Meeting Your Protein Needs

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 09:19

As you are probably already aware, protein consumption is of paramount importance to WLS patients. Without adequate protein, your body will not have enough building blocks for muscle, hair, and tissue growth.

Some people regularly drink protein shakes to make sure they are meeting their daily protein requirements, but others may not like the taste of protein powders and may crave more variety in their diets. Some Lap-Band patients may also have a problem digesting certain protein-rich foods, such as chicken.

Protein suggestions

Some experimentation may be necessary after your surgery to determine which protein-rich foods you can digest. Some people can tolerate hard-boiled eggs, but not scrambled. Fish, seafood, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese are all excellent sources of protein.

Some vegetables are good sources of protein, including broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and even potatoes - just stay away from fries! You can also try adding more beans and legumes into your diet. Use garbanzo beans to make a delicious hummus and serve it with carrots and cucumber for a protein- and nutrient-packed lunch. You can also snack on high-protein foods such as lump crabmeat, low-sodium deli meat and string cheese.

Quinoa

Another food that contains high amounts of protein and many other vitamins and minerals is quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). The protein found in quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce on their own.

Though often thought of as a grain, quinoa is actually the seed from a plant that is related to spinach. A native plant to South American, quinoa was prized by the Incas for its ability to provide stamina to their warriors. Quinoa has a slightly nutty taste and works equally well as a hot side dish or a cold salad. If you can tolerate oatmeal, you should do fine with quinoa. You can usually find it in health food stores or in the health food section of your supermarket.

To cook quinoa, combine ½ cup quinoa with 1 cup water, bring to a boil, and simmer for about 15 minutes. You can also use chicken broth in place of water for more flavor. Mix with diced vegetables for a tasty dinner, or try adding fruit and sliced almonds for a hot breakfast cereal.