Meal planning might already be your role in the family or you might not be familiar with your kitchen at all, however while you are healing after your surgery you will need to eat and you will likely not be able to get out your own food. Here are some tips to consider!
Before your surgery, plan out every meal and snack for while you are recovering. Print out or buy a calendar with enough room to write out three meals a day plus any snacks (many opioid medications will need to be taken with food) for the length of your recovery. Include grocery lists for the week and all recipes.
Consider the merits of a meal kit delivery service for the short term of your recovery. Green Chef, Blue Apron, Marley & Me, etc. all have multiple meals to choose from while shipping all necessary ingredients to you through the mail. Be aware that most meal kits are usually dinner only, and plans will still need to be made for breakfast, lunch and snacks.
If meal planning is a challenge, consider repeating a weekly meal plan. Remember this is just for the short term and will not be how you will need to eat for forever. Taco Tuesday, or Slow Cooker Wednesday can be the pattern but with different fillings and sides.
Consider surgery-specific requirements. Dental or facial surgeries may require purees and soft foods. Almost all opioid medications will cause constipation, and so fiber is best planned for every day you are taking opioid pain medication. The food you eat is the fuel for your recovery, so proper nutrition will encourage healing and not add any distractions. For example, fried foods can cause gut inflammation, asking your body to heal your surgery site and the inflammation in your guts. It is better if your body can just focus on the surgery site as much as possible!
No alcohol or drugs that interfere with your prescribed pain medications.
You may wish to make as many meals ahead of time as possible. Many resources can be found online, there are many posts about meal prepping for a ‘baby’s arrival’ that work great for surgery recovery.
Other tips around meal planning include:
Setting yourself up for autonomy while on bed rest. If you love tea or coffee, see if you can have an electric kettle or keurig on your nightstand. Keep a cooler by your bed filled with snacks or drinks. You may not wish to ‘bother’ your helpers for a cup of tea, or there might not be anyone there to help you and you will need to get things for yourself. For example, if your partner is at work during the day, ask them to make you a lunch and place it in your cooler.
Keep a small tray by your bed to serve as a table. Don’t forget napkins, silverware, etc.
Always have an emergency granola bar (or food of choice) stash nearby to make sure you can take your medication with food as directed.
Make back-up plans. We are all human and things happen, your back up plan might be a food delivery service from a restaurant. If you are at all mobile, you might be able to answer the door to receive a sandwich or tacos via delivery.
Planning ahead can help feel you fed, keep the stress low on us and our caregivers, and receive the right nutrition for healing. Remember this could be quite a change from what you are normally used to, and you will find a new normal.
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