading the nutrition facts label can be confusing. This year, food manufacturers have to update the label. The serving size and calories per serving are now in larger, bold type lettering. 

Another helpful addition is “Added Sugars”, which is found under the carbohydrate information. Naturally occurring sugars are primarily from fruit (fructose) and dairy (lactose). Vegetables and grains can also contain a small amount of naturally occurring sugar. For added sugars, look for the words sugar, syrup, agave, molasses, juice, beet sugar, brown sugar, turbinado and honey.

Now that... Read More »