Bariatric surgery is just one step on the way to weight loss. After you leave the hospital and graduate from a liquid diet, you will have to negotiate the aisles at the supermarket. That may be something of a challenge. Unhealthy foods are practically everywhere you look.
Target Healthy Foods
Many grocery stores have apps that help you organize your shopping.
There are ways to avoid temptation and zero-in on the nutritious foods you need. The dietitians at WeightWise will work with you to ensure you understand your nutrition plan. After surgery, your long-term food plan will consist of mainly lean proteins and non-starchy vegetables. Foods high in saturated fats, simple carbohydrates and sugar will be off your list for good.
Your diet will progress from liquid to soft protein to regular consistency foods in the weeks following surgery. Your dietitian will help you understand what you can eat after surgery.
When shopping for your weekly menu, it is best to remember the two P’s: protein and produce. Sticking to this simple rule will help alleviate many of those “can I eat this?” thoughts that occur while shopping.
Plan for Success
Before you go to the grocery store, make a meal plan for the week. Break it down by ingredients. Once your list is compiled, don’t deviate from it. Resolve to buy only what is on the list.
Don’t allow yourself to fall prey to impulse buys. “Out of sight, out of mind,” goes the old saying. Limit your chances of giving in to the siren call of tempting snacks by avoiding aisles that you know contain those items.
Smart Lists
Many chain grocery stores have apps for smartphones. They help you compile a shopping list. They’ll even organize your items by aisle. These apps make shopping quicker and more convenient. Some have additional functions such as showing sale items and coupons.
Apps are handy, but if you don’t want to use one, you can still make a plan to avoid certain areas of a grocery store. Most stores place fresh foods such as produce, dairy and meats at the outer edges of their space. Many of the foods you’ll be buying can be found in those sections.
If It Doesn’t Fit, Don’t Buy It
A lot of people bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Bringing a bag is a great way to go green and limit the use of landfill-clogging plastic bags. But reusable shopping bags can also keep you on the dietary straight and narrow. If you plan carefully and have a clear idea of what you’ll be buying, you can bring the right number of bags. Buy only what will fit in your totes.
Tried-and-True Advice
Don’t shop hungry. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating. Studies confirm what common sense dictates: shopping when you’re famished is a recipe for buying too much. So post-meal shopping only!
New routines take time to become habits. WeightWise is here to help you succeed. Let us know if you need help making sense of your new diet. If you’re considering a bariatric procedure, please make an appointment to attend one of our free informational seminars.
