Over the past weeks I've been keeping a mental note of what foods, and veggies in particular, make me feel full and work best with my band. I eat quite a wide range of vegetables and have noticed that while some slip down relatively easily, others rake a lot more chewing and leave me feeling full. The best ones include sprouts, mushrooms, spinach (raw or lightly steamed), chunky and lightly cooked broccoli and cauliflower. The vegetables that slip down more easily include onions, soft courgettes, aubergine (unless with skin on - then it can be quite tough), tomatoes, and anything that can be mashed - like butternut squash.
In terms of other foods, bearing in mind I don't eat meat, the main tricks to ensure foods don't slip down too easily are (a) don't overcook food - keep it crunchy and solid and chewy, (b) avoid washing food down by using gravy, sauces or accompaniments that are high in fat. This evening, for example, I couldn't eat all my dinner because it just filled me up. Here's what I had:
Wholegrain (brown) rice
Olive tofu
Mixed broccoli, shitake and oyster mushrooms, and courgettes
I added a little light soy sauce and loads of black pepper for extra flavour and a hint of moistness - otherwise this was a fairly dry meal.
Other good foods are lightly cooked unpeeled baby new potatoes, pasta al dente, any fish that isn't too oily and doesn't come in a sauce, quorn in most forms, various types of beans (e.g. adzuki, black-eye). Sometimes a meal just needs some moisture - a good way to get this without loading on lots of calories is to add some Philadelphia Extra Light (very low fat soft cheese).
Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Recipe: Olive tofu and pasta
Here's a favourite vegetarian 'recipe' of mine:
Olive tofu (available from The Eighth Day in Manchester and other specialist vegetarian shops), with spinach, mushroom-stuffed pasta and mixed shitake and chestnut mushrooms. I lightly boil the pasta and the rest is steamed in the microwave with plenty of black pepper and a splash of light soy. The edginess of the olives tastes wonderful against the subtle tastes of mushrooms and spinach. Mmmmm! The whole meal is about 350 calories and takes only 15 minutes to prepare. The meal is well balanced - you should end up with a side plate with 25% carbs (the pasta), 25% protein (tofu), and 50% veggies.
Olive tofu (available from The Eighth Day in Manchester and other specialist vegetarian shops), with spinach, mushroom-stuffed pasta and mixed shitake and chestnut mushrooms. I lightly boil the pasta and the rest is steamed in the microwave with plenty of black pepper and a splash of light soy. The edginess of the olives tastes wonderful against the subtle tastes of mushrooms and spinach. Mmmmm! The whole meal is about 350 calories and takes only 15 minutes to prepare. The meal is well balanced - you should end up with a side plate with 25% carbs (the pasta), 25% protein (tofu), and 50% veggies.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Liquid recipes
I made a banana milkshake and a lentil-based soup this evening - both of which taste delicious. Here are the recipes and calorie values:
Banana milkshake
One medium banana chopped into pieces (70 calories)
One small apple with peel and core removed, chopped up (35 calories)
One Weight Watchers low fat yoghurt (50 calories)
150ml milk (I use soya milk but any will do) (65 calories)
About 100ml water
Put all this in the blender and press 'go'! Makes about 6-700ml of thick, creamy shake. Ice cubes can be used instead of water. Total calorie value is 220. Ideal if you need a carbohydrate and/or dairy boost.
Lentil-based soup (may appeal more to vegetarians!)
One medium, boiled potato (120 calories)
One third of a pack of smoked tofu, chopped into pieces (150 calories)
Half a chopped, microwave-steamed leek (20 calories)
50g cooked green lentils (you could use red lentils) (160 calories)
Half a litre of water
Add vegetable gravy stock powder, black pepper, herbs and salt to flavour
Put all this in the blender and press 'go'! Makes three portions (about 300ml each) of creamy, thick soup with a slight smoked flavour. Total calorie value is 450 (150 per portion). Ideal for a carbohydrate and/or protein boost.
Banana milkshake
One medium banana chopped into pieces (70 calories)
One small apple with peel and core removed, chopped up (35 calories)
One Weight Watchers low fat yoghurt (50 calories)
150ml milk (I use soya milk but any will do) (65 calories)
About 100ml water
Put all this in the blender and press 'go'! Makes about 6-700ml of thick, creamy shake. Ice cubes can be used instead of water. Total calorie value is 220. Ideal if you need a carbohydrate and/or dairy boost.
Lentil-based soup (may appeal more to vegetarians!)
One medium, boiled potato (120 calories)
One third of a pack of smoked tofu, chopped into pieces (150 calories)
Half a chopped, microwave-steamed leek (20 calories)
50g cooked green lentils (you could use red lentils) (160 calories)
Half a litre of water
Add vegetable gravy stock powder, black pepper, herbs and salt to flavour
Put all this in the blender and press 'go'! Makes three portions (about 300ml each) of creamy, thick soup with a slight smoked flavour. Total calorie value is 450 (150 per portion). Ideal for a carbohydrate and/or protein boost.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The 5 Day Pouch Test
I came across this web site today http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html which describes the 5 Day Pouch Test - a 5-day diet plan to help us bandits get back in touch with our pouches. It's American, so there's quite a bit of emphasis on proteins, but it seems like an interesting way of doing things - and all with good, sound advice and encouragement. The plan is designed for bandits who are struggling to deal with hunger, too much carbohydrate and unsure of restriction. The first two days of the plan focus on liquids only (especially protein drinks). The third day is soft proteins (e.g. scrambled egg), the fourth day is firm proteins and the final day is solid proteins. There are a few rules, like you can eat as often as you like, but not for more than 15 minutes at a time - and of course you cannot drink with meals. The web site is accompanied by a range of recipes for each of the days.
Mmm, interesting. I'm not sure I am ready to try this just yet, but some of the general principles are really helpful, and it's always useful to be reminded of what this whole thing is about.
Mmm, interesting. I'm not sure I am ready to try this just yet, but some of the general principles are really helpful, and it's always useful to be reminded of what this whole thing is about.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Aspiration no.1
I travelled to Birmingham yesterday for a small aspiration. I had 0.5ml taken out leaving me with 7ml in the band - 0.5ml more than before my last fill. Straight afterwards I was able to drink a glass of water fairly smoothly, without any pain, gurgling, heartburn or 'slime'! Oh, the relief is palpable! I have been put on Rinitidine (an anti-indigestion formula) for a few days to reduce any inflamation in my oesophagus that might have been caused by the retching and saliva-pouring (what others sem to refer to as the 'slime').
Today I have been in Birmingham again, this time for a work-related meeting. A buffet lunch was provided so, being on fluids again (have I ever been off them?!), I drank some cold tomato soup that I had taken with me. Well, actually, I only drank half of it, it being decidely unpalatable. I have been feeling fairly full all day on relatively little food so the early signs are that I have good restriction wihout all the nastiness of pain etc.
It's been a long day and I could do with some food now, so I'm going to have some of my home-made fish soup again, left over from yesterday. This really is a winner, try it - here's the recipe:
1. Cook a boil-in-the-bag cod in parsley sauce in the microwave.
2. Defrost (in the microwave) a good handful of frozen prawns.
3. Boil, on the hob, some small-cut peeled potatoes together with a couple of handfuls of frozen sweetcorn.
4. Chuck all this in the blender with enough milk and/or water (2:1 milk:water is best) to produce the right consistency and add some vegetable (or other) gravy powder/granules.
5. Blend, heat up in the microwave if necessary, eat!
Lovely!
Today I have been in Birmingham again, this time for a work-related meeting. A buffet lunch was provided so, being on fluids again (have I ever been off them?!), I drank some cold tomato soup that I had taken with me. Well, actually, I only drank half of it, it being decidely unpalatable. I have been feeling fairly full all day on relatively little food so the early signs are that I have good restriction wihout all the nastiness of pain etc.
It's been a long day and I could do with some food now, so I'm going to have some of my home-made fish soup again, left over from yesterday. This really is a winner, try it - here's the recipe:
1. Cook a boil-in-the-bag cod in parsley sauce in the microwave.
2. Defrost (in the microwave) a good handful of frozen prawns.
3. Boil, on the hob, some small-cut peeled potatoes together with a couple of handfuls of frozen sweetcorn.
4. Chuck all this in the blender with enough milk and/or water (2:1 milk:water is best) to produce the right consistency and add some vegetable (or other) gravy powder/granules.
5. Blend, heat up in the microwave if necessary, eat!
Lovely!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Food - nice things!
Hi all. Things are going quite well today. I slept for about 12 hours last night (in between kicking the cats out of the bedroom!) and sweated like a pig! I had orange juice and sieved Actimel for breakfast and mid-morning tea. At lunch time I tried some of my pumpkin soup - it's lovely! Since then, I've been feeling less bloated than yesterday so am making the most of it! I've had half a glass of low-sugar Ribena and some low fat hot chocolate drink made up with half water, half milk (also lovely). I managed to find some children's chewable multivitamin/mineral in Tesco today - these have a lot more 'stuff' in them than the soluble adult's version. I'll have some more soup later, and then I'm going to treat myself - if I don't feel too bloated by then - with custard! This will work well with my diet plan which says I have to consume quite a lot of milk. If I 'eat' everything I'm planning to, I will reach about 650 calories today.
I checked with my nurse before I left the hospital, roughly how many calories I should be consuming per day and she said 1000-1200. The diet plan I've been given is also just a guide so I am dong my best to make this three-week fluids only phase as interesting as possible. I've got loads of different soups - most of them are very 'smooth' but if in doubt I will put them through the sieve before I eat. I've also got all sorts of sugar-free and low-fat drinks - including the hot chocolate I bought today to introduce as much variety and 'niceness' into my diet as I can.
Post a comment to let us know what 'nice' things you have been eating......
I checked with my nurse before I left the hospital, roughly how many calories I should be consuming per day and she said 1000-1200. The diet plan I've been given is also just a guide so I am dong my best to make this three-week fluids only phase as interesting as possible. I've got loads of different soups - most of them are very 'smooth' but if in doubt I will put them through the sieve before I eat. I've also got all sorts of sugar-free and low-fat drinks - including the hot chocolate I bought today to introduce as much variety and 'niceness' into my diet as I can.
Post a comment to let us know what 'nice' things you have been eating......
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Struggling to consume drinks
I think I spoke too soon in my previous post! Since about midday I have felt very bloated again and really struggling to consume anything. It's now 8.30pm and I've still only managed about 400 calories! I've had waves of tiredness too and have fallen asleep in the chair twice. I did go out for a very gentle stroll for about 30 minutes and this also made me very tired - I was struggling to get home by the end! I'm beginning to wonder whether, at this rate, I'll be OK to go back to work next Monday. I have a really hectic job! I guess I'll just have to pace myself and not expect too much.
I made some more soup earlier - this time its made of one potato, a chunk of pumpkin, red onion and vegetable stock, I boiled it all together, then liquidised it a little, then sieved it to remove lumps. It's made up about 1 litre, which at current progress, will probably last a week! I haven't really had any yet, only tasted it - I'll look forward to it tomorrow.
I made some more soup earlier - this time its made of one potato, a chunk of pumpkin, red onion and vegetable stock, I boiled it all together, then liquidised it a little, then sieved it to remove lumps. It's made up about 1 litre, which at current progress, will probably last a week! I haven't really had any yet, only tasted it - I'll look forward to it tomorrow.
Less bloated today
It's early afternoon and I've already managed 245 calories! An achievement! I am feeling less bloated today and have a little more energy. Also, I feel less tired and lightheaded. This might be partly down to the fact that I had a really good sleep last night. I slept on my right side and this was quite comfortable. I had a good wash when I got up (I cannot shower for 10 days because of the sutures!) and also got hubby to wash my hair for the first time in three days.
I've had half a glass of fresh orange juice, an Actimel (with the orange bits sieved out) and some more broccoli and potato soup (see recipe post). I've also had a couple of sugar-free Polos and some black tea. I will be going for a short walk soon while the weather is still OK. Looked on the gastricband.co.uk web site this morning and there are others who had a band fitted on the same day as me!!
The bariatric nurse from Healthier Weight phoned this morning to see how I was doing. It's nice to know they will keep a close eye on me - especially during the next eight weeks of pre-fill...
I've had half a glass of fresh orange juice, an Actimel (with the orange bits sieved out) and some more broccoli and potato soup (see recipe post). I've also had a couple of sugar-free Polos and some black tea. I will be going for a short walk soon while the weather is still OK. Looked on the gastricband.co.uk web site this morning and there are others who had a band fitted on the same day as me!!
The bariatric nurse from Healthier Weight phoned this morning to see how I was doing. It's nice to know they will keep a close eye on me - especially during the next eight weeks of pre-fill...
Labels:
Calories,
Healthier Weight,
Recipe,
UKGastricBand
Monday, November 17, 2008
Recipe: Broccoli and potato soup
Just finished some very filling homemade soup. I boiled a very small head of broccoli and two medium-small Desiree potatoes. I added a vegetable Oxo cube to the water. Once nice and soft I drained off the veg into a blender and added 35g of Philadelphia cream cheese, some salt, a bit of Marmite (you love it or hate it - I love it!) and lots of the boiling water. I adjusted it a bit for salt, liquid etc and added some more powdered vegetable gravy. This made up a total of 750ml of soup with a total calorific value of about 265. I could only manage about one third of it just now but am hoping to find room for a little more later on!
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