Recipe: Cottage Cheese Fluff

Ingredients
2 Cottage cheese, Fat-free, 24 oz containers
1 Whipped topping, Sugar-free, 8 oz container
2 Gelatin, sugar-free flavor of choice, 0.3 oz package 

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and add your favorite fruit (optional).

Yield:  8 servings

Nutrition: Per 1-cup serving
Calories 220
Fat 3 gm
Carbs 24 gm
Sugar 4 gm
Protein 22 gm 

Recipe: Herb-crusted Chicken with “Velveeta Shells & Cheese Dinner”

*Note: This recipe for patients 3 months or more after bariatric surgery*

Ingredients

1-1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
½ tsp garlic Powder
4 small chicken breasts ( 1-lbs )
1 Tbsp. oil
1 pkg ( 12-oz) Velveeta Cheese Dinner

Directions

Combine Italian Seasoning & garlic powder ; sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.

Heat oil in a large skillet ; add chicken ; cook  10 or 12 minutes  or until cooked through and evenly browned on both sides – turning occasionally.

Meanwhile , prepare the Velveeta Shells & Cheese Dinner – serve with chicken.

Nutritional Analysis per Serving

Serving Size: 8 servings

Calories: 220

Total Fat:  8 gm / Saturated fat : 2.25 gm

Total Carb.: 18.5 gm / dietary fiber : 0.5 gm & sugar : 2 gm

Total Protein: 17.5 gm 

Recipe: Egg Muffin

Ingredients

6 large eggs

12 slices pre-cooked turkey bacon (sliced into thirds )

¾ cup shredded low fat Swiss or Monterey jack cheese

½ cup 1 % milk

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 F.

Place 3 bacon pieces in the bottom of each muffin cup.

In a separate bowl , mix together all ingredients until well blended , except for ¼ cup of shredded cheese. Fill each muffin cup with ¼ cup of the egg  mixture. Sprinkle extra ¼ cup of cheese on top across  muffins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs  are set. Servings: 12.

Nutritional Analysis per serving ( 1 muffin ) :

Total Calories: 98

Total Fat: 7 gm

Saturated Fat: 2 gm

Total Carbs: 1 gm

Fiber: 0 gm

Sugar: 1 gm

Protein: 8 gm

Recipe: Turkey Turnover

Ingredients

1 Envelope dry onion soup
1 Pound ground turkey ( Breast-meat)
1 Cup shredded 2 % low fat chesse
3Tubes reduced fat refrigerated-Crescent Rolls ( 8 in each tube)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix soup with meat in skillet and brown well. Blend in cheese

Unroll dough , separate rolls , and cut each triangle in half. Place spoonful of meat mixture in the center of each triangle.  Fold over , seal edges , and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes. Servings: 24. 

Nutritional Analysis (2 turnovers)
Calories - 155

Fat - 7 gmProtein - 9 gmCarb. - 13 gm/ Sugar - 3 gm

Recipe: Cheesecake Pudding

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this simple, sweet, and protein-packed snack!

Ingredients
1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
1 package sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix

Directions
Combine ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.

Nutritional Values
Serving size: ¼ cup
Protein: 7 grams
Calories: 30
Carbs: <.5 gm

Acceptable for diabetics and bariatric patients.

Recipe: Easy Tilapia with Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

4 oz. thawed tilapia

2  tablespoons of spinach artichoke dip or spinach dip* 

2 tsp Parmesan cheese

*available in deli area of most Walmart and Publix stores

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place frozen individual wrapped tilapia in shallow bowl of hot water to thaw.  Line a pie tin with foil and spray with Pam cooking spray.  Place thawed tilapia on foil and top with spinach dip and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes. Makes one serving.

Nutrition

One Serving: 200 Calories / 11g fat / 20mg cholesterol /  333mg sodium / 25g protein

Submitted by: Kathy Israel

10 Healthy and Interesting Protein Dishes

1. Shrimp Cocktail – It doesn’t get any easier than this!
      
2. Chili and Beans –  Try ground beef, chicken or turkey and experiment with different beans to add fiber and additional vitamins and minerals.  Some of our favorites are kidney beans, black beans, pinto or white beans.
       
3. Chicken/Tuna/Seafood Salad – try serving on melba toast or other crunchy treat such as your favorite fresh vegetable.  Boiled egg can always be added for additional taste, interest and protein.  Don’t forget to add your favorite dry seasonings, celery, diced apple or other ingredient so that you can alter the flavor to meet your new taste preferences.
      
4. Egg Salad – can be made with boiled eggs, scrambled eggs or egg substitute 
   
   Flavor ideas:  Try seasoning with yellow curry, well-chopped celery, cayenne pepper and/or chives.  Greek yogurt or light olive oil mayonnaise work great to bind the egg mixture and provide moisture.  Try serving on well toasted whole grain bread as an open-faced sandwich with diced fresh tomato.  Salt and pepper to taste.

5. Salmon or Crab Cakes – These delicious treats from the sea are a regular delight on dinner tables across the world.  To keep these healthy, try baking them or frying in light cooking spray or baking them in a muffin pan.  There are many recipes available online.
   
   Flavor ideas:  Try dipping them in Greek yogurt seasoned with Greek seasoning, dill or your favorite dry seasoning for additional flavor and moisture.

6. Ginger Chicken Wrap – You will need boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced  and light sesame ginger salad dressing and Boston or bibb lettuce leaves.  Simply wash and pat the lettuce leaf dry, spoon about 1-2 ounces of chicken breast into the center and top with the sesame dressing.  Additional favorite toppings might include fresh mango salsa, shredded carrot and cabbage slaw, red onion or fresh ginger.
   
   
7. Strawberry Cottage Cheese Dessert – 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1 Tbsp. strawberry light or Greek yogurt.  Mix yogurt and cottage cheese together and add fresh or canned fruit if desired.
   
   
8. Black Bean Pepper Salad (recipe coming soon!)
   
   
9. Tofu Black Bean Dip – There are several recipes floating around at your local grocer or available online.  One of our patients absolutely loves this dish seasoned with a packet taco seasoning and baked in the oven.  Your kids won’t even know there is tofu in this dish!
   
   
10. Homemade Hummus –  Homemade versions of hummus can have a higher content of protein.  There are recipes available online and at your local grocer made out of chick peas, black beans, etc.  This is a delicious dip or spread and goes great with turkey, celery, tomatoes or carrots!