I always ask my bariatric patients during their follow-up visit how you feel after having your meals; when, what and how you are eating, and are you complying to the suggested diet behavior advice of eating slowly, chewing well, taking small bites, and avoiding distractions like watching TV, talking on phone or use of other screens during eating to avoid discomforts, if any.

I always suggest my patients to serve their own meals to keep control over the portion size, because if someone else serves you and put more food on your plate you are then more likely to push it to try to finish and land-up having nausea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, bloating or dumping.

Kitchen gadgets are excellent tools to help you prepare your meals to aid in weight loss after bariatric surgery. The correct tools can help you achieve your health goals and sustain them for long term!! Here are some of my favorite tools you must have in your kitchen to make meal prep more fun, easy, quick, interesting and healthful.

Let’s know about my favorite kitchen tools!!

Water infuser: People sometime feel difficulty in drinking plain water after undergoing bariatric surgery. Water infuser helps you to add various flavors and aromas to the water such as mint, lemon, lime, apple, berries, and basil etc. to build-up your liquid intake to stay hydrated.

Steamer: Steamed veggies make a healthy snack or mid-meal. You may enjoy your favorite vegetables with hung curd dip, hummus or guacamole to add lots of fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, flavors and colours to your meals.

Bariatric Plate: The bariatric plate is an 8-inch diameter portion perfect plate having markings to help you structure your main course meals. The instructions written around the plate relate to all the diet behaviors required to get the best food tolerance with your surgery. 

Bariatric Bowl: The bariatric bowl gives you the exact measurement of your portion size, starting from 1/4th cup to 1½ cup in it. You may pour in your cereals, soups, lentils, curd or even desserts straight to the intended serve and easily control your meal portion and calorie intake.

Meat tenderizing mallet: The meat mallet relaxes the meat fibers and makes it softer to chew and delicious to eat. You may marinate your pounded meats with lemon, curd, spices and condiments and grill it to enjoy the goodness of protein. 

Shaker Cups/Travel mugs: These are made to mix protein powders with different fluids like water, vegetable juices, buttermilk, low fat milk, and soy or almond milk. These shaker cups are easy to carry and great for traveling as they are designed to fit in cup holders in your vehicle, they usually have a small opening on the side to sip from which helps in avoiding straws.

Insulated Tumblers: As you are advised to drink at a slow pace after undergoing bariatric surgery to avoid nausea or vomiting, maintaining food temperature and taste of the food/palatability is a task for most of my patients. Insulated cups are a great tool to help you keep your protein drinks cold or soups hot for longer to assist in eating or drinking slowly. 

Air fryers: These are essentially countertop size convection ovens. You may use them to air fry, bake and grill, roast or steam your favorite dishes. With air frying you may reduce oil usage by up to 80% and may afford to eat your temptations and enjoy oil free versatile meals.

Spiralizer: If you are a noodle lover, a spiralizer is a great tool for you to create mock noodles out of vegetables like zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and carrots. This can be a great way to add back your favorite noodles in your diet with a healthful twist. You may toss your noodles with your favorite oil free sauce and seasonings.

Small spoons: Eating with a small or dessertspoon helps you abide by the advice to have small bites, so you may chew it well and don’t land-up puking later. 

Oil Mister: Oil misters help you control use of oil while cooking. These special misters are helpful in lightly and evenly coating pans to make pancakes, omelets, cheelas, uttapams, dosa and sauté veggies etc. 

Kitchen is the perfect place from where your weight loss journey should kick start, not the gym, because weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise!! It’s a fact that when you do meal planning and meal-prep in advance and cook your own meals with the help of these super kitchen gadgets, you are more likely to consume much nutritious food having fewer calories. Self-cooking is the best way to ensure that your meals are bariatric friendly and aren’t full of fat, salt and sugar. However, for some of us everyday cooking can be a task, however, using right variety of kitchen gadgets would make it simple and an enjoyable experience!!