Nutrition

Eating Disorders Awareness Week and Bariatric Surgery in Connecticut

February 25, 2014

This year over 10 million men and 20 million women in America will be affected by a clinically recognized eating disorder. An additional unnumbered amount of Americans will struggle with eating disorders in private without diagnosis or treatment. As we raise awareness during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we urge our patients at Griffin Bariatrics to learn about eating disorders so that you can provide support to those need treatment, or seek treatment for yourself, if needed. Eating Disorders Don’t Have a “Type” Appearances are often not an indicator of someone who struggles with an eating disorder. In fact, often people are surprised to learn that a loved one has been struggling with eating. People with a food disorder come from different races and sexes, and come in all shapes and sizes. Eating Disorders That Can Affect Bariatric Patients Binge Eating Disorder (BED), unlike anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, has a fairly equal balance of men and women, with nearly 40% of BED sufferers being male. BED is the most common eating disorder and is characterized by eating until uncomfortably full,... Read More

Protein Shake Recipes After Bariatric Surgery

February 21, 2014

If you’ve attended one of Griffin’s free weight loss surgery seminars, or you have recently scheduled your surgery at our Connecticut center, than most likely you’ve learned that after bariatric surgery your body needs time to heal and become accustomed to eating smaller portions. That means a change in diet. With the help of your surgeon and a nutritionist, you’ll learn how to follow a liquid and soft food diet until your body is ready to eat small portions of regular food again (about 12 weeks). After surgery it is essential that your body gets plenty of proteins without heading to your local steak house. Proteins are essential because they help your body stay full, regulate blood sugar, and maintain muscle mass. So, how do you get in enough protein, especially during the first liquid phase of your diet? Protein shakes! Luckily for us, protein shakes come in all kinds of flavors these days. Many health food stores even sell single servings of different flavors and brands so you can find one you like before committing to a large canister.... Read More

Bariatric Friendly Superbowl Snacks

January 29, 2014

The big game is coming our way soon. You've got your jerseys, your pompoms, the war paint… All you need is some tasty food to nosh on. But what are you going to serve at the big event now that you are post-bariatric surgery? After all, during those tense moments you will be too focused on the game to make good food choices, right? We propose making all your snacks bariatric friendly so you don't have to worry about what you're munching. Your guests won’t know the difference. Healthy Superbowl Snack Ideas Edamame – Edamame are fresh, green soybeans. Loaded with protein, these tasty pods are perfect for bariatric patients. Pick them up at the supermarket in the frozen foods isle, nuke them for a few minutes and serve them warm with a bit of kosher salt. Shrimp Cocktail – This is the easiest snack that makes a big impression. Substitute a little less cocktail sauce for a little more lemon juice and you have yourself a delicious protein-rich snack. White Bean Dip – Put the rinsed contents of a... Read More

Bariatric Formulated Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements are Necessary for Optimal Health After Weight Loss Surgery

December 27, 2013

Recently, there have been news headlines saying that you are wasting your money buying vitamin and mineral supplements. These headlines were based on a recent study that looked at the effectiveness of vitamins in regards to disease prevention. The study suggested that you would be better of saving your money and eating a balanced diet. However, we recommend that all bariatric surgery patients take daily multivitamins and mineral supplements to prevent possible deficiencies. Are you wasting your money? Here is our answer: Maybe. But before we get to how not to waste your money, let’s make one thing clear: daily multivitamin and mineral supplements are a requirement after weight loss surgery in order to ensure proper nutrition. This is true regardless if you are eating a healthy, organic, well-balanced diet or not. Bariatric surgery like the Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy affect how some nutrients are being absorbed. Even if you had a purely restrictive procedure like the Lap-Band, the quantity of food consumption is so greatly reduced that it would be very difficult to reach optimal nutrition on food... Read More

Fall Recipes Can Be Very Bariatric Friendly

November 14, 2013

Fall, with it’s chilly daytime temperatures, is in full swing in Connecticut. Most of us are looking for delicious comfort foods that keep both our body and soul warm. We are looking for simple recipes that make our homes smell wonderful and that require spending minimal hours in the kitchen, so we can curl up with a good book by the fire and enjoy some time relaxing before dinner. The good news is that slow cooking, such as stewing or using a crockpot, make meats extraordinarily tender and bariatric friendly. After bariatric surgery, such as the Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy or the Lap-Band, some meats can be harder to digest. Mainly, this is because foods need to be chewed thoroughly, since the stomach is not able to further break down food. Meat that is dry, such as chicken breast meat or tougher cuts of beef, can be difficult to digest for some. The key to easy digestion is to keep lean protein moist. Fall cooking naturally lends itself to tender meat. As a bariatric patient, you want to look for... Read More

Previous Page Next Page