Good "Take Home" Restaurant Food

[ouroborous 519]

So, what are some suggestions for restaurant food that "keeps well" in the fridge (reheats okay, etc.)?

My girlfriend (who was sleeved in November) said that her biggest challenge when eating out nowadays is knowing what will be a good combination of delicious at the time, and still reheat-friendly (since even "small" portions in the restaurant end up being more than a single meal's worth of food, for her).

I'm just thinking ahead. To be able to have all the foods that I couldn't have before (because I had to watch my calories), just in smaller portions, has got me thinking about all of the "forbidden" food, and what will keep and reheat well

Yes, yes, I know I should only be eating veggies and lean meat after surgery, but still. A guy can dream!

[Tiffykins 673]

Soups typically reheat really well.

I am not a fan of most reheated meats, but chicken satay seems to reheat well if spritzed with some Water.

Nachos from Chili's reheat well. I know we aren't "supposed" eat chips, but I eat them occasionally. The chips get soggy, but the flavor remains.

Chinese food reheats fairly well. Like beef/broccoli, I typically ask for extra sauce to ensure the meat doesn't get rubbery.

Rib meat reheats pretty nicely. Especially, beef ribs that have a decent sauce on them.

For me, steamed veggies suck reheated so I typically share those with the kiddo.

Fajita meat, chicken or steak, and refried Beans have all worked well for me when reheated.

I love chicken wings. They are a staple in my diet. I can order 10 teriyaki, or honey barbque wings, and they last me 2-3 meals. They reheat nicely when I add a little Water to the plate, and cover loosely.

I have found anything crusted, floured, or battered all are horrible reheated. It's probably just a personal preference.

[Boredoncemore 0]

Just about all grilled fish has been good reheated...creoles, gumbos, etoufees...you can see what i'm hungry for about now!

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Tiff - You seem to be THE ONE I go to every time I have a question....I thought of something this weekend. We aren't suppose to drink when we eat....what about Soup. There is the broth, does that not count as 'liquid' AKA drinking? Just curious. It came to me when I was eating a great chicken vegetable Soup at a restaurant Saturday evening. It will be something 'good' after I get the sleeve and am on real food, but this just popped into my head!! What do you think or what do the professionals say? I'm less than three weeks out!!!! Yay!!! Won't be long now!

Soups typically reheat really well.

I am not a fan of most reheated meats, but chicken satay seems to reheat well if spritzed with some Water.

Nachos from Chili's reheat well. I know we aren't "supposed" eat chips, but I eat them occasionally. The chips get soggy, but the flavor remains.

Chinese food reheats fairly well. Like beef/broccoli, I typically ask for extra sauce to ensure the meat doesn't get rubbery.

Rib meat reheats pretty nicely. Especially, beef ribs that have a decent sauce on them.

For me, steamed veggies suck reheated so I typically share those with the kiddo.

Fajita meat, chicken or steak, and refried Beans have all worked well for me when reheated.

I love chicken wings. They are a staple in my diet. I can order 10 teriyaki, or honey barbque wings, and they last me 2-3 meals. They reheat nicely when I add a little Water to the plate, and cover loosely.

I have found anything crusted, floured, or battered all are horrible reheated. It's probably just a personal preference.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Cajun food, now you're talking. How is that after the sleeve? Is that something that you feel comfortable eating? Not too many fat grams, carbs etc? I love gumbo etc!!

Just about all grilled fish has been good reheated...creoles, gumbos, etoufees...you can see what i'm hungry for about now!

[Tiffykins 673]

Tiff - You seem to be THE ONE I go to every time I have a question....I thought of something this weekend. We aren't suppose to drink when we eat....what about Soup. There is the broth, does that not count as 'liquid' AKA drinking? Just curious. It came to me when I was eating a great chicken vegetable soup at a restaurant Saturday evening. It will be something 'good' after I get the sleeve and am on real food, but this just popped into my head!! What do you think or what do the professionals say? I'm less than three weeks out!!!! Yay!!! Won't be long now!

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

I eat/drink soup. If it's chicken noodle, veggie, minestrone, that Pasta fagioli, anything with broth, I drink all the broth then I eat the other stuff. Chicken tortilla is one I have trouble doing this with because it's so damn good, but it hasn't given me any problems by eating the solid stuff with the broth either.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Ok - so we don't need to 'worry' about the broth 'washing' the food through too fast and eating too much or making us sick? I know there are a couple of reasons for not drinking and eating at the same time. I have read numerous people say, if there is nothing they feel they can eat, they can always rely on soup.....it just seems safe. I am counting on that too! When you say you drink the broth first, I am 'assuming' you don't wait the 30 minutes before eating the solids, am I correct?

Thanks Tiff!

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

I eat/drink Soup. If it's chicken noodle, veggie, minestrone, that Pasta fagioli, anything with broth, I drink all the broth then I eat the other stuff. chicken tortilla is one I have trouble doing this with because it's so damn good, but it hasn't given me any problems by eating the solid stuff with the broth either.

[Tiffykins 673]

Ok - so we don't need to 'worry' about the broth 'washing' the food through too fast and eating too much or making us sick? I know there are a couple of reasons for not drinking and eating at the same time. I have read numerous people say, if there is nothing they feel they can eat, they can always rely on soup.....it just seems safe. I am counting on that too! When you say you drink the broth first, I am 'assuming' you don't wait the 30 minutes before eating the solids, am I correct?

Thanks Tiff!

I haven't had any issues with Soups, or the broth flushing the stuff through faster. I do not ever stop drinking 30 minutes before my meals. My surgeon does not require this like with band and RNY patients. Our stomachs pretty much dump liquids pretty quickly instead of a pouch that holds onto liquid longer.

[LAN2k 18]

So, what are some suggestions for restaurant food that "keeps well" in the fridge (reheats okay, etc.)?

My girlfriend (who was sleeved in November) said that her biggest challenge when eating out nowadays is knowing what will be a good combination of delicious at the time, and still reheat-friendly (since even "small" portions in the restaurant end up being more than a single meal's worth of food, for her).

I'm just thinking ahead. To be able to have all the foods that I couldn't have before (because I had to watch my calories), just in smaller portions, has got me thinking about all of the "forbidden" food, and what will keep and reheat well :cursing:

Yes, yes, I know I should only be eating veggies and lean meat after surgery, but still. A guy can dream!

I took home the left overs of a burrito "bowl" (minus the tortilla) from a Mexican fast food chain restaurant, (forget the name of the place at the moment). It had black Beans, pinto Beans, diced seasoned chicken, guacamole, sour cream, Tomato, lettuce, etc...etc..I was able to get 3 more meals out of it over the course of 3 days and it held up better than I did each sitting.