When it’s hot outside and you don’t want to turn on the oven and heat up the house, salad can be a great option for some. Salads can be a great choice for bariatric patients as well as those with type 2 diabetes because they can fill you up with ingredients that are both healthy and low in carbohydrates, which is ideal for weight loss.
Not every salad has to be a lettuce based salad. For many weight loss surgery patients, lettuce is something they don’t tolerate well in the early stages of their post-op diet, even beyond when they’ve reached Dr. Shillingford’s Stage 5 when lettuce is allowed. Thankfully, lettuce is something that can be left out of a salad and still be delicious.
This Caprese Salad with Avocado is great for many gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients as well as those with type 2 diabetes. The tomatoes and cheese do have carbohydrates, so it is not a carbohydrate-free meal. But it also has fiber from the tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado that helps to prevent a rise in blood sugar that is often associated with eating carbohydrates. Spikes in blood sugar are potentially harmful to people with type 2 diabetes, and meals should be monitored to limit carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates like white rice and white bread.
Caprese Salad with Avocado
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- 1 medium avocado, cubed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ tsp Garlic powder
- 2 tsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, diced
Directions:
Heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Simmer 10-15 minutes until thickened, then allow to cool. In a bowl, add olive oil and spices and whisk until mixed. Add vegetables, cheese, and basil and mix until thoroughly coated. Drizzle with balsamic reduction to taste.
For people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, weight loss is important. It can help reduce blood sugar levels and prevent the need for diabetic medication. For those who have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight, bariatric surgery may be an option covered by health insurance. To learn more about gastric band, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass surgery and if it’s right for you, call Dr. Shillingford at (561) 483-8840 to schedule your free informational session. His Boca Raton office is conveniently located for patients traveling from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Wellington, and even Orlando.
