Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch and Cancer Update

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Today's protein packed delicious menu...

Breakfast: Chilly AM but I felt up to a walk and I took my breakfast with me. I love these Cottage Cheese Doubles (Knudsen/Breakstone) they have a little section of fruit goo, the goo has some sugars, so if you are super sensitive add in moderation. I get the Pineapple ones, lowest sugars of all their flavors and I have no issues with it. I took a little baggie of Protein Granola that I sprinkled in. I like the crunch.

I make a lot of different flavors of Protein Granola (Spiced Chai, Chocolate, Espresso) but this time I made it with Double Stuffed Cookie (aka Oreo) Protein and tossed a few pieces of freeze dried Banana into it after it cooled. Yum!

Shelly's Protein Granola

1/4 cup Oatmeal, dry
1/4 cup Double Stuffed Cookie Protein Powder (any whey or whey isolate protein powder works great)
1/4 cup chopped Nuts (any, I used Pecans & Almonds)
1 Tablespoon Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Sugar-Free Vanilla Torani Syrup

Squeeze together with your hands till clumps form. You need to use your hands for this one. Place on a Pam sprayed, foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Let it cool. It crisps as it cools. Crumble into smaller bite-sized pieces. When completely cool, store in an airtight container. This a great snack on a hike or topping for protein ice cream, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, protein pudding or yogurt.

More Eggface High Protein Breakfast Recipes and Ideas

For those following along... I had my Post Thyroid Cancer Surgery Check-up and the Pathology Report was great. Looks like my surgeon got it all. It was a single tumor (stage 1) encased in the center of my right thyroid and no other area was affected. Obviously I have to keep checking the area with periodic ultrasounds but for now, I am all clear. Feeling blessed. Next step is an appointment with an Endocrinologist who will be looking at blood tests (TSH, T3, T4, Calcitonin) to determine if my left thyroid is kicking in and picking up the slack. Fingers crossed, it'll mean little to no medication. I'm still a little more tired than I should be and I have had a few too many headaches lately though that could be from the stress of all the "patient responsibility" portion of the medical bills that are rolling in... oh and suddenly having a car payment again thanks to the Christmas Eve car scrooges. If any of my blog pals win the Powerball this weekend and have an extra $5000 they can spare you'll have a pal for life... I should probably play... I mean there's a 5% chance of a thyroid nodule turning out to be thyroid cancer and mine was. I figure I will either win the lottery next or umm get hit by lightning. LOL, maybe you shouldn't stand too close to me in a rainstorm that's all I'm saying ;)

Catch-up on my Thyroid Cancer journey: Part 1: Diagnosis, Part 2: Treatment Plan, Part 3: Surgery/Recovery

OK Back to the food...

Lunch: If you are jonesing for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich you should try this. I make a batch of Savory Ricotta Pancakes and use them like the "bread" by sprinkling a little cheese in the middle and warming them in a nonstick pan till the cheese is melted and gooey. Soooo good.

Shelly's Savory Ricotta Pancakes

1 Egg, beaten
1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 Tablespoon Chives
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1 Green Onion, diced fine
dash of Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Mix pancake ingredients together. Spray non-stick pan with Pam. Cook on low till bubbles appear, flip. Cook till done. Makes 8 pancakes (about the size of the container those BreathSavers 3 Hour Mints that I love, about 3"-ish across.) These pancakes can be made ahead and reheated.

For the Grilled Cheese "Sandwiches" Pancakes: You'll need a little sprinkle or 1/4 of a slice of some good melting cheese... I use Colby, Jack, or Muenster cheese mostly.

Cook's Note: I used whole milk ricotta if you use part skim. Drain through a mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter for several hours or overnight in the fridge. Avoid ricotta that says "creamier formula" you want regular ricotta.

More Eggface Pancakes Savory and Sweet

Dinner: I made Mini Meatloaves for dinner the other night so dinner was already done basically. I have found the trick to eating leftovers as a post-op is to keep things from drying out. I love this gadget for that. You put a couple of tablespoons of water in the base and it steam heats the food. One of the best post-op gadgets in my kitchen.

Shelly's Greek Mini Meatloaf

1 1/4 pounds Ground Beef (or Turkey)
1/4 cup Oatmeal, dry
1/4 cup Milk
1 Egg, beaten
1 Yellow Onion, diced
1/4 cup Sliced Black Olives
1/3 cup Feta Cheese, crumbled
1 teaspoon Oregano
a few twists of Black Pepper

Soak oatmeal in milk for 1 minute (you can use almond meal or bread crumbs if you do bread) Beat egg. Add egg and soaked oats to ground meat. Saute onions until slightly golden. Set aside to cool. Combine cooled onions and all remaining ingredients together. Divide into 8 equal mounds. Form into mini meatloaves or if you have this super groovy pan like me use it. Bake for 45 minutes in a 350-degree oven. These freeze well either cooked or uncooked.

I served them originally with a salad and the leftovers I served with cooked chickpea sprinkled with a little Zaatar seasoning.

More Eggface Bariatric Friendly Dinner Recipes

Snacks: Coffee, Tea (so sad Trader Joe's discontinued my favorite Rooibos & Honeybush so I'm savoring the last few bags) and I made a protein shake when I got back from my walk: Celebrate Vitamins Wildberry Protein 20 single serve packet, Almond Milk, Ice.

More Eggface Favorite Protein Shake Recipes
More Eggface Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Check your thyroid.