Non Meat Bariatric Friendly Meal Ideas for Catholics on Good Friday

This Friday is Good Friday, an important day for Catholics. In observance of Good Friday, many Catholics do not eat beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and other meats. For weight loss surgery patients, that can greatly limit their choices for high quality proteins to help them meet their daily protein goal (usually around 60-80 grams of protein) after bariatric surgery. Consuming adequate protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass while losing weight.

Protein can also be found in fish, eggs, cheese, and beans. Fish (including salmon, mahi, tuna, shrimp, scallops, and lots of other kinds) and eggs are ideal choices as they are primarily protein. Cheese and beans also contain protein, but they also have significant amounts of carbohydrates. This can make it more difficult to meet your daily protein goal while eating smaller portions of foods after your gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band surgery. On a day like Good Friday, when your other protein choices are limited by religious observance, many Catholics opt for fish and egg meals. We’ve gathered some of the fish and egg recipes we’ve posted on Dr. Shillingford’s website (including www.drshillingford.com, www.gastricsleevesurgeryflorida.com, and www.obesityanddiabetes.com) to give Dr. Shillingford’s patients (who have progressed to eating regular textured proteins and cooked vegetables) some ideas for high protein meals on Good Friday:

• Marinated Fish Skewers
• Fish Tacos
• Salmon and Asparagus
• Lemony Italian Salmon
• Mahi Mahi with Asparagus and Peppers
• Fast and Easy Fish in Foil
• Egg Muffins
• Baby Bok Choy Frittata
• Mini Cajun Shrimp Frittata
• Creole Shrimp

Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. His gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients often come from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Orlando, and Jacksonville to have their surgery with Dr. Shillingford, who serves as Medical Director of Northwest Medical Center’s Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery. We wish all of Dr. Shillingford’s patients a wonderful weekend, and a Happy Easter to those who celebrate.