Deep breath. I also have a family to cook for, and thanks to a huge family emergency the week before my surgery, all of my "will get it done before I go in" stuff flew out the window. We managed pretty well- the crockpot was a huge help for me- throw it in and walk away. I also did lots of "cook once, eat twice" and gave myself permission to make easy dinners. Precooked ham steaks with rice, grilled cheese and soup, breakfast for dinner, spaghetti with frozen meatballs, preseasoned frozen fish packets with quinoa and salad, etc. Pick up a rotisserie chicken, let them eat off it for dinner, then use the leftovers to make chicken alfredo the next night.

For the nights I was in the hospital, DH picked up pizza the first night, and then did a crockpot pot roast the second day which fed them until I got home and was able to load the crockpot by myself.

Lunches were lots of sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks. My kids eat pretty much the same thing for breakfast every day, so that was easy too.

I am dreading this so bad right now. Liquid only starts Monday. I think a trick would be to plan on drinking a shame while cooking, so that you are not tempted to snack. I could be wrong though.

I wasn't bothered by it. I felt very strongly the need to do well on my pre-op diet - for my overall health and well-being, as well as the shrinking-of-my-liver before surgery. I didn't go off my plan at all. I was on shakes and bars (OptiFast) for 2 weeks and I wasn't bother by it. I knew it was short-term, and that I was doing it for a good cause. I would, however, occupy myself with something else while the family sat down to dinner at night. After all, I don't need to WATCH them eat their yummy goodness! Lol.

I found the smells bothered me way more preop than postop. The first few weeks especially, I really had to force myself to get my meals and protein in because food was so unappealing. As thing started to smell ok again, I was starting to add back in foods so it wasn't as hard. Now I'm 2.5mo out, I make things for dinner most nights that I can also enjoy, which makes cooking easier.

Some seem to hate all of the food commercials and shows after surgery. I have really enjoyed cooking post surgery. I cook for the family most of the time and in generL meals have gotten healthier but also quality has become important over quantity.

There have been a few times where I cook but then make a small portion and leave because it has been good and I would worry that I would not stop (#humblebrag!