| Talk to any gastric bypass, gastric banding or gastric | | | | Heat the oil in a large 8-quart stockpot. Add the onion, |
| sleeve patient and they will tell you occasional stomach | | | | garlic, and ginger and cook over low heat, stirring |
| discomfort is part of life after weight loss surgery. | | | | occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until vegetables are |
| After bariatric surgery patients secrete fewer | | | | tender. |
| digestive enzymes which means the stomach has | | | | Set aside 4-6 small spinach leaves. Add the remaining |
| greater difficulty digesting food that has been | | | | leaves to the pan, stirring until the spinach is wilted. Add |
| inadequately chewed or is high in fat or fibrous | | | | the stock and potatoes to the pan and bring to a boil. |
| carbohydrate. Poorly tolerated foods quickly cause | | | | Reduce the heat, then cover the pan and let simmer |
| stomach or pouch discomfort. Many bariatric patients | | | | for about 10 minutes. |
| report finding relief in gentle homemade soup sipped | | | | Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool |
| slowly. Consider this recipe for spinach and ginger soup | | | | slightly. Pour the soup into a blender or food processor |
| if you have experienced gastric pouch discomfort | | | | and process until completely smooth. Return the the |
| from eating poorly tolerated food. | | | | soup to the stockpot and add the rice wine vinegar. |
| Spinach and Ginger Soup | | | | Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. |
| Delicate, Soothing and Healing | | | | Heat until just about to boil. |
| This creamy green soup is delicately flavored with | | | | Finely shred the reserved spinach leaves and sprinkle |
| ginger and onion serves to soothe stomach discomfort | | | | some over the top. Drizzle a few drops of sesame oil |
| and detoxify the body. The spinach is a natural | | | | into the soup. Ladle into warmed soup bowls and |
| immune system booster. The monounsaturated fat in | | | | sprinkle the remaining shredded spinach on each, then |
| the olive oil will help our bodies absorb the nutrients and | | | | serve the soup at once. |
| minerals from the vegetables making this an ideal soup | | | | Serves 4, 1 cup per serving. Per serving: 38 calories, 3 |
| for pampering the gastric system. | | | | grams Protein; 2 grams Fat; 2 grams Carbohydrate. |
| Ingredients: | | | | *Rice Wine Vinegar: There are Japanese as well as |
| 2 Tablespoons olive oil | | | | Chinese rice vinegars, both made from fermented rice, |
| 1 medium onion, chopped | | | | and both slightly milder than most Western vinegars. |
| 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped | | | | Chinese rice vinegar comes in three types: white (clear |
| 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely chopped | | | | or pale amber), used mainly in SWEET-AND-SOUR |
| 5-6 cups young spinach leaves | | | | dishes; red, a popular accompaniment for boiled or |
| 4 cups vegetable stock | | | | steamed crab; and black, used mainly as a table |
| 1 medium potato, diced | | | | CONDIMENT. The almost colorless Japanese rice |
| 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar* | | | | vinegar is used in a variety of Japanese preparations, |
| Salt and pepper, to taste | | | | including SUSHI rice and SUNOMONO (vinegared |
| 1 teaspoon sesame oil, optional | | | | salads). Rice vinegar can be found in Asian markets |
| Directions: | | | | and some supermarkets. |