Good choices for restaurant eating!

Hi everyone, I thoiught this might be helpful especially this time of the year when we seem to be going out to eat more than usual. I got this from a website that I personally love and encourage you to look at it if you haven't already. I get their newsletter and find their information so timely! It's livingafterwls.com - check it out! Don't forget the www (I'm not sure if we can reference websites or not!!) love donna Twelve Restaurants for the WLS Savvy Diner We reviewed the menus of several national restaurant chains and came up with our 12 picks (in alphabetical order) for WLS friendly dining. We hope this list will be a useful tool in your positive dining-out experience. You can learn more about the menus at these restaurants by looking at their websites. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar www.applebees.com Best menu choices: grilled items such as the Applebee's House Sirloin or Sizzling Chicken Skillet. Replace the starch with extra veggies. And get a take-home box as the serving will provide 2 or 3 nice "left-over" meals. For shrimp lovers go with the Grilled Shrimp Skewer Salad dressed with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette. Benihana www.benihana.com Lots of great choices here! The teppanyaaki style cooking at the table features fresh vegetables and protein chopped, cooked and served right at the table. Decline the white rice and enjoy your healthy meal. The Cheesecake Factory www.thecheesecakefactory.com You have to sleuth a bit to get a good WLS-friendly meal here, but it can be done. Try the Crusted Chicken Romano or Lemon-Herb Roasted Chicken. For fish try the Herb-Crusted Filet of Salmon, Miso Salmon or Shrimp Scampi. As with our other picks, decline the rice and ask for more veggies. They are happy to make this substitution. Chili's Grill and Bar www.chilis.com Do you remember the delicious Awesome Blossom onion at Chili's from your pre-WLS days? Not such a good choice for your tiny pouch. But you can find some delectable dishes at Chili's. Try the Grilled Salmon with Garlic and Herbs or for the red-meat tolerant try Chili's Classic Sirloin. Once you fill-up on protein enjoy some extra veggies and leave the starches alone. Denny's www.dennys.com Denny's is America's classic all-night diner. Not the most figure-friendly menu but careful selection will bring you a WLS-friendly plate at any meal. For breakfast go with the Veggie-Cheese Omelet; lunch, the Grilled Chicken Breast Salad or Turkey Breast Salad; dinner select the Grilled Tilapia or Grilled Chicken sided with tomato slices and green beans. KFC www.kfc.com Surprised to see KFC on the list? Me too. But during the course of a week 26-million Americans visit KFC and chances are you may find yourself at the fried chicken icon wondering what to order. We all know that fried and breaded foods should be avoided after weight loss surgery: they are hard to digest and fattening. At KFC go with the Original Recipe Chicken Breast which is roasted without the skin and breading. Or try the roasted Chicken Ceasar Salad. Avoid the buffet, which is heavy with starchy side dishes and the classic KFC fried chicken. Pizza Hut www.pizzahut.com Pizza Hut is another surprise selection on our list. But let's be realistic, with families, co-workers and the need for convenience, delivery or take-out pizza is bound to turn up on your WLS plate now and again. Watch out for the full-fat meat lovers. Though high in protein the fat and sodium is likely to cause discomfort. Go for the Chicken Supreme Thin 'N Crispy or even the Veggie Lover's Thin 'N Crispy Pizza, each of which contain 7 grams of fat per slice. Red Lobster www.redlobster.com I give this restaurant 5-forks for being WLS friendly. There are several "clean" seafood choices - foods that are not battered or fried. My favorite is the Lobster Chops (split Maine lobster tails wrapped around sea scallops and broiled). The grilled Shrimp skewers are great for garlic lovers and those preferring poultry will enjoy the Grilled Chicken or Apple Walnut Chicken Salad. The generous portions are fantastic for left-over protein, be sure and get a to-go box. Ruby Tuesday www.rubytuesday.com Praise goes to Ruby Tuesday for being one of the first chain restaurants to identify healthy selections on their menu. They call them "Smart Eating Options". Go for the Burger Wraps where you chose chicken, turkey or veggie for the protein. From the fish list try Creole Catch or Peppered Salmon. And for a refreshing lunch the Skinny Chicken is a great choice with the lean grilled chicken sided with tomatoes, cheese and romaine lettuce. Delicious! Taco Bell www.tacobell.com Gotta have lunch, and gotta have it now! Well, Taco Bell is not the most WLS-friendly establishment but try the Spicy Chicken Soft Taco. If you peel-away all or most of the tortilla you will enjoy your lunch much more, as most WLSers report pouch-discomfort when consuming more than a bite or two of tortillas or wraps. T.G.I. Friday's www.fridays.com Known for "Happy Hour" and outrageous appetizers, T.G.I. Friday's is a challenge for the health-conscious and WLS post-op alike. Avoid the appetizers and go for an entrée prepared on the grill such as the Chargrilled Salmon or Chargrilled Chicken Breasts. And be sure to ask for the rice (they serve a mountain of it) to be replaced with steamed veggies.

Hi Donna, We have a Chilli's restaurant over here on the Air Base, but I doubt I will be at any of the other places for a while!! Just wanted to say hello and see how you are doing. We should exchange emails or something: [email protected] or [email protected]!! Have a great holiday season! Hugs, love J

Thanks so much. DH and I are going out tonight, we have to finish up our christmas shopping. Dinner is on the plan- not sure were we will end up, but I do like Ruby Tuesday. They have some really good choices. I am going to check out the web site as soon as I get the chance. talk to you son

psssssssssssssssssssssssst....thanx for sharing! I get that newsletter also - I love the site and the information I don't eat at Chili's because it's a little too spicey for me - but I've tried the other places and they really aren't bad...I have to say that I think my favorite is Applebees. being that I am dating now I need to go places that I know I have choices! love you ... Linda (hugsssssssssssssss)

Kaye Bailey hits it on the head all the time. I love her web site too. She's always right on top of our problems. I always look forward to her e-mail newsletters. thanks, koukla p.s. how's your knee?