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I’m a firm believer that every WLS post-op should stay away from bread (and all simple carbs) for as long as they possibly can after their surgery. The honeymoon period is the best time to keep dropping those pounds and staying as low carb as you can. However, there comes a time when you also have to live in the real world, adjusting your diet so that you can maintain your weight, and yet still enjoy some of the wonderful things you did before your surgery.
So far as bread is concerned, the very best out there for WLS patients (in my opinion) is Julian Bakery’s Smart Carb bread. They offer 2 options – plain (aka Smart Carb #1) and cinnamon almond raisin (aka Smart Carb #2). With 12g of protein per slice and only 1g of net carbs (for the plain), it’s a lovely way to enjoy bread with no guilt. Unfortunately, it’s also quite expensive and has to be ordered online. Unless you buy in bulk, this may not be the most cost-effective option for you.
If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, consider their Sprouted 7-Grain Bread. It’s a smaller slice than Julian’s and not as dense, but it does the trick when you’re looking for a good piece of toast or a nice sandwich. It’s more of a wheat bread than it is white, and as all breads do, it will keep better in the freezer. You just remove a slice or two as needed. Each slice has only 60 calories, 4g of net carbs, and 5g of protein.
I have personally used both types of bread in sandwiches, French toast, “toad in the hole” (egg fried in the middle of a piece of bread), and even as bread crumbs. The taste is exceptional and both hold up well to all ingredients.
Additional options: If you don’t have the money to order Julian’s, and you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, about the best option for you would be Healthy Life Bread (35 calories per slice, 2g net carbs, and 2g protein), sold in almost all grocery stores. Arnold’s Sandwich Thins are a very nice option for hamburger buns, but they do have more carbs than the options previously listed. If you’re at least a year out or you’ve hit your goal, enjoy some good, healthy, fiber-filled bread!