Kitchen Equipment to help Banders

Hello!
I'm preparing for surgery on August 9th and wanted to know if I should invest in a kitchen scale? A high-end blender?

Normally, I use the packages info to give me an idea of how many oz. or grams an item is, but I know that after surgery I might need to be more specific.

Do you all have kitchen scales to measure food out exactly? Do measuring cups work welll enough?

I know that you want to eat things that give you a sense of full-ness, but for the days when solids don't feel so great (right after surgery or post fill) is it good to have a good blender to make protein enhanced healthy smoothies?

What other kitchen equipment/gadgets have helped you prepare your meals?

 Get a blender bottle from GNC for your shakes ($8).  Walmart carries the Magic Bullet, it is the best do-all machine for post op liquids and softs.  I never had to use a scale, measuring cups are nice enough, nothing too fancy.  I think that should be about all you need!  Good luck!

I currently use a Tupperware Quick Shake for my protein shakes... I have been doing protein shakes in the mornings for almost 9 months now.

Do the GNC ones have measurements printed on the side? 

I'll have to check out the bullet! I've always seen it, but wondered if it was any good :)

Thanks!!!

Hello and congrats on your up coming banding!

I bought a set of scales to weigh my meat. As well as other ingredients for recipes that require weight not volume. (4 oz of weight is different than 1/2 cup) I bought mine at Walmart for just under $10!!! It works great! I have my good ole stand by blender I use for blending. It's glass. I have had it for about 9 years now! I also use a mini chopper for pureeing a single serving of meat (when I was on mushies). Measuring cups work well too!
If you have a blender, I would use it. Why purchase something if you already have one at home that works well?? Just IMHO.
Hugs~
Robin

Less than $10 is awesome. I think I will go ahead and get one if it's that inexpensive!

As far as blenders go...I have one, but it's old and basic and I don't know that it can handle ice very well. The easier to clean and more convenient the better. My husband and I are both the kind of people who need some conveniences to survive! LOL 

That bullet system looks very promising. Gets good reviews and folks mention that it's easy to clean.

I am definately the 'kitchen gadget Queen" LOL or so my hubby says!

I have watched the infomercial for the bullet soooo many times... I really want one.. but I can't justify the expense at the moment.. Grrr... It looks sooo easy to use! I do believe that it would be beneficial to a lap band journey! (notice I didn't say the diet word? lol) I haven't given up hope, still trying to make the budget work to get one! LOL (never thought about checking out Wally world!)
A friend of mine gave me a gadget, have no idea what it's called.. but it shaves ice (not a snowcone maker, the ice is too fine). Just put in ice at the top and turn the handle...I gave it to my son to use(he's 8 and very enthusiastic about gadgets too!).. well, we ran out of ice but had a large bowl of shaved ice!
For my birthday my mom gave me a juicer! I use it all of the time to make fresh tomato juice, orange juice.. it comes with recipes for smoothies and such for healthy drinks. It helped alot when I was on liquids.. no pulp!!
I would say.. GO FOR THE BULLET!! (if it's in your budget! hehe)

I got a relatively inexpensive kitchen scale (under $20.00) and I've used it every day.
I calibrated the scale so I can weigh my food on a styrofoam plate and get an accurate weight.
I also use measuring cups if needed.
I was shocked at what 4 oz actually looks like compared to what I thought it looked like!
I never depend on my band to tell me I'm done eating..I weigh and measure the food before I sit down to eat it and that's it. Meal's over..No seconds..
I highly recommend getting a scale for good portion control.
I have a blender but since I've never done shakes, I never use it except to make low carb Margarita's!
I wasn't one that could tolerate "blenderized food" post op (so gross!) ..I just ate cottage cheese and pulverized egg salad during the pureed stage.

Yeah, the idea of "blenderized foods" doesn't sit too well with me either! LOL Especially meats....blech! A friend of mine said he blended down lite chicken noodle soup during his post-op stage... which sounds horrid. lol

But, I'll do whatever I have to do if it comes down to it!

Pureed meat..OMG, so nasty!! Might as well just eat baby food!
My pureed food stage was only 7 days..I survived just fine without eating totally gross stuff! LOL
My Dr. said we have such large stores of nutrients in our bodies and we don't need to worry about too much during the liquid and pureed stages..my opinion is if it wasn't soft and mushy in it's natural state I wasn't about to blenderize it to make it that way!!

I've been wondering how I was going to get passed that stage...  I cannot stomach the thought of pureed meat.  Someone at the Dr's office mentioned baby food meat, um, NO WAY!!!

Maybe mushy beans?  For the protein?  I don't know.