Cooking after bariatric surgery - Post 1

Folks,

Jennifer and I just had bariatric bypass surgery and as we are moving back to solid food, at greatly reduced quantity, I wanted to share some of the cooking I'm doing - some favorites, modified for the diet. I intend to try this with spray olive oil to reduce the fat/calories too.

Today I'm making the mini breakfast skillet. This servers 1, but is scalable.

Mini Breakfast Skillet

Ingredients
1.5 ounces of fingerling potatoes, finely diced.
2 tablespoons of Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles
1.5 tablespoons Olive Oil
1-2 tablespoons finely diced onion
1 tablespoon cheddar cheese shreds
1 egg
Salt and Pepper

Step 1 - Prep
Chop your potatoes and Onions. I keep them separate on a small board - I'll put the onions in ahead of the potatoes. Get the rest of your ingredients out (you can measure ahead if you prefer - this is especially helpful if you are preparing for more than one).

Step 2
Add Olive Oil to pan and let heat up to a medium high heat. Add onions and let those cook for a minute or two and then add potatoes. I usually add a little pepper at this time (if you are a fan of pepper, cooking will bring out some of the oil and make it a little more pronounced).

Step 3
Spray your egg pan with cooking spray or add a little butter (I use a pan that is sized for one egg, so the amount of butter I add is very nominal). Heat to a medium low heat (between 3-4 on my LG stove) and once up to temp, add your egg.


Step 4
Add your sausage to the potatoes and onions mixing occasionally, for another one or two minutes. Onions should be caramelized and potatoes mod
erately crispy. Plate once ready and top with cheddar cheese


Step 5
Flip your egg (if you prefer easy over) and once cooked to desired consistency. Plate on top. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Nutrition: 360 calories, 10.34 carbs, 11.73 protein, 30.51 fat

U.S. Healthcare - Systemic Issues

There's a number of issues with the US Healthcare system currently, even for those of us with "Good" insurance that I'd like to open discussions on. Today I'd like to talk about the goals of a healthcare system.

Some view this as a black and white - "to keep you alive". Those folks feel our law that keeps anyone from being refused emergency care feel that is enough. But many people suffer from chronic conditions - heart, diabetes, cancer, MS - just to name a few. What of these people? And what about quality of life - how important is it that we exist with some inkling of energy and happiness while we survive?

Quality of life defined: Fundamentally, people need to be able to do things that sustain their health, which is both physical and psychological and currently many of these things are difficult for those that have means, let alone, those who are too poor. This includes;

• Eating quality foods (I'm talking more about access to fresh vegetables, meat without hormones, whole grains.

• Affordable access to medications, even if they are not "Life Saving" but play role in sustaining oneself (think blood pressure, cholesterol, hormones, blood thinners, pain management, nerve and eye health, etc...

• Stress balancing life conditions - Stress is a huge killer. Really. 

• Affordable Emergency care - this is certainly important.

• Affordable Maintenance care - this is just as important.

• Primary Care Physician or Advocate - I know we have lots of medical practices that rotate patients among doctors. I don't believe in this for long term health. An individual gets to know you and your conditions, your concerns, your needs. My Grandfather practiced this way. I believe my father passed because nobody was watching and understanding him specifically. He died from a staff infection that moved to the tissue around his brain - in a hospital full of doctors, being monitored regularly, by specialists, who overlooked the issue that killed him until it was too late. There needs to be a central project manager for each individuals health care. 

• A voice in your own care - where you are competent to be able to do this and an omsbudperson in the event you cannot. 

• Transparency - understanding the decisions being made about your health and by whom, and the costs, where applicable. 

• Holistic health services - physical, mental. The hospital has to save your life if you are hit by a car and injured - but if you don't have insurance, you could be put on the street as soon as you are stable. No physical therapy. No psychological help. That needs to change.

In many cases, even those of us with "good" insurance are struggling with the above. For these reasons and more, we need to look at a system that can address these issues for people from all walks of life - not just people with means. And that's why our current system does not work. The profit motive currently drives care and while cost is important, the main goal needs to be quality of life. Does this include survival - yes. Is it limited to it - no.