Thanksgiving Survival Guide: After Bariatric Surgery

Tiny Tummy Tips, Issue #45-- Annual Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Reminding You How to Enjoy Thanksgiving After Bariatric Surgery

In This Issue

Thanksgiving is a Verb

Take time to give thanks. For everything.

Be thankful for how far you’ve come…even if you’re not where you want to ultimately be. Make a list of any non-scale victories you’ve enjoyed!

Read More About Non Scale Victories (NSVs)

If you haven’t had your surgery yet, be thankful you’ve started on the journey. If you’ve had surgery and have experienced weight regain, be thankful for the “tool” you have and know it can work for you again.

Live everyday with an attitude of gratitude. Use Thanksgiving Day to remind yourself to do so. Gratitude changes everything.

I’m grateful for you. Thank you for the time you take to read the words I write.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy, healthy and delicious Thanksgiving Day!!!!

What Your Thanksgiving Plate Could Include:

Clear Liquid Diet Stage

Full Liquid Diet

Pureed/Soft Diet

-OR-

• All natural, no sugar added applesauce. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice
• Plain nonfat Greek yogurt + canned pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie filling) + vanilla extract. Sprinkle with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

-OR-

• Plain nonfat Greek yogurt + pumpkin pie extract. Sprinkle with cinnamon
• Sugar free vanilla pudding + fat free cool whip. Sprinkle with nutmeg

Regular Diet

• 1-4 ounces turkey (adding a small amount of gravy will help it go down better)
• Unlimited green vegetables: Steamed green beans (not traditional green bean casserole), salad
• ½ cup max COMBINED of any of the “yummy carby stuff”
• 3 bites of your favorite dessert

Eat in this order. ALWAYS:

• PROTEIN 1st (turkey or ham)
• VEGETABLES OR FRUITS 2nd (green beans, salad, fruit salad)
• CARBS/STARCH Last (Stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn, rolls, etc.)

When you fill up on protein and produce, it almost IMPOSSIBLE to overeat the carbs!

PRO TIPS

Bring a Healthy Dish

EVERYONE can benefit from a healthier recipe. Pinterest is my go-to for things like:

• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Low Carb Stuffing
• “Unstuffed Stuffing”

-And-

• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Low sugar cranberry sauce

• Sugar free apple
• Low fat pumpkin pie
See My Thanksgiving Pinterest Board

Make It Look Fun!

These turkey shaaped crudites platters are my personal favorite. I always make one at Thanksgiving for my family. It’s fun to watch it get gobbled up because it looks so cute!

Get Rid of Leftovers

• Purchase inexpensive plastic containers you can fill up with leftovers and send home with your guests.
• Give them to neighbors
• Take them to work
• Donate them to a shelter

If all else fails. Throw leftovers away. Sounds tough, I know! But “throw them out or thrown them in. Either way they will go to waste…or waist!”

(Maybe cook less to begin with?!)

P.S. Accountability Matters

Say What You’ll Do. Do What You Say.

It might look like this:

“I’m going to eat turkey first, then a few brussels sprouts, then 4 bites of my favorites- stuffing and sweet potatoes! I’m going to savor each bite vs. gobbling it down. Please kindly remind me to slow down if you see me eating kinda fast. When dessert comes, I’m going to get up from the table and go for a walk.”

Publicly saying what you’ll do, helps you do it. Try it and see!

Track your Intake

Enjoy the day! In Gratitude, Suzette Kroll, RDN

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Comments? Ideas? Feedback?

See you in the next issue!

In Health,