Snack Time: The Best Protein For Bariatric Patients

If you have bariatric surgery in Maryland, then you can lose weight and feel better at the same time. However, this doesn’t mean that you can simply sit around and eat whatever you want. You will need to make some lifestyle changes.

This is particularly true in the first couple months after your gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery. Your digestive system is going to be different and your stomach is going to be healing. So good nutrition is going to be key. One of the keys to this nutritional plan is eating high protein foods for bariatric patients.

Protein and Bariatric Patients 101

Protein has a lot of benefits for your body and weight loss goals. Ideally, you would eat around 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Now this may be difficult as you will have a much smaller stomach.

Still, this is the target to move towards. So in this article, let’s talk about ways to eat more high protein and the best snacks to ensure you get your daily nutrition.

Protein For Bariatric Patients: The Importance

The first thing to understand is to eat your proteins first in every meal. That’s almost more important than the type of protein that you eat. As long as you prioritize your protein, you won’t be as hungry for other things like carbs or sugar.

So that being said, let’s talk about some specific foods that you can eat that are great for your muscle, immune system, and fat loss. That’s not to mention the positive effect that protein has on your nails and bones and skin.

Protein After Bariatric Surgery That You Should Eat

Eggs

Eggs are one of the most total and complete sources of protein you can eat. They also taste very rich and are very filling. You can use eggs in a salad, you can eat them for breakfast or even mix them into other foods like soups and pastas.

Meat and Poultry

Chicken is an excellent choice for high protein. Consider chicken soup or even grilled chicken. This is one of the best high protein meals for bariatric patients.

Fish

Eating grilled fish is a wonderful way to get a lot of protein. Fish also has omega 3 fatty acids and other natural nutrients that make them nutritious.

Soy Milk And Tofu

|Soy milk and tofu both have proteins in them. You can add these to salads, soups or anything else. They’re also a nice vegetarian or vegan substitute if you prefer not to eat animal products.

Cottage Cheese Or Yogurt

These have probiotics and protein. This is a nice double bonus if you’re looking to get a lot of nutrients in your diet.

Beans, Lentils And Chickpeas

Any type of bean is a great addition to your meal. They have complex carbohydrates which means your body has to work harder to break them down.

Ultimately this boosts your metabolism and makes you store less fat. They also have a good source of protein.

This being said, what are some things that you should avoid?

Foods to Avoid

Let’s touch on some foods to stay away from briefly. (For a full list, go here). You should avoid sugary foods, fatty foods and acidic foods. And stay away from bread, pasta, cake, candy and soda.

If you stick to vegetables, proteins and the occasional fruit, you’ll be able to keep your weight down and help your body heal.

Learn About Bariatric Surgery Today

Consider reaching out to the experts in bariatric surgery in Maryland right now at Ascension St. Agnes. Our expert doctors are waiting to help you with your weight loss surgery.

You can drop the pounds, gain more energy and ultimately feel the same way you did in your early 20s again. All you have to do is click a button or make a quick phone call and you’re on your way.