Eating Out?

This question was posted on the main board. Thought it would be fun to run it here and see what we all thought: ------------------------------------------------------------- Are you ENTITLED to special treatment in restaurants? How far should restaurants go to accommodate WLS patients? Children's menu? Discounts? Selling half portions? Honoring "cards" that say you've had WLS? There are some people who have naturally small appetites, so why should a WLS patient pay less money if they go to a buffet? If someone had a food allergy, they would work around that, wouldn't they? If someone was a heart patient and wanted their food served without fat, they would do that, wouldn't they? Morbid obesity is a disease too, but it is perceived differently, isn't it? http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/action,replies/board_id,4856/cat_id,4456/topic_id,3 307668/a,messageboard/ ------------------------------------------------------------- So what do you think??? Felicia =0)

I had this surgery to be "normal". Seems to me asking for special treatment doesn't make me "normal". Not to mention its not the restaurants problem that I have special needs ( actually I guess I don't feel that I do anyways just because I eat less lol doesn't make me special needs). I am to old to eat on the kids menu ( not to mention who wants to eat the crap they serve on that part of the menu, I don't even feed that stuff to my 6 year old) and I am to young to eat on the seniors menu. Most menus seem to have a smaller portion section but I don't even bother. I order what I want. Ask for a to go box or split something with hubby or son. I spent enough years "standing out" for my eating habits. Its time to let other parts of my life shine lol. Felicia =0)

Felicia, I second that thought!!! I usually split a meal with the hubby or the kids. The portions are just to huge even for a "normal" eater. The other thing I do is order an appetizer for the main course. Good Post, Tara

I soooooooo agree with the "portions are just to huge for a normal eater". OMG if you think about it they are/were serving us on PLATTERS not plates. I think back to eating out at Olive Garden and the plates where HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I remember thinking at the time that WHEW at least I am getting enough food for my buck. Now I think back that I paid them to help me get FAT! SHEESH what were we thinking. The 'sides' menu is good to shop off also. ( maybe the same thing? LOL ) Felicia =0)

I agree, too, I want to be normal, and not stand out in the crowd anymore; sharing meals and doggy-bagging it is the way to go; or just eat what I want and leave the rest; I dont eat out often enough to worry about the cost.

You said it sister! LOL *huggles* Felicia =0)

Well said!! I don't even think about discounts or asking to order from a special menu because of WLS. Like you I did it to be normal and not draw attention to myself. I don't think that restaurants should accomadate me because of a choice I made. So, I tend to either pay the price and not worry about it (if it's a buffet, which we rarely go to anymore) or I order off the appetizer menu and have them bring it with everyone else's meal....or I order what I want from the menu and have a box delivered along with it so I can put away most of it for later meals. That's what works for me.....oh, and sharing a meal also with either hubby or the kids. I've been known to order an appetizer for everyone to share, eat one thing off it and pick off their plates for the "rest" of my meal. LOL They are all usually willing to share a little of their veggies or a bite or two of meat with Mom since I was so nice to NOT cook and take them out. Great question Felicia!! Susan

Exactly!! I do think that its a great idea for restaurants to have options on their menu like lower fat and no sugar but thats good for EVERYONE. But "special portions" oh please whatever LOLOL. I hear ya. Sharing is what my family does best these days LOLOL. *huggles* Felicia =0)

I'm old enough to order from most places' Seniors Menu. If I am a bit too young according to their policy, I just order from the Senior Menu anyway. (No one wants to ask a woman of a "certain age" if she is OLD enough to be a "Senior"!) That's the accomodation I am most likely to continue to use. That still gives me two or three servings!

My Gram till the day she passed away wouldn't order from that part of the menu. She said "I know how old I am I don't need a menu reminding me. At my age I can eat anything I damn well please, not just what some youngin thought I should be eating." I always hated the senior sections of the menu. I guess I just don't get it. You reach a certain age and all of a sudden you require special food or what? LOL Felicia =0)