Protein Options for Vegetarians after Weight Loss Surgery

Protein, protein, protein! As any weight loss surgery patient can attest, weight loss surgeons always stress the importance of adding sufficient protein to your diet both before and after surgery. Protein serves as pivotal fuel for your body; because your body does not store protein like it does fat, you must continuously supply it to your body, even when limiting your calorie intake overall. 

Protein, protein, protein! As any weight loss surgery patient can attest, weight loss surgeons always stress the importance of adding sufficient protein to your diet both before and after surgery. Protein serves as pivotal fuel for your body; because your body does not store protein like it does fat, you must continuously supply it to your body, even when limiting your calorie intake overall.

While protein is easy to come by for meat-eaters, vegetarians have to be much more conscious of their diet to make sure they are getting enough protein. Dr V. Kuzinkovas and the team at Advanced Surgicare offer the following nutritional suggestions to vegetarians who need a dose of protein:

Lentils

A single cup of these legumes contains 18 grams of protein. Most commonly they are tossed into soups and salads, but some people get creative and use them to fill tacos or burritos. Because lentils are also rich in fiber, they make digestion easy and can help with your weight loss goals.

Tofu

This condensed soymilk product contains 10g of protein per half a cup. It is low in calories while high in iron and zinc. Tofu has earned a reputation for being “bland,” but that ignores the fact that it pretty easily soaks up the flavors of whatever it is cooked with. Throw it into a stir-fry like you would meat and you should be satisfied with the results.

Nutritional Yeast

Possessing all nine essential amino acids, nutritional yeast is a great supplement to add a dose of protein to your existing meals and snacks. Because it has a slight cheesy flavor, some people throw nutritional yeast on top of rice, pasta, salads or even popcorn. Others may choose to stir it into a broth. Just two tablespoons of nutritional yeast contain eight grams of protein.

Quinoa

This nutty-flavored seed has become a popular healthy substitute for grain side dishes in meals. In addition to being packed with protein, quinoa features iron, zinc, fiber and magnesium.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is rich in fats — fortunately, the healthy kinds — so we do not recommend eating too much peanut butter. The good news, though, is that just two tablespoons of peanut butter has eight grams of protein, meaning you don’t need to have too much to get a protein fix.

Discuss Dietary Options with a Weight Loss Professional

Dr Kuzinkovas has helped many patients through their weight loss journeys, and would be happy to get you on the path to a healthy lifestyle, whether or not you plan to go vegetarian. To discuss surgical solutions, please schedule a consultation by contacting Advanced Surgicare today.