Post-Rehab Recipes You’ll Love

You’ve had surgery, you’ve successfully completed, and now you’re heading home.

What are you planning on making for dinner?

Returning home means returning to your normal routine. If you’ll be cooking for yourself, or if you have someone cooking for you after rehab, give these easy and healthy recipes a try. We’ve also thrown in some healthy eating tips and menu planning resources. Dig in!

Meals and Menus For Someone Coming Home From Post-Hospital Rehab

Quick and Easy Recipes

Here’s an easy recipe for each meal of the day that you can try after you’ve First up, breakfast.

Breakfast: Skinny Omelet with Ham and Cheese

This healthy omelet recipe comes to us from AARP food expert Pam Anderson.

• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/2 cup egg substitute, such as Egg Beaters
• Ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons each: chopped fresh parsley and thinly sliced scallions
• 1 slice (3/4 ounce) reduced-fat Swiss cheese, cut into small dice
• 1 ounce (scant 1/4 cup) extra-lean ham, cut into small dice

Directions: Heat oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over low heat while preparing ingredients. Beat egg substitute with pepper, parsley and scallions.

A couple of minutes before cooking, increase temperature under skillet to medium-high. When wisps of smoke start to rise from the pan, swirl oil around to completely coat.

Add egg mixture to the skillet and let stand for 10 to 15 seconds for bottom to set. Using a plastic or wooden spatula to push back the eggs that have set every several seconds, tilt pan so that the uncooked egg substitute runs into the empty portion of the skillet. Continue pushing back cooked eggs and tilting pan until omelet top is wet, but not runny. Turn heat to low and sprinkle on cheese and ham. Fold one-half of the egg mixture over the other; let stand a few minutes to warm through. Serve.

Lunch: Turkey Wrap

Try this light turkey wrap from the Mayo Clinic.

• 12 ounces sliced deli turkey (low-sodium)
• 1/4 cup avocado
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 2 whole-wheat tortillas (12-inch diameter)
• 1 cup shredded green cabbage
• 1/2 cup thin sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced tomatoes

Directions: Mash avocado with salsa, mix well and set aside. Spread avocado salsa evenly over two tortillas. Evenly distribute cabbage, carrots, tomato slices and turkey between the two tortillas. Pile the ingredients in the center, running the full length of the tortilla.

Fold closest side of tortilla up toward you. Next, fold sides over and roll up, leaving seam on the bottom. Cut each tortilla in half. Serve.

Dinner: Creamy Tomato Fettuccini

The American Heart Association shares this tasty and heart-healthy pasta recipe. Serves four.

• 8 oz. uncooked, 100%, whole-wheat fettuccine (or spaghetti or angel-hair pasta)
• nonstick cooking spray
• 2 clove fresh, minced garlic
• 1/3 cup chopped onion (white or yellow, approximately 1 small)
• 2/3 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
• 2 Tbsp. chopped, fresh basil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 oz canned, low-sodium, diced tomatoes (undrained)

Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Spray 3-quart saucepan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to turn translucent (crisp-tender).

Stir in remaining ingredients, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon. Heat to a boil, reduce to low-heat and simmer uncovered 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened. Add pasta to sauce and toss.

More Healthy Recipes to Try After Surgery

There are a lot of great resources online for quick and easy recipes that are also healthy. If you’d like some more ideas, try searching on these popular sites that feature quick and healthy meals:

Food Network

Eating Well

Real Simple

Martha Stewart