Amazing Protein Superfood and Bariatric Recipe

Pureed Black Bean Soup

When recovering from gastric bypass surgery, you will be limited to pureed foods for several weeks and beans are a great substitute for meat that should be added to your diet. Beans are a miracle food, known to help chronic conditions which include heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Beans are also good for the waist as they provide ingredients that make you feel full much faster than other foods.

Bariatric Protein puree

Bariatric Protein puree

Another reason to choose beans for much needed protein is that it provides the fiber that many of our diets lack. A one half cup of prepared beans, the proper serving at the pureed food phase, contains six grams of fiber whereas pureed meat contains none.

While you are recovering and watching your caloric intake, remember that beans are very low in sugar and high in antioxidants.  This prevents the spiking of insulin and the presence of frequent hunger. In addition, choosing beans over meat will reduce the saturated fats in your diet.

Black Beans, used in the recipe below, contain about three times more Omega-3 fatty acids than other bean types. Not only do black beans have a rich, smoky flavor but they also contain other vital nutrients your body needs such as Molybdenum, Folate, Copper, Manganese, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Iron.

Before, during and after your gastric bypass surgery, your nutritionist, doctor or dietician has stressed the important of having plenty of proteins in your diet. As you go through the recovery phases from liquids to solid foods, proteins should be eaten first as these nutrients are greatly needed. You do not want to fill up on other foods without getting an appropriate serving of proteins. Our pureed Black Bean Soup Recipe will help.

 

Pureed Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

  • ½ tablespoon of coconut or other healthy cooking oil
  • ½ chopped onion
  • ¼ teaspoon of chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed
  • 1 ½ cups of water
  • 1/4 cup of low sodium mild salsa
  • 1 teaspoon of lime juice
  • Dash of salt substitute and ground pepper

 

Optional Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of reduced-fat or fat free sour cream (optional)

 

Directions:

  • First, heat the oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook two or three minutes, until onion softens and becomes clear.
  • Add chili powder, cumin and other spices and continue to cook for one minute longer.
  • Add the beans, salsa and water and bring mixture to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to simmer and leave for ten minutes; remove and stir in lime juice.
  • Transfer to a blender and puree before returning the mixture to the saucepan.
  • Serve the pureed bean soup garnished with low fat sour cream if desired.

 

Additional information:

This recipe will yield 2 ½ cups of delicious pureed Black Bean Soup which is approximately four servings after gastric bypass surgery. Because your appetite has decreased dramatically, you may cover and store this soup in your refrigerator for up to three days. This recipe is 95 calories and 2 grams of fat for each half cup serving.

*If you do not normally use spices such as cumin and chili powder, please use sparingly. Taste the soup to make sure your digestive tract does not reject it, which is common when trying new foods after gastric bypass surgery.