Eating out

[feli04alex 5]

I need advice from you all. I eat out almost all the time. I work full time, full time mom of a son with two baseball teams, full time mom of a cheerleading daughter, and to top it off a three year old. Im out of town almost every weekend during active season. It's hard for me to make good choices of foods at times. What should I do?

[littlelaura 43]

Whoops the send button went to fast. This sounds like my life I'm in the pre-op stage looking to get banded probably the beginning of May. We are gone almost every weekend with sports activities so what I'm doing now is planning my meals. I make deli sandwiches bring fruit bowls bring high Fiber bars, hummus, and veggies. Sometimes it's a pain trying to get everything together but planning is a big part of it. It's hard when you see all the concession food and everybody else is eating pretzels and nachos and everything else. It gets easier each time you do planning. Good luck in the long run it will be worth it.

Edited February 20, 2014 by littlelaura

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Always be packing Protein Bars. The only fast food establishment I frequent is Wendy's..... I order the chilli or their salads. Also, I keep a small ice chest in my car, so I can throw in a FROZEN GEL PACK, and then I bring tupperware containers of tuna or chicken salad, grapes, apple slices, etc.

[scubachick 58]

I think in the beginning you are gonna need to pack what you can eat. Invest in a quality small ice chest that will keep things from spoiling with heat/sun

[Corridor72 518]

Depends on where you're eating. If you MUST eat fast food, try getting grilled chicken and throw away the bread or order it on a salad. You can also do Wendy's chili. At Subway, you can do the meat and veggies and throw away the bread or have them make your favorite sandwich into a salad. KFC has grilled chicken and I do green Beans with that. LJS has baked cod and baked shrimp and they also have green Beans. If we're eating at a mexican place, I like taco salad and just have them put it in a bowl. If I'm eating at a "sit down" type place, most of them have some sort of grilled fish or shrimp so i usually order that with some veggies. You can also do as the others suggested and pack a cooler and bring cold cuts, cheese, chicken, chicken salad, or tuna salad and make lettuce wraps. Also, make sure you find a Protein bar you really like and ALWAYS have 1 or 2 of those on hand. I carry them in my purse and usually have 1 in my vehicle as well. We are also constantly on the go and I eat out a lot too. It takes some planning in the beginning but once you get it all figured out, you will be able to eat anywhere the rest of the family wants to eat. You just have to figure out what they have that is band friendly. One place I try very hard to avoid is McDonald's.

[kmo235 8]

I am new to this forum, but my question is, I am to start the soft foods/mushy phase this weekend: can someone give me ideas on what to eat at each meal time and Snacks. I have been on the liquids and Soups for the last 3 weeks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks in advance!

[gowalking 10,790]

I am new to this forum, but my question is, I am to start the soft foods/mushy phase this weekend: can someone give me ideas on what to eat at each meal time and Snacks. I have been on the liquids and Soups for the last 3 weeks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks in advance!

Hi kmo. You should start a separate thread so folks reply to your question. In the meantime, did your doctor's office give you any sample menus? If not, a few examples are tuna and egg salads...chopped or mixed very fine. Hummus, yogurt, soft cheeses. For Snacks, pudding, Jello, pops...all sugar free of course. It's really anything that is naturally soft or you can make into a mushy consistency.. Good luck.

[kmo235 8]

Thank you for responding, but no my doctor did not give me a list of foods.

[Sharpie 3,306]

I also can eat @ Chic Fil A. Their chicken tortilla Soup is great, only 260 calories and packed with Protein. Wendy's chili is also a good Protein. stay away from McDonald's if possible. If you can't get grilled chicken wrap and eat everything but the tortilla. Protein Bars are my saving grace. When I am busy and going to my grandkids ball games or cheering I always pack a bar and some Water so I won't be tempted to hit the snack bar ..

[feli04alex 5]

Thanks for all your advice. Which Protein bars do you all prefer?

[Sharpie 3,306]

I like Quest but some people don't like them. Protein, calories and no sugar are all good with them. They have lots of flavors such as chocolate chip cookie dough, strawberry cheesecake and my favorite chocolate chunk, taste like a brownie..GNC carries them.

Thanks for all your advice. Which Protein Bars do you all prefer?

[Corridor72 518]

Thanks for all your advice. Which Protein bars do you all prefer?

My favorite are the Quest bars. LOVE them! The Double chocolate Chunk is AMAZING! Who needs candy bars when you have these????? They are heavenly! I also like the chocolate Brownie, White Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Supreme, and Coconut Cashew. I didn't like the banana Nut Muffin or the Lemon Cream pie flavors though. The mixed berry is ok but not one of my favorites and the same with the vanilla Almond Crunch. I still haven't tried the Apple Pie, Cookies & Cream, PB&J, or strawberry Cheesecake flavors yet but I have 1 of each of them and will be trying them soon As you can tell, I love my Quest bars!And Double Chocolate Chunk is BY FAR my favorite!