LivingAfterWLS NeighborhoodCommunity Kitchen

Vegetarian Burgers

Directions:

To prepare burgers place the beans, garlic, mayonnaise, chili sauce, and lime juice in the bowl of a food process. Pulse to process until well blended, but still lumpy. Stir in the bread crumbs, green onions, salt and pepper. Divide into four equal portions and shape into patties, place on a plastic lined plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour or over night.

Just before cooking dredge the veggie patties in flour, shaking off the excess. In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat. Pan fry the patties for 3 minutes per side or until browned and crisp on the outside and heated through.

Place the cooked veggie burgers on the toasted hamburger buns and serve with the lettuce, tomato slices, onions, pickles, and cheese.

Each veggie burger provides about 16 grams of protein per serving. Beans are an outstanding source of low-fat high-fiber protein as well as many minerals and nutrients. A one-cup serving of pinto beans provides 74 percent daily value of folate, 48 percent daily value manganese, 27 percent daily value of potassium. Vegetarians, and meat eaters alike, who build a diet around plant foods such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables benefit from Mother Nature's disease fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals that promote wellness and longevity. Plant foods are found to be, in many cases, lower in cost than animal and dairy protein.

Beans are an excellent protein choice in a high protein diet because they are a low-Glycemic Index carbohydrate which means they will not significantly impact blood insulin levels. Low-GI carbohydrates are believed to reduce insulin levels, lower cholesterol levels, help control appetite, decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes and improve overall health. Vegetarians who are following a high protein diet after weight loss surgery can enjoy these veggie burgers as part of their healthy diet.

Parmesan Tuna Patties

By

Kaye Bailey

Regardless of the procedure, patients of stomach reduction surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity are instructed to follow a high protein diet to stimulate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers espouse what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is to eat protein first. This is true for all stomach reduction and restriction procedures including gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band), and gastric sleeve.

Protein is an essential building block for muscle, blood, skin, hair, and nails. We need it for muscle repair, for building natural immunities, and for proper growth and development. Every cell in the human body depends on it, which is why it is important to get the recommended allowance every day. A high protein diet that is low in carbohydrates and low in fat is believed to promote weight loss due to the metabolic impact of protein. It has the highest thermic effect at 20-30% of all food elements. That means the energy expended during digestion and absorption of protein is 20-30% more than the energy (caloric) content of the food. It takes more energy (calories) to digest and absorb protein than the energy (calories) it contains. In other words, the body must tap into stored energy resources, body fat, to get the job of digestion done. That is why a high protein diet triggers fat loss.

Based on a 1,200 calorie a day diet weight loss surgery patients are counseled by their bariatric nutritionists to eat from 60 to 105 grams of protein a day. This recommendation varies by patient and by nutritionist. For adults without gastric surgery the standard protein intake calculations go like this:

Average protein recommendation:

.36(g) x body weight (lbs) = grams protein per day

Higher protein recommendation:

0.68 (g) x body weight (lbs) = grams protein per day

Animal products are the most nutrient rich source of protein and include fish, shellfish, poultry and meat. Dairy protein, including eggs, is another excellent source of protein. In fact, the quality of egg protein is so great that scientists typically use eggs as the standard to measure protein quality in other foods. On overage, one ounce of animal or dairy protein contains 6-7 grams of protein as well as many other minerals and vitamins. Nuts and legumes are a fair source of protein but are significantly higher in fat than carefully selected lean animal protein. Also, due to their high fiber content, they may be more difficult for some gastric surgery patients to digest.

For weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food, protein is not always the most comfortable food choice, particularly lean animal protein. It is essential that gastric weight reduction patients chew their food thoroughly to avoid discomfort when eating. The high protein diet must be sustained even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain. A diet high in protein works to reduce snacking or grazing because protein foods help you feel more full compared to eating the same amount of starch, sugar, or fat. That satisfied feeling can make it easier to eat fewer calories while you lose weight.

Often when we hear about a diet that puts the body in a state of ketosis we are fearful having heard that ketosis is a potentially dangerous imbalance of blood glucose, the result of a low carbohydrate, high fat high protein diet. Ketosis results when the body switches from burning glucose for energy to burning ketones for energy. Glucose comes from carbohydrates which are the body's first choice to metabolize for energy. Ketones are used for energy when there is not enough glucose (from carbohydrates) present in the bloodstream to use for energy.

Three Keys to Lasting Weight Management
Nearly a quarter-million people in the United States will undergo weight loss surgery this year to arrest their morbid obesity and lose weight. In spite of the drastic nature of gastric surgeries not all patients will reach a healthy weight and some may eventually regain weight they lost initially with surgery. Read full article.

Sometimes all it takes is a new recipe to get our enthusiasm going for the Protein First eating of weight loss surgery. Linked below are just a sampling of the many great recipes offered in the LivingAfterWLS Kitchen website and on the 5 Day Pouch Test website. You are sure to find something inspiring to enjoy tonight! Take a look!

5 Day Pouch Test Recipes:

Good for Any Day!

High Protein Pudding

(Days 1&2 - Liquids)
 

Turkey Egg Salad

(Day 3 - Soft Protein)

Salisbury Steak

(Day 4 - Firm Protein)

Keys-Style Citrus Chicken

(Day 5 - Solid Protein)