Add Veggies to Your Protein for Better Weight Loss

Protein has been taking center stage recently when it comes to weight loss. There are a lot of good reasons, including delaying hunger and keeping you satisfied. It is even more important after bariatric surgery, to help you recover and fight infections.

Still, you are doing yourself a disservice if you put all your eggs in the protein basket. Add vegetables to your diet, and you are likely going to lose more weight in the long run. That is because vegetables are low in calories but high in satisfaction. That means you can get full without filling out. While vegetables are not always the easiest foods to enjoy, The BariatricPal Store has plenty of aids to make them tasty and, often, wrapped in a protein package!

Protein Soups

Protein Soups are ideal tools for upping your veggies in a jif. That’s right: you can have a healthy, hearty soup without cooking away for hours. Try any of these creamy, thick or chunky ideas.

• Cream of Mushroom with sliced mushrooms.
• Cream of Broccoli with broccoli and cauliflower florets.
• Chicken Pasta with sliced carrots and celery and diced onions.
• Beef Bouillon with sliced mushrooms, bok choy, and water chestnuts.
• Corn Chowder with pureed winter squash.

Each of our protein soups has 80 to 120 calories and 12 to 15 grams of protein. Just add water and use the microwave or stove to get it hot. Add your cooked veggies, and enjoy!

Dips

Do you love crunchy snacks, but you know you need some protein with that snack or you don’t want to dip your veggies into fatty dressing? Pair those veggies with protein dips instead! Try dips based on Greek yogurt or non-fat cream cheese mixed with flavorings such as ranch or French onion. Or, check out our Recipes Pages for finds such as Protein Salsa and Cheese Dip.

Salads

Most people think, “salad,” when they think, “weight loss,” but you’re best off being wary of the dressing. It can add 200 or 400 or more calories! You do not need to skimp on flavor, though. Instead, go with portion control and calorie control by grabbing a single-serve packet of Italian or Honey Mustard Lo-Cal Dressing with only 20 to 30 calories. Choose your greens, add a protein, and squeeze on your dressing for a filling weight loss meal.

Gravy

Gravy has its good sides; it is comforting and tasty. It also has its drawbacks; it is fatty and time-consuming to make. Skip the bad and get the good when you pair vegetables with Protein Gravy in Chicken or Black Bean flavors. Each serving has 65 calories and 10 grams of protein, compared to up to 400 calories with 0 grams protein in an order of sausage gravy.

But what can you put gravy on? You can put it on pretty much anything. Here are a few veggies that are screaming out for gravy (you may just have to listen a little more carefully to hear their cries).

• Grilled portabello mushroom caps.
• Pureed cauliflower, carrot, or turnip.
• Roasted root vegetables, such as onions, carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes.
• Steamed green beans or asparagus.

Vegetables can be delicious, and it is easy to pair them with protein if you know how to do it. Enjoy these fun ways to get your protein-packed vegetables without even worrying about roasting a chicken or stocking up on cottage cheese. The goal at The BariatricPal Store is to make weight loss as easy as possible – let us know how we’re doing!