Can you still eat in restaurants?

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

A good thing to do is ask for a to go box when the meal is brought out. Leave only what you can eat on your plate with the rest going to the to go box. I do this so that I do not end up overeating. Now you have 2 or 3 meals left over for the next few days.

indecision

you took the words, right out of my mouth

2nd chance,

when i place my order - i specifically tell the waiter/waitress to bring me a to go box at the SAME time they bring my food.

i pack up the excess food (out of site, out of mind)

I will eat the smaller amount left on my plate

restaurants aren't a 4 letter word

never found a restaurant i didn't like

only order/eat healthy, and eat the smaller, proper amount of food

(this is what you must do with your new life in general)

looks like you are pre-op

enjoy getting ready for WLS

looks like you are preparing yourself well, with checking things out, gathering info, stuff like that

good for you

you are on your way to a healthier, happier, longer life

good luck with surgery

speedy recovery

kathy

[Chellemetime 299]

I eat out very often and have since I was able to tolerate food. When I go to a Mexican restaurant, I order 2 crispy fajita chicken tacos. I dump them out and add salsa for a small size taco salad. I can't eat all of it. Italian restaurants, I usually order the chicken Parmesan grilled instead of fried (really good) and I have left overs for lunch. Steakhouses, I order from the kids menu and still have left overs. Wendy's, their small chili ($1.50) and can't eat it all. Joe's Crab Shack, the kids crab pot. I LOVE CRAB!!

[NMJG 1,266]

I can't add much to this thread other than Yes, it's easy to eat out if you pay attention. I love restaurants with large appetizer menus or tapas/small plate menus. Olive Garden has a small plate menu that is great, chicken skewers are yummy. I also order from the "Side Dishes" part of menus and find that is just enough food for a meal. Also Chinese can be good if you ask them to steam your food and serve the sauce on the side - just stay away from the fried dishes and rice/noodles. Vietnamese Pho is good if you can limit yourself on the noodles. Ask for extra veg and less or no noodles and it's very tasty and low cal (high sodium, though). I find fast food the most difficult just because I'm sick of fast food grilled chicken, but it does work in a pinch. Chick-fil-A has a lot of options from chicken breast Soup to chicken salad or grilled nuggets, not to mention very good salads and great sugar-free lemonade. Don't forget Wendy's chile, too.

[cindymg 629]

I don't really like to cook, so I eat out most of the time. Boston Market is my go to place. Their turkey or chicken market bowls are easy and the meat is moist so it goes down easy. Get food in a to go container, eat 1/2 at restaurant and the rest at home.

[.......... 129]

Sushi baby !! I like what I get at the grocer's and can not wait to revisit a place I know with a Sushi Bar included with meal for the real deal soon. I'll get me that go box for sure.

Edited October 14, 2013 by JKG

[patiscuba 28]

YES YES YES....I rarely order my own mean though. I steal a bite or two from my son, or at best order an kids choice or snack size, and most of that comes home... love it saves tons of money.

[right105 1]

I order a side salad( just veggies) and shrimp cocktail, or broth based Soup and shrimp cocktail. Neither are too heavy and shrimp is high in Protein

[Vegasme 30]

I eat out almost everyday. I basically eat what I want ( but what I want has bchanged from before .. I avoid breads and heavy foods). I just cant eat very much and end up taking a to go box home ( which works out perfectly for lunch the next day

I tend to eat too fast in restaurants and usually become miserable at some point. The food is good and at some points I am sad to not be able to try more / eat more.. but all in all Im very happy eating out

[Beach Lover 1,084]

This is what I had for dinner not to long ago. I ate the lobster, a few bites of the broccoli cheese casserole and some of my salad. I had the tea put in a to go cup to drink later. It was delicious and very satisfying!! There is life after puree!!

[marfar7 1,533]

Absolutely! Luv eating out. And I do it often. I'm the odd-bird that eats everything (including bread, rice, Pasta, and potatoes) just really small amt. Last nite we took my FIL to a steakhouse for his bday. I ordered a 10oz prime rib. I ate maybe 4 bites, a few bites of my baked potato, couple bites of ranch Beans, and a few bites of my salad. Hubby ate the rest of my prime rib. First time in 4 yrs (since being banded. I'm now sleeved, however) I didn't have a to go box. I was bummed.

I attempted to use my bariatric card at Hometown Buffet to get the kids prices. They refused it. I'm truly a waste of money at buffets. I fill my plate with all the stuff I like and take a bite of each thing. When I'm done, it doesn't even look like I ate anything! And I usually wrap up a couple Cookies and sneak them in my purse! Hey, I just paid $11 for .75cents worth of food!

You can find healthy foods on every menu. Good luck!

[Beach Lover 1,084]

Absolutely! Luv eating out. And I do it often. I'm the odd-bird that eats everything (including bread, rice, Pasta, and potatoes) just really small amt. Last nite we took my FIL to a steakhouse for his bday. I ordered a 10oz prime rib. I ate maybe 4 bites, a few bites of my baked potato, couple bites of ranch Beans, and a few bites of my salad. Hubby ate the rest of my prime rib. First time in 4 yrs (since being banded. I'm now sleeved, however) I didn't have a to go box. I was bummed.

I attempted to use my bariatric card at Hometown Buffet to get the kids prices. They refused it. I'm truly a waste of money at buffets. I fill my plate with all the stuff I like and take a bite of each thing. When I'm done, it doesn't even look like I ate anything! And I usually wrap up a couple Cookies and sneak them in my purse! Hey, I just paid $11 for .75cents worth of food!

You can find healthy foods on every menu. Good luck!

Can you pay by the pound? At Golden Corral you can do that. It might be worth a try and you would save a lot of money that way. You can pick out what you want to eat and have them weigh it and just pay for what you are actually eating.

[marfar7 1,533]

Can you pay by the pound? At Golden Corral you can do that. It might be worth a try and you would save a lot of money that way. You can pick out what you want to eat and have them weigh it and just pay for what you are actually eating.

Not sure. Never heard of that for "Here" meals. have heard of that for "to go" meals. We don't have a Golden Corral on the West Coast. We like to go there cuz hubby is a low carber and he can get his fill of meat and veggies...

[carstanger 346]

I split a lot of meals with my husband when we go out. I even took Protein packs and asked for hot Water when I was still on liquids. Protein first, then colors. I don't eat Pasta or rice out as they are usually not the brown rice or higher protein Pasta. No bread out for the same reason. I have them bring me the meal without the bread or bun, etc. Grilled, some Soups, Wendy's chili....I always find something and bring some Snacks along in case I have problems.

[soonerorlater 139]

Not sure. Never heard of that for "Here" meals. have heard of that for "to go" meals. We don't have a Golden Corral on the West Coast. We like to go there cuz hubby is a low carber and he can get his fill of meat and veggies...

Where do you live? You said here on the west coast we don't have Golden Corral! But we actually do!

[piercedqt78 658]

^{I either pick off my family's plate, or order an item ala cart. We are going on a cruise and I plan on ordering a few Entrees, having a bite or 2 of each, and letting my family have what I don't eat. I will order a cheese plate for dessert each night. I'm not a sweets person to begin with, so I don't miss Desserts. When we do seafood places, I usually get a shrimp cocktail, or an appetizer or just order a piece of fish, no sides. I usually have a bite of my hubby's baked potato, or I will eat the tiny cup of slaw that comes with my daughter's plate. Another option is if my hubby orders a steak most places have the option to upgrade it with a skewer of shrimp, scallops or a lobster tail. (you can tell I live in a coastal region) That upgrade is easily enough to be my dinner. Sometimes I add a steamed or grilled veggies side, sometimes I don't. I go with the thought of quality over quantity now.}

We even do fast food, burger king has the low carb option. I get a whopper jr, low carb. The basically put the lettuce, Tomato, onion and pickle with the grilled meat into a side salad container. I add some ketchup, and mayo on top and eat it with a knife and fork. I can't even finish a whopper jr. My dogs love meal time now.

I have also been known to ask for them to make me a salad with no lettuce, and every place is happy to do it. It ends up being the grilled chicken, and the toppings. My favorite is from Wendy's, I get a half sized grilled apple salad, no lettuce. The container is 1/2 a grilled chicken breast, a few small chunks of apple, some blue cheese, a few cherry tomatoes, and a side packet of walnuts. It comes with a rasberry balsamic dressing on the side. It's the perfect lunch or dinner, and I can eat almost all of it, at one sitting. I save the walnuts for a snack later in the day.

As long as you really look at your options you can usually find something to eat just about anywhere you go.