Snacking question

At my last 2 vists with my nutritionist (1 more to go before submitting to ins.!), she has said after surgery, I am not to snack because she says it it just extra calories. I usually have a snack around 10 a.m. at work since I get hungry then. It seems that if you're hungry, then why not have a snack?

 

My nutritionist encorages no snacking because it encourages behavior you are trying to change.  They want you to create new habits of eating and approaching food differently.  After surgery you might be surprised that you don't get hungry and won't need to snack.  Good Luck

I agree (I bet we have the same nutritionist) she did say that since I have an early lunch and quite a bit of time till dinner I could have a carnation drink, but otherwise I don't feel hungry. At least not yet!! You probably won't feel hungry, you'll be surprised!!

I get up at 5 and i'm at work at 7 and lunch is 12.. so thats a big stretch being that we're supposed to eat breakfast within 90mins of waking up (according to my NUT/MD)..

So she said eat closer to 5 when you wake up, and yes a mid morning snack is appropriate then because thats a LONG time till lunch. So around 8-9am i should have a snack- but to keep it as low calorie/low fat as possible and HIGH protein. So a hard boiled egg for example. Something that keeps my metabolism going till lunch.

For the liquid post surgery diet i'll have a shake when i get up, the again something liquid at 9, then 12, then 4-5pm.. Since I wake up/work early I need to adjust my eating to that. Weekends will be different because I can wake up and start eating when I want to and no time constraints for lunch hour like at work. So I'll stick to the 3 meals then..

 

You will find what works for YOU after surgery! If you actually feel hunger early out, I would be surprised. It is SO incredibly hard to imagine that right now, but it is absolutely true. Trust me, I had a big 'ol appetite & stomach and I couldn't fathom it either. Until now!

3 small meals are typically sufficient, but if you do not get your necessary protein grams in, then a protein snack or shake may be needed.

I personally do not eat by the clock necessarily, nor do I focus on 3 square meals. It's just not possible for me this early out yet. Instead, I eat protein rich foods several times during any given day.

Like I said, you will find what works for you. Just remember to get your liquids and protein in after surgery, liquids are so important as it doesn't take much for dehydration to settle in.

Thanks for all the great responses! I really can't imagine not being hungry now but I will look forward to that NOT being the case after surgery.

I started following the  NUT suggestion to the letter.  I eat lunch around 11:45, dinner at 6:30, and found that I was really and truly hungry in mid-afternoon, around 3:30-ish.  She finally said it was okay to eat something in the mid afternoon since it was such a long stretch.  I added a protein shake or CIB, and the next thing you know . . . I'm into the wanting to snack everyday at 3:30.  It is a struggle every day and I feel the impulse to graze is so strong.  Wish I would've never started it. I now wonder what would've happened if I would've just drank more water in the afternoon.  Good luck. You'll find what works best for you.