As you make your holiday wish list, Bailey Bariatrics dietitian Rene Norman, RD/LD, would like you to keep in mind some important tools for the bariatric patient. Having equipment that will measure your food, mix your protein shakes or puree food, make your food by cooking or baking and move your food with you will help you stay on track with your nutrition.
Measuring your food helps you understand how much you can eat and how much protein you are getting each day. Helpful tools for your nutrition include measuring cups and spoons, small and reusable plastic containers, blender/shaker cups, blending machines and food scales. With measuring cups, ask for a set that measures from 1/8 to a full cup. The 1/8 cup is also 2 tablespoons, which is one ounce. When you are able to start eating more solid food after surgery, we encourage you to eat slowly. This means one ounce every 10 minutes. The 1/8 cup measure can be your first eating dish.
Investing in good quality equipment can save you in the long run. The heavy gauge stainless steel measuring cups and measuring spoons I bought 30 years ago are still in great shape. Small, reusable plastic containers can be a great way to practice portion control. These can be found in regular grocery stores in the paper goods section. Food containers, insulated lunch bags and coolers can keep your food cold to take to work or while you travel. Blenders run the gamut from traditional blenders to the Ninja, Magic and NutriBullets and up to the venerable Vitamix systems. The Promixx Vortex Portable Blender is the new kid on the block.
Click here for a more extended list of products you can put on your holiday wish list. This list can also be used year-round for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Valentine’s Day, “I’ve just lost my first 20 pounds” Day, or simply just because. Watch for sales and coupons to help lower the cost. Happy shopping, whether by car or by click!