We briefly talked about slider foods in our other blogposts. But it’s time to nose-dive into the details of the foods that wreak havoc on your restriction. In other words, let’s talk about the foods that make you feel like you stretched your pouch because you can *suddenly* eat larger quantities of those foods. But first things first, why are slider foods called slider foods?
What are slider foods?
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Slider foods are typically high-carb foods that are low in protein and have little fiber. Slider foods tend to be low in nutritional value too. In other words: they offer little nourishment.
Slider foods have the following characteristics:
- They don’t keep your pouch full for long
- They need little time to digest
- They’re low in nutritional value
- It’s easy to overeat or overindulge in them
- They’re often trigger foods too
Now, we’re not going to label slider foods as ‘bad’ foods. But it is important to be mindful of all slider foods as they can sabotage weight loss after bariatric surgery. And they can also become a pitfall for emotional and yes, even binge eating post-op.
A List of slider foods to never forget
Keep in mind that this list is very generic. If we talk about ‘cookies’ there’s tons of different types and variations. Some cookies may have more protein and fiber (added) than others. But here’s a list to give you a broad idea:
- Chips
- Nachos
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Cookies
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Milkshakes
- Cake
- Popcorn
- Ice Cream
This is why Slider Foods won’t keep you full for long
Bariatric surgery isn’t just about how ‘little’ you can eat. Or the size of your portions alone. Of course, portion control is incredibly important. And bariatric surgery helps you tremendously with that, as your stomach is reduced to about 20% of its original capacity. But, there’s a but! What you really want to focus on, nutrition-wise, is having high-quality meals and be mindful of certain eating habits. Slider foods can be an enormous pitfall, because they usually don’t support these basic bariatric principles. Let’s explain why.
Not all food is created equal. If we look at the different macronutrients, carbohydrates, protein and fat, there’s a difference in what way different foods affect your satiety levels.
For example, the digestion of carbohydrates starts in the mouth with an enzyme called ‘amylase’ whereas protein digestion doesn’t start until the food has entered your pouch.
Simple sugars (what slider foods often are made of) are already partly digested before entering your stomach. Add low protein and low fiber on top of that, and you have the perfect recipe for food that doesn’t keep you full for long.
How to navigate slider foods after bariatric surgery
Again, slider foods aren’t bad foods, but let’s be real, they’re not the type of foods that are going to help you meet your post-op nutritional goals when eaten on a daily basis.
And when eaten by themselves it can be very tempting to consume larger quantities than intended to. Also, slider foods are not appropriate in the early stages after bariatric surgery when you’re still following your surgeons’ post-op diet (to a T, remember?).
When eating slider foods, you might:
#1 Sabotage weight loss because of their high caloric properties
#2 Risk dumping syndrome because of their high sugar properties
So is there something you can do to make Slider Foods more nutritious?
So, is there something you can do to create balance on your plate? Is it possible to enjoy some slider foods in moderation, so that you’re not falling for an all-or-nothing mentality, years down the line?
Actually, there is!
By adding high-protein and high-fiber foods to your snack-plate, you create more balanced meals. By adding more nutritious foods to your meals and snacks, you honor your hunger – and you minimize cravings too.
Also, healthy fats have to be taken into this equation too. Unsaturated fats, such as found in avocados, nuts and seeds and olive oil for example, provide fat-soluble vitamins and they keep you full longer. Keep in mind that all types of fats contain the same number of calories per gram. It’s not to scare you, but to keep you aware.
High-protein and high-fiber foods that you can potentially add to slider foods
- Cheese (eg. cheese paired with crackers)
- Any type of dairy product, like Greek yogurt (eg. chips paired with a Greek yogurt dip)
- Legumes (eg. nachos paired with a hummus dip)
- Fruit (eg. grapes paired with popcorn)
- Vegetables (eg. deli plate with carrots, cucumber and crackers)
Try different variations and always do what works best for you.
Final thoughts about slider foods
- Slider foods aren’t necessarily ‘bad foods’ (remember, we don’t want to demonize foods, we just want to be mindful about which foods serve your purpose and which ones don’t).
- Slider foods can negatively impact your weight loss journey
- And they can be a pitfall for disruptive eating patterns like emotional eating
- Slider foods are low in nutritional value but have a high hedonic effect
- Slider foods, when eaten by themselves, won’t keep you full for long
- Pairing slider foods with a high-fiber and/or high-protein food makes your snack more filling and nutritious
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On top of that, you’ll find TONS of tips, tricks and reliable resources for your bariatric journey here too.
But…..there’s more!
You see, our ultimate goal is to help you find, and most of all keep, your focus while you’re navigating your post-op life.
Bariatric surgery isn’t the easy way out. And creating new habits doesn’t happen overnight.
But it doesn’t have to be complicated!
You got this!
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