| After gastric bypass, gastric banding or gastric | | | | beans, eggs and flash frozen poultry and fish |
| sleeve weight loss surgery we know we must | | | | pieces. Stock up on sale items and repackage bulk |
| follow a healthy high protein diet in order to lose | | | | purchases for single meals or single serving sizes |
| weight and maintain weight loss. In these difficult | | | | and freeze to avoid waste. |
| economic times it is natural to be concerned | | | | - When shopping, follow the "Protein First" rule and |
| about the cost of a specialized diet. Follow these | | | | make protein selections first. Look for fresh lean |
| helpful tips to sustain your weight loss surgery | | | | meat, pork and lamb in the meat department. |
| diet without breaking the bank. By making a | | | | Add poultry and fish from the meat department |
| special effort when planning, shopping and | | | | or frozen meat section. Shop for low-fat dairy |
| preparing meals it is painless to save money and | | | | protein and select low-fat cottage cheese and |
| follow a nutritional program to benefit our health | | | | yogurt as well as eggs. Add vegetable based |
| today and in the future. | | | | protein to your diet with canned beans, dried |
| - Make a weekly menu of dinner meals. Focus on | | | | beans and legumes, and tofu products. |
| protein dishes that can be repurposed as lunches. | | | | - Take advantage of locally grown produce |
| Side dishes should be fresh seasonal vegetables | | | | available seasonally at roadside stands and |
| and fruits or frozen vegetables requiring minimal | | | | farmers markets. For an exercise bonus gather |
| preparation. | | | | your produce at "pick-your-own" farms and |
| - Plan two or three "routine" breakfast selections. | | | | orchards to save money and burn calories. |
| Most WLS patients have a lower tolerance for | | | | - Eliminate pricey beverages from your diet in |
| food upon waking and eventually find a few things | | | | favor of filtered tap water. It is less expensive |
| that consistently settle well on their stomach | | | | and better for the environment. Flavor water with |
| pouch first thing in the morning. Have these | | | | a squeeze of fresh lemon or fresh ginger. Add |
| routine selections on hand at all times to avoid | | | | frozen berries for a refreshing treat. Make sun |
| starting the day off with a grumpy pouch. | | | | tea with tea bags instead of buying manufactured |
| - Follow the weekly grocery sale adds and take | | | | tea beverages. You will get a purer beverage and |
| advantage of specials and coupons. Use grocery | | | | save money too. |
| store loyalty cards for added savings. Avoid sales | | | | - Prepare your meals at home rather than eating |
| for processed simple carbohydrates (junk food) | | | | out. You can control the ingredients and avoid |
| because these foods are referred to as "slider | | | | things that interfere with your healthy dietary |
| foods" and they often cause weight gain in WLS | | | | goals following weight loss surgery. |
| patients. Remember, a slider food on sale is still a | | | | - Build on your experience each week to become |
| slider food. | | | | a health savvy and budget wise shopper so that |
| - Purchase items that can be used in multiple | | | | you can enjoy your healthy life following surgical |
| recipes and for different meals such as canned | | | | weight loss. |