Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am definitely going to try and add some more healthy foods to my new post-op diet.
I have bought quinoa, just not to sure of how to make it. I will look online. lol
I too used to eat very healthy, mediterranian diet, just way too much of everything and a lot of desserts! I am part Lebanese and part Hungarian. Some of the healthiest of foods and some of the worst of foods have been a part of my life. My mother is Hungarian and EVERY meal has to have a gravy or a sour cream base of some sort to it!
The 5 ingredient challenge is a challenge that I am definitely up for!
Keep up the great work and again, thanks for sharing!

Brenda, thanks for sharing and for the challenge!

I am pretty good about cooking healthy meals on the weekends and bring leftovers for lunch to work, but once they are gone I rely on lunchmeat and cheese wraps for the remainder of the week.

What I should be doing is grilling up several chicken breasts or slices of pork tenderloin and eating that for my lunches instead of eating processed lunchmeat. I think I'll give that a try.

Thanks for reminding us that we are worth the time and effort to have real healthy food and not rely on processed foods and/or fast foods.

Keep on keeping on!
Sherri

I am still pre op but it's a great way to get my body ready for surgery with the right foods. Thank you

Fantastic information. Pre-op I had a pretty healthy diet - no fast food, no soda to speak of, any prepared foods I had I got from Trader Joe's - organic and usually vegan. It's so much easier to do the post-op starting with basic ingredients and cooking yourself. I mean - a breast of chicken will last me 5 days now! LOL!

Thanks for your posting. Good ideas. I can get in a rut with food and then it makes grazing look more attractive. Will try some of these ideas. By the way, you look great. What an accomplishment! S

Do you cook the quinoa before mixing it into your meatloaf?

I do NOT pre-cook my quinoa before adding to meatloaf - as I find it an unnecessary step. I also love TVP in my meatloaf - if I didn't say that already ;) TVP looks like Grape Nuts but is soy protein -- it adds bulk, protein, without being a bread like filler.