After meals ideas?

[anamor77]

Hello I am on day 5 and I have experienced the headaches and fatigue for sure. Well my other issue is usually after I eat I want something sweet or minty.  I know we can't have anything sugary, mints or gum.  Any ideas on what to do for this craving? I really didn't used to chew gum, because of aspartame and makes me really thirsty. But I always ate something sweet or had mints. 

[kirkor]

Brush your teeth?

[Derek`]

Also, try a nice glass of cold water.  Or add a slice of lemon or cucumber to water, or a mint leaf in your water.

[anamor77]

I've had weight loss surgery and have a small stomach.  So right now it's been over an hour and I still am not able to drink anything. I usually have to wait over an hour or longer to actually drink anything. I will try to eat less and maybe eat a little fruit after my meal to get that sweet feeling and brush my teeth too. 

[ShannonM816]

 I will try to eat less and maybe eat a little fruit after my meal to get that sweet feeling and brush my teeth too. 

 

Actually, while fruit would be Whole30 compliant, if you want to no longer crave sweets after your meals, the best thing to do would be to eat protein, fat, and veggies, and skip the fruit for a while. Or only have it with something -- like a salad with some chopped apple in it, chicken salad with some grapes in it, or pork chops topped with baked apple. If you crave sweet after a meal, and have something sweet after a meal -- even something compliant and healthy like fruit -- you'll just be reinforcing that craving instead of fighting it.

 

Also, since you have a smaller stomach and may not be able to eat enough in just three meals to meet the minimum template amounts, you might benefit from having more meals throughout the day, but make them all with protein, fat, and veggies. You could even make up a meal that meets the minimum template amount, eat as much as is comfortable, eating from all three groups (protein, fat, and vegetables), wrap up what's left, and then when you're hungry again, have the rest.

[anamor77]

Actually, while fruit would be Whole30 compliant, if you want to no longer crave sweets after your meals, the best thing to do would be to eat protein, fat, and veggies, and skip the fruit for a while. Or only have it with something -- like a salad with some chopped apple in it, chicken salad with some grapes in it, or pork chops topped with baked apple. If you crave sweet after a meal, and have something sweet after a meal -- even something compliant and healthy like fruit -- you'll just be reinforcing that craving instead of fighting it.

 

Also, since you have a smaller stomach and may not be able to eat enough in just three meals to meet the minimum template amounts, you might benefit from having more meals throughout the day, but make them all with protein, fat, and veggies. You could even make up a meal that meets the minimum template amount, eat as much as is comfortable, eating from all three groups (protein, fat, and vegetables), wrap up what's left, and then when you're hungry again, have the rest.

You are so right, I am trying to get rid of those bad habits and I need to fight it.  So it is not a good idea to have just plain fruit? I have been snacking on fruit and veggies in between my meals, because again my portions are small and I usually have to eat every 2-3 hours. 

As far as my  meal planning I need to do the template amount and split it up in two meals. I was just having less since I can't eat more than 3-4 oz of food at a time especially the protein, but yes my meals have consisted of those 3 things the protein, fat, and veggies.  

[ShannonM816]

You are so right, I am trying to get rid of those bad habits and I need to fight it.  So it is not a good idea to have just plain fruit? I have been snacking on fruit and veggies in between my meals, because again my portions are small and I usually have to eat every 2-3 hours. 

As far as my  meal planning I need to do the template amount and split it up in two meals. I was just having less since I can't eat more than 3-4 oz of food at a time especially the protein, but yes my meals have consisted of those 3 things the protein, fat, and veggies.  

 

Three template-sized meals would make up the minimum amount of food you need in a day -- so if you can't eat a whole meal's worth in one sitting, you still need to eat three meals' worth total throughout the day, to be sure you're getting enough calories and nutrients and everything. Make sense? That's one reason it might be helpful to fix up template-sized meals, and eat what you can of them, and then finish them later. That way you know you're getting at least the minimum amount of food you need.

 

Something to consider about eating fruit by itself is that even though it's not just sugar, and even though it has lots of healthy stuff in it, it is still higher carb and can affect your blood sugar, causing the same rise in blood sugar, followed later by a crash, that candy can, although probably to a lesser extent. If you eat it with other things, especially with protein and fat, it helps to prevent that rise in blood sugar. Even if you don't have diabetes or any known problems with your blood glucose levels, it's still best to avoid that sharp rise.

 

I know your situation is going to be a little bit different because of your surgery, so you may have to play around with serving sizes at each meal, but I can tell you that when I'm eating enough protein and fat and vegetables -- including some starchy vegetable of some kind at least once a day -- I don't have sugar cravings. They come back if I eat too little during the day or if I indulge in something sugary or if -- as I did this summer -- I go overboard with the fruit.

[anamor77]

Three template-sized meals would make up the minimum amount of food you need in a day -- so if you can't eat a whole meal's worth in one sitting, you still need to eat three meals' worth total throughout the day, to be sure you're getting enough calories and nutrients and everything. Make sense? That's one reason it might be helpful to fix up template-sized meals, and eat what you can of them, and then finish them later. That way you know you're getting at least the minimum amount of food you need.

 

Something to consider about eating fruit by itself is that even though it's not just sugar, and even though it has lots of healthy stuff in it, it is still higher carb and can affect your blood sugar, causing the same rise in blood sugar, followed later by a crash, that candy can, although probably to a lesser extent. If you eat it with other things, especially with protein and fat, it helps to prevent that rise in blood sugar. Even if you don't have diabetes or any known problems with your blood glucose levels, it's still best to avoid that sharp rise.

 

I know your situation is going to be a little bit different because of your surgery, so you may have to play around with serving sizes at each meal, but I can tell you that when I'm eating enough protein and fat and vegetables -- including some starchy vegetable of some kind at least once a day -- I don't have sugar cravings. They come back if I eat too little during the day or if I indulge in something sugary or if -- as I did this summer -- I go overboard with the fruit.

thanks so much Shannon for your input. It has really helped. No wonder I was so hungry between meals and would be snacking on the fruit. I will do the template sized meals and just save it for later.  I know it is different for me since of my stomach size, but this program is very similar to what the give bariatric surgery patients, except they really emphasize the protein drinks as supplements. Which if I have enough protein in my meals, I shouldn't have to worry about drinking a protein supplement. I might once I finish my 30 days, incorporate maybe one protein drink per day again. 

[toeinthetide]

I have a mug of herbal tea in the evening when I am getting the post-dinner munchies.  I used to snack a lot before bed, or have a drink with/after dinner.  I guess it would be better to just be strong and not have anything.  But I need my routine!  At least it's not food (or beer/wine) anymore.

[hollylu]

I like a small cup of tea after dinner, too - decaf black tea. I like it sweet, but of course I am drinking it without sweetener now.

[ultrarunnergirl]

You may find it helpful to replace your sweet after dinner habit with another habit, like a walk, a nice hot bath or permission to go curl up with a book. TV is usually a bad idea, there are countless studies about how tv watchers eat more as they watch.