1800-893-1264

Tag Archive for Healthy Diet After Surgery

|
No comments

Best Meals to Pre-Make for Foot Surgery Recovery

Let’s face it: foot or ankle surgery is never fun. But if you’ve spent the majority of your time dreading that ominous square on your calendar that contains the date of your surgery, then it’s time for a reality check:

Your foot surgery, whether you like it or not, is happening.

So you have one of two options: you can either avoid preparing for your surgery, or you can take some steps (you know, because stepping’s gonna be hard after your surgery!) to prepare for life after surgery…

And that includes discovering the best meals to pre-make for surgery recovery.

Man does not live on delivery pizza alone. So if you want to ensure that you heal in a healthy and (somewhat) enjoyable manner – without making you feel like Pizza Hut’s number one customer – here are the best meals to pre-make for surgery recovery.

Savory Baked Chicken

Baked chicken is going to be the lifeblood of your surgery recovery – and for good reason. The protein in chicken can help fuel your muscle growth and repair, while the lean meats ensure that your weight stays off of your waist as well as your injured foot.

Baked chicken can be thrown over rice, pasta, or shredded and added to a bed of lettuce. As you can see, savory baked chicken is perfect for eating well while undergoing surgery recovery.

First, grab yourself a couple pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Lay out a sheet of aluminum foil on a large baking pan. Coat the foil with cooking spray (go for olive oil spray – delicious). Lay the chicken on the pan. Now here’s the fun part: start seasoning the chicken any way you want. We’re taking garlic powder, lemon pepper rub – anything! Set the oven to 400 degrees and pop the chicken in for about 30 minutes, or until the juices are running clear.

Super-Fast Tomato and Basil Pasta

Pasta can keep for many days in your refrigerator, which makes this one of the best meals to pre-make for surgery recovery. Try out this meal, which incorporates whole grains and vegetables for maximum healing power.

First, grab yourself a box of whole grain linguine (whole grains are an excellent source of fiber) and pour into salted boiling water. While the pasta’s boiling, chop up a few cups of grape or cherry tomatoes into quarters. Next, chop up some basil leaves (make sure you take the time to enjoy the delicious scent!). Once the pasta is done boiling, drain it. Add the tomatoes and basil to the pasta, and throw in some olive oil or spaghetti sauce to bring it all together. If you’re really feeling adventurous, add some crumbled goats cheese for a tangy flavor that just won’t quit.

Foods to Avoid

While the above recipes are some of the best meals you can pre-make before surgery, it’s important to point out what you shouldn’t be eating during your recovery time. Healing your body is a delicate process, and it’s going to need all the nutrients possible. Therefore, avoid the following foods, as they don’t pack a nutritional punch:

Processed foods (buh-bye, Funions)

Dehydrated foods like beef jerky

Full fat cheese (too much can cause constipation – not really something you want to deal with on top of an injured foot or ankle)

Refined sugars (sweets, white grains, etc.)

Now that you know the best meals to pre-make for foot surgery recovery – as well as what foods to avoid – it’s time to throw on your chef’s hat and whip up a creation that would make Paula Deen jealous (butter not included).

Category: After Surgery diet, After Surgery Recovery, Foot Surgery, Nutrition After Surgery | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
|
No comments

Your Ultimate Non-Weight Bearing Nutrition Checklist

Whether you’re about to endure an ankle fusion or you’re going to have surgery to repair a persistent foot problem, you want to ensure that you’re fully prepared for your recovery time. You’ve made sure that you’ve rolled up any loose carpets in the house. You’ve let your family members and friends know that your mobility will be limited for some time. You’ve even order a bunch of DVDs and TV shows that you can watch while you’re recovering…

So you’ve covered all your bases, correct?

Not exactly. You see, when you’re recovering from a foot or ankle surgery, your body needs more than physical therapy – it also needs nutrition to help your bones and ligaments heal faster. By following a non-weight bearing nutrition diet, you can ensure that you’ll be back on your feet in no time.

So what foods should you stockpile in your fridge? Take a look!

Get loads of fiber in your diet. Constipation is a common experience after any surgery that requires anesthesia, so you’ll want to get as much fiber to ensure that things are, er, running smoothly. Get your hands on fruits and whole grain breads. Can’t stand fruit? Even your favorite breakfast cereal may supply you with the fiber you need.

Get as much calcium into your diet as possible. Calcium is critical to your bone health, which is exactly what you need after a foot or ankle surgery. Drink three glasses of milk a day or take a calcium supplement. You can even request that your partner make your favorite cheesy, gooey dish (hey, calories don’t count when you’re recovering!).

Avoid processed foods like chips and cookies. They may taste delicious, but they’re not exactly stocked with the nutrition you need to recover from a foot or ankle surgery.

Now that you have this non-weight bearing nutrition checklist in hand, head out to your local grocery store and stock up on tons of healthy foods. After all, the last thing you’ll want to do after your surgery is battle through a crowded grocery store and lug those heavy bags into your home!

Category: After Surgery diet, After Surgery Recovery, Ankle Surgery Recovery, Nutrition After Surgery | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
|
No comments

Non-Weight Bearing Diet Tips That Really Work!

Most dieters encounter plenty of obstacles along the path to a slim and healthy body. Cupcakes. Family parties. Holiday food. It’s enough to test the willpower of even the strongest dieter – and recovering from foot or ankle surgery certainly doesn’t help matters.

When you’re recovering from foot or ankle surgery, it may feel like your whole routine is thrown off. Suddenly, you’re unable to work out as much as you used to, as your foot can’t handle the stress of running, jogging, or riding a bike. Add to the fact that you’re often sitting or lying down during foot surgery recovery, and it’s no wonder you’re looking for non-weight bearing diet tips that really work.

Whether you’re looking to stick to a healthy diet or just want to learn about the foods that can optimize your healing, here are a few tried-and-true non-weight bearing diet tips:

Unlock the Powers of Superfoods

You’ve heard about certain foods that can boost your immune system, improve your cognitive function, and help reduce your chances of developing disease. Now it turns out that there are certain foods out there that can speed up your foot and ankle recovery – and best of all, they’re absolutely delicious.

Studies have suggested that foods high in Vitamin C, zinc, and protein are crucial for speeding up foot and ankle recovery. You can get your daily amount of these crucial nutrients by taking a daily supplement, or by piling the following foods onto your plate:

Protein: Dairy (drinking three glasses of milk per day can also increase your calcium intake, another important nutrient to healing), nuts, seeds, and lean meats.

Zinc: Beef (this can also fulfill your protein requirements, especially if the beef is stripped of its fat), liver, sunflower seeds, milk, eggs, and peanut butter.

Vitamin C: Fruits like oranges, strawberries and tangerines can supply you with this crucial vitamin. You can also get your vitamin C fix from red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and potatoes.

These foods are both delicious and essential for your foot and ankle surgery recovery, so be sure to stock up before your procedure. You may even want to prepare meals that incorporate these nutrients ahead of time so you don’t have to risk accidentally putting weight on your injured foot while cooking.

Drink Tons of Water

 

www.kneewalkercentral.com

You’ve heard it before, and you’re about to hear it again: drinking tons of water is not only crucial for your recovery, but it’s also essential for staying healthy when your injury has put you on the sidelines. If you have a tough time drinking water, consider getting a flavor enhancer or drinking light fruit juice. The latter can help you stay hydrated as well as help you get your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

Invest In Meal Shakes

If you need a quick and healthy meal but you need to keep your weight off your injured foot, consider investing in healthy meal shakes like Ensure. You can keep these within reach, which means you won’t have to place weight on your injury. Additionally, these shakes can help you get dozens of vital nutrients you need to speed up your recovery period.

Achieving a healthy figure doesn’t have to be impossible now that you’re sidetracked by a foot or ankle injury. By using these non-weight bearing diet tips, you can stay on the right track, as well as provide your body with the nutrients it needs to heal quickly and safely.

 

Category: After Surgery diet, Knee Walkers, Surgical Recovery Diet | Tags: , , , , , , ,