25 Spring Bariatric Recipes

From Easter to quick weeknight dinners after soccer practice, you’ll want to save this roundup of Bariatric Spring recipes! Protein-focused without a ton of work after Gastric Sleeve, Bypass, or Duodenal Switch.

Welcoming Spring with 25 Delicious Bariatric-Friendly Recipes from the Bariatric Food Coach recipe library!! (All recipes are within THIS site, no heading to a site full of pop-ups, hoorah!)

Spring is a time of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. As the flowers bloom and the days get longer, it’s the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate our bodies with nutritious and flavorful meals. Whether you’ve undergone a gastric sleeve, bypass, or duodenal switch surgery, maintaining a healthy diet is essential for your overall well-being.

In this recipe roundup, I am sharing 25 mouthwatering recipes specifically tailored to support your bariatric journey this spring. From vibrant salads to Easter brunch and satisfying main dishes, these recipes are designed to satisfy your taste buds while providing the essential nutrients your body needs.

Note: Some recipes are reserved for Premier Access Members. Find out more about the incredible benefits inside our Community!

At Bariatric Food Coach, we understand the importance of variety, flavor, and simplicity in your post-op diet. That’s why we’ve handpicked a diverse range of recipes that cater to different tastes, dietary preferences, and nutritional requirements. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or hearty and comforting, you’ll find inspiration in this collection.

So, dust off your apron, sharpen your knives, and get ready to embark on a culinary adventure that celebrates the flavors of spring. With these bariatric-friendly recipes, you can nourish your body, delight your senses, and embrace the season with newfound energy and vitality. Let’s dive in and discover the joys of springtime cooking together!

1

Deviled Egg Veggie Dip – Bariatric Friendly Appetizer

The biggest modification I made on this recipe from the original Kraft recipe was the substitution of The Laughing Cow® Cheese in place of cream cheese. It provided the creamy texture with a little added flavor too! Low calorie and a bit more protein (not that this recipe needed it) I opted for it over the light cream cheese.

Goes great with fresh veggies.

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2

Basil and Garlic Grilled Chicken

I’m a big supporter of keeping variety in your diet. That doesn’t have to be difficult! This recipe takes grilled chicken to a fresh and delicious place with the help of chopped basil leaves. I sliced up the leftovers and used them for lunches for the week (tossed it over romaine with light caesar dressing).

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3

Asparagus Salad with Roast Chicken

This salad skips the lettuce and focuses on asparagus and tomatoes instead. The flavors are fresh and delicious! Between low-fat cheese and chicken, it’s packed with protein and perfect for your post-op eating plan.

Enjoy this recipe with small bites and eating slowly, focusing on a bite of chicken or cheese to every bite of veggies to keep protein the focus.

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4

BBQ Pineapple Chicken Foil Pack

I’ve used foil packs for chicken, fish and even beef. This is perfect for weight-loss surgery patients because your meats and veggies are all in one place! Very easy to get together and even easier to clean up. Try this Jalapeño and Lime Steak Foil Pack or this Salmon Foil Pack with Tomatoes and Onions.

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5

Easy Skillet Frittata – Bariatric Friendly Meal

Whip up this easy skillet frittata – a delicious and protein-packed recipe perfect for post-bariatric surgery! Fuel your body with flavorsome ingredients and keep your journey towards health and wellness on track.

You're only 4 ingredients away from a delicious breakfast, brunch or breakfast for dinner!

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6

Cilantro Chipotle Creamy Steak Topping

Queso Fresco & Chipotle LC + Fresh Cilantro + 2 chipotle peppers blended….on top of a sirloin steak. So good! Creating fun toppings for proteins like steak or chicken keeps your eating plan exciting.

Don't be intimidated by steak after Gastric Sleeve, Bypass or DS. Take small bites, go slowly, and listen to your stopping point.

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7

BLT Deviled Eggs – Bariatric Recipe

I was introduced to the concept of BLT Deviled Eggs from Kraft Foods. They have a wonderful website of recipes that are simple enough you can easily modify them for bariatric surgery.

I changed up just a few ingredients to cut down on the fat content. There are several ways to get creative with deviled eggs!

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8

Easy Cobb Salad – WLS Recipes

If you’ve have Gastric Bypass, Sleeve, Band or Duodenal Switch surgery be sure to focus on the protein sources of the salad first. You can always add additional protein toppings like boiled eggs or turkey bacon, although this “basic” recipe skips those in order to keep the name EASY in the title! Although I love both of those toppings.

Take two bites of protein to every bite of vegetable or avocado to ensure you’re not only getting protein in your diet but will have better hunger control throughout the day. Stick to your program's guidelines (and listen to your tummy) for when to introduce salad greens.

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9

Chicken Mozzarella Burger – Low Carb WLS Recipe

*Premier Access Recipe*

Indulge in a high protein meal with major flavor with these Chicken Mozzarella Burgers! Savor the juicy blend of lean chicken and gooey mozzarella, packed with flavor and protein to keep you satisfied on your bariatric journey. Bite into deliciousness!

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10

Kale Shrimp Caesar Salad

This recipe is a fast option for a traditional Caesar salad without all the extra calories. I tossed bagged kale (ripped up with my clean hands first) with cole slaw mix and parmesan cheese. Then I cooked the shrimp with a simple lemon juice and salt and pepper mixture and added it with light Caesar dressing to the salad.

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11

Paprika and Yogurt Chicken Skewers

A simple Greek yogurt sauce for marinading chicken. Not only does this introduce wonderful flavors with a subtle yet fresh lemon taste, but the yogurt itself locks in moisture and keeps this chicken from drying out on the grill!

This…is a bariatric patient's friend. Lock in that moisture! 

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12

Pesto Shrimp with Summer Squash

I love the flavors in this recipe – pesto and other favorite seasonings of mind. I also really love the texture. I’m a fan of summer squash with a little crunch.

Many post-bariatric surgery patients do well with shrimp. It’s a lean protein source that is not super dense compared to beef or chicken breast. Those solid proteins are AWESOME for hunger and portion control (and therefore weight loss) but it is nice to change it up with shrimp!

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13

Kickin Chipotle Beef Burgers

These Kickin Chipotle Beef Burgers do have some kick. If you’re wondering just how spicy I think they would be a 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. That’s a very made-up number, however, as someone who can handle some spice but not too much this was at just the right level of heat for me.

I really enjoyed the sliced tomatoes to balance out the heat slightly. I had a small piece of tomato with eat bite of burger and really enjoyed the meal.

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14

Aloha Hawaiian Burger – WLS Recipe

These burgers have a fun range of flavors with Swiss cheese, sweet pineapple slices, and some savory turkey bacon slices over the lean ground beef patty.

It's a high-protein meal that will change up your normal routine and keep enjoyment in your meals at home. Save money, save time, and eat well!

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15

Arugala Salad with Pears, Gruyere Cheese & Pumpkin Seeds

A delicious and fresh spin on the classic side salad. This is especially refreshing moving into Spring and Summer alongside your grilled proteins!

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16

Easy Grilled Yellow Squash – Bariatric Recipes

My very favorite way to eat veggies is grilled or roasted. If it’s wintertime, my veggies are often in an oven heated to 425F. In the summertime, it’s outside on my grill. Kabobs, grill baskets, foil packs or right on the grill…I do it all!

Try this straightforward recipe for grilled yellow squash. Go light with the oil but the garlicky oil takes this squash to the next level!

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17

Pico de Gallo Grilled Chicken – WLS Recipes

This is a wonderful grilled chicken recipe that has a bit of Mexican flare. It’s light and fresh and delicious! Pair it with grilled bell peppers onions and some black beans. It’s simple and fast yet full of flavor.

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18

Caesar Grilled Pork Chops

*Premier Access Recipe*

Pork chops are a great way to change up your protein meals. This recipe uses the flavors of Caesar dressing but could easily be re-created with buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard.

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19

Grilled Dijon Chicken Burgers – WLS Recipes

These burgers are made with ground chicken. Not only super lean and packed with protein, ground chicken is also inexpensive. It’s a little “sticky” to work with because it’s so lean (and it’s chicken) so spray your grill or grill pan to prevent the burger from sticking to the grates.

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20

Bun-less Cowboy Burger – WLS Recipes

*Premier Access Recipe*

This burger is super easy to put together and the awesome sauce is all in the toppings. Savory and filling, you'll hit your protein goals and enjoy the process.

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21

Caprese “Pasta” Bowl – WLS Recipe

I’ve always loved the flavors of Caprese Salad. Fresh basil, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. This recipe adds chicken and zucchini noodles for a full entree meal!

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22

Buttermilk Chicken with Chopped Salad

This buttermilk chicken is full of flavor – especially with the fresh thyme leaves. We didn’t use any dressing on our salad, although the original recipe I adapted this from saved half of the buttermilk mixture as a dressing. Sans dressing, buttermilk dressing, or your own dressing- it’s not about the dressing. This chicken is gooooood. In fact, you could forego the salad altogether and serve it with a grilled or roasted veggie!

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23

Bruschetta Topped Grilled Steaks

I’ve always loved the flavor of bruschetta. This is the tomato, basil, and balsamic vinegar mixture that is usually served over small pieces of bread. The tomato mixture is so simple to put together and provides so much fresh flavor that I’ve used it for many, many low-carb meals! Top it on chicken, fish, or steak.

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24

Greek Grilled Chicken & Olive Salsa – WLS Recipes

Greek seasoning on chicken breast topped with a fresh tomato and olive "salsa." This is a great change of pace for proteins and veggies!

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25

Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Asparagus

*Premier Access Recipe*

This easy and flavorful recipe uses scrambled eggs, garlic, smoked salmon, and fresh asparagus. Packed with protein for bariatric surgery patients.

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With all that, it’s still safe to say easy and fast recipes are a must any time of year.

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