Enjoying Thanksgiving after Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery can turn your life around, but it can also turn your life upside down. Thanksgiving after bariatric surgery can be very different than it was before surgery. Many of the traditional foods may not be allowed on your diet.
But you can still enjoy Thanksgiving after bariatric surgery. It can start with thinking about what you are thankful for - maybe your health, family, or strength? And then, you can eat foods that are on your meal plan, but that taste great and are easy to make! We have plenty of them, so take your pick!
Sin-less Sides
Turkey is no problem on Thanksgiving, as long as you are back up to a solid foods diet. Just take off the skin, cut it well, and have a small portion. You will get a lot of carb-free protein! But the sides can be a different story, with carb and fat-laden potatoes, casseroles, and stuffing. The BariatricPal Store has some ideas.
These are some of our picks for easy, low-carb sides.
- Protein Mashed Potatoes in Sour Cream and Chives flavor, or Mashed Hearts of Palm.
- Protein Macaroni and Cheese, which is portion-controlled and ready in seconds.
- Protein Soup in flavors such as Broccoli Cheddar and Chicken with Pasta
Simple Swaps
We also have ingredients that can lower carbs or increase protein in many favorite dishes. For example, try using Cream of Mushroom Protein Soup in green bean or other creamy casseroles, or top them with Pork Panko or crushed Nuts instead of breadcrumbs. For an appetizer, switch Protein Chips for regular, and dip them into Protein Cheese Dip.
There are many salads you can make healthier, too. For a green salad, try toasting Zero Carb Bread with olive oil and garlic to use for croutons, and serve them with Walden Farms Calorie-Free Dressing, or 3 Zeros Dressing, in flavors such as in Ranch, Greek, Mango, Italian, and Balsamic Style Vinaigrette. If you like creamy salads, Calorie-Free Mayo can help.
Low-Sugar Thanksgiving Desserts
You can have your cake and eat it, too, when you choose low-sugar or sugar-free Protein Desserts. Protein Cheesecake in Classic, Key Lime, and Blueberry are great alternatives to the regular version. And Pumpkin Spice Hot Protein Latte can get you through dessert without overeating regular pumpkin pie or other pies.
The Morning After
If you went a bit over your limits on Thanksgiving, it is no problem. The best thing you can do is to get right back on track the next morning. Protein Pumpkin Spice Pancakes can help you get a good, low-carb breakfast without even being tempted by high-calorie leftover pumpkin pie. And if you used to eat the leftover cheesecake for breakfast, try Protein Cheesecake this year instead.
A happy and healthy Thanksgiving is possible after bariatric surgery. You can enjoy this holiday by being thankful for what you have and by choosing great-tasting foods that help you stay on track with your weight loss goals. The BariatricPal Store has tons of delicious, low-carb foods, snacks, and desserts that are easy to make so you can spend more time doing things that really matter.
