Bariatrics – Best Get Ahead For Mother’s Day!

 

Mother’s Day … what does it usually mean for you and your own mother? A super bunch of flowers, a home-made cake, a box of chocolates and a special card? For me it has been one and all of these things and I usually opt to send my own mother a special cheery bunch of flowers and have chosen the one above this year.

In recent years I have made a plea for no chocolates or sweet treats for myself because I am super-sensitive to sugar and fat and easily ‘dump’. My own children have been very inventive instead and come up with a whole host of ideas that you might want to copy:

*  a special plant or shrub for the garden which flowers around the time of Mother’s Day every year

*  seeds and other plug plants for my herb and vegetable garden which they know is my pride and joy

*  a special lotion or potion that I think is too indulgent to buy for myself but really desire, especially hand cream (my hands are in too much hot water for too much of the time)

*  a specially prepared, home-made, low-sugar, low-fat cake that they know I can eat

*  a book or two that they know I will enjoy ….including cookery books!

*  some special WLS, food, tracking and exercise apps that I can use on my new i-phone (they are desperately dragging me into using new technology and explaining things along the way)

*  a special course for trying out something I wouldn’t normally consider – keeping chickens is high on the list

*  a make-up make-over – sometimes you realise you’ve had the same style for years and it’s time for a change, sometimes best tried out at home first with the help of a keen daughter!

  But the gift that I have always enjoyed most has been ‘breakfast in bed’!  What could be a better way to start the day than with a wide-smile from a young face and a seemingly indulgent freshly-prepared breakfast treat? I’m not a great one for a huge morning plateful but appreciate the need to ‘break the fast’ and get in some early nourishment. Here are two ideas that would fit the bill. Both can be made by just about the youngest daughter or son without the need for any special culinary skills; can be on a tray and up to the bedroom in no-time at all; and is likely to suit both the early post-op and mother longer-out of surgery equally well. I used Viva strawberries to test these ideas since they are beautifully sweet but you can vary this according to what is good in season or a great price.  

VIVA STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

Ingredients

METRIC/US 

100 ml/1/2 cup low-fat natural yogurt

100 ml/1/2 cup skimmed or low-fat milk

100 g/1 cup whole Viva strawberries

2 tsp agave nectar or other chosen sweetener

 

Method

1.  Place the yogurt and milk into a liquidiser or blender.

2.  Chop the strawberries and add to the yogurt and milk mixture with the agave nectar.

3.  Blitz until smooth then pour into a glass to serve at once.  

 

SERVES 1

WLS PORTION: 1/2-1

V suitable for Vegetarians  

 

CALORIES PER PORTION: 180

PROTEIN: 11g

CARBOHYDRATE: 28.6g

FAT:  2.1g

 

 

MARINATED STRAWBERRIES WITH YOGURT AND GRANOLA

Ingredients

METRIC/US

100 g/1 cup whole Viva strawberries

2 tsp agave nectar or other sweetener

100 ml/1/2 cup fat-free thick Greek yogurt

2 tbsp no-added-sugar granola

 

Method

1.  Chop the strawberries, mix with the agave nectar and leave to marinate for 20 minutes or longer.

2.  When ready to serve, place the strawberries in a serving bowl. Top with the yogurt and sprinkle with the granola.

3.  Serve at once.  

 

SERVES 1

WLS PORTION: 1/2-1

V suitable for Vegetarians  

 

CALORIES: 300

PROTEIN: 17.5g

CARBOHYDRATE: 45.5g

FAT: 5.7g  

Images courtesy of vivastrawberries.com  

 

Of course if you’re looking for a few main meal options then there are lots in the Return to Slender Bariatric Cookery Books but there’s also the recipe for Roasted Vegetables with Halloumi Cheese here

 

  Or a sweet favourite like Bariatric Banoffee Pots here

Or Apple and Nectarine Crumble here

  Here’s wishing all the mothers of the world a Happy Mothering Sunday whenever yours might be! CAROL X