During the first few weeks after gastric sleeve, you need proteins to heal and recover from surgery. A minimum of 60 grams of proteins are needed daily. Some examples of high protein food items include meat, cheese, eggs, beans, tofu, yogurt, milk, and nuts. Since your stomach is smaller now, you need to make sure you get at least 10 to 15 grams of proteins per meal. Your meal will initially consist of full liquids and a protein shake is a great way to get the proteins you need. Try to have several small meals throughout the day. Get your proteins first then think about the carbohydrates. Several weeks after surgery, you can get all your daily protein needs from regular food. You can still use protein shakes as snacks or meal replacements. However, bariatric surgery is not about living on protein shakes for the rest of your life. Healthy eating after weight loss surgery is of paramount importance to ensure durable weight loss. Healthy eating, however, is more fun and much more diverse than a protein shake. In the subsequent blogs for this month, I will go over the concepts of proper nutrition after sleeve or bypass surgery. For now, please enjoy these protein shake recipes.
Berry Bomb
1 scoop of whey protein isolate (vanilla)
½ cup of diet cran-grape juice
½ cup approved milk of your choice
½ cup frozen blueberries
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry
1 scoop of whey protein isolate (chocolate)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
½ cup frozen strawberries
Far-out Fruitopia
1 scoop whey protein isolate (vanilla)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
¼ cup fresh or frozen mango
¼ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
1 scoop whey protein isolate (vanilla)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
¼ cup fresh or frozen strawberry
¼ cup fresh or frozen banana
Apple Pie
1 scoop whey protein isolate (vanilla)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (may freeze in cubes)
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Green Goddess
1 scoop whey protein isolate (chocolate)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ frozen banana
¼ cup frozen blueberries
1 cup leafy greens (spinach)
Watermelon-Basil Smash
1 scoop whey protein isolate (vanilla)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
¼ cup frozen (cubed) watermelon
2-3 leaves fresh basil
½ cup fresh spinach
Cucumber-mint Cooler
1 scoop whey protein isolate (vanilla)
1 cup approved milk of your choice
7 frozen grapes
½ cucumber (preferably frozen)
2-3 fresh mint leaves