Silly question #2

Ok, I see these posts about get togethers at different resteraunts,  How does eveyone handle eating out post surgery, are there just a lot of "doggy bags" leaving? What are good (wise) menu choices, since it seems protein, protein protein are the key words?

Thanks,
Tom

Protein is indeed the key word at any meal. It depends on the restaurant and your personal preferences/tolerances as to what will work best for you. Early out, I was conservative. Later on I tried a few more things. Sometimes you can order an appetizer or a child's menu item as your meal. However, too often I find these things breaded, fried, and/or loaded with bad stuff. My favorites are crab cakes, salmon, tuna, grilled chicken, shrimp, salads, soups. Although I will sometimes experiment with other seafood. I do allow some sauces, but I try to stay away from those that are too sweet or full of fats. Cheese is OK too. I may have some vegetables or fruits with a meal, but the focus is still the protein.

I really worried about this pre-op and early post op. But in the end it was OK. Just take your time and you will be OK. I have never limited my dining out opportunities by the fact that there will be a restaurant involved. For me, the opportunity to spend time with family and friends has always been more important.

Hi Tom!!!

Someone else said, "For a bunch of wls chicks, you people sure have a lot of lunches/dinners!!" LOL!!!  We DO, but mainly because you HAVE to eat, and it's the easiest way to get a group of people together.

As others have stated, you can STILL eat out post-op.  For me, it's all about choices.  Obviously, until you're comfortably ensconced in solid food, you want to be careful eating out so you don't get sick from experimenting.  Trust me, there's nothing worse than being sick in public and praying to God to just "take me now!"

My choices typically include seafood (including crab cakes), ground beef (but not burgers, because I can't handle it once it's compacted), chicken (although I have to watch how it's prepared because I sometimes have a hard time with it), salads (ALWAYS with protein - tuna, salmon, shrimp, chicken), high protein soups, etc.  I stay away from breads, pasta and rice, because none of those things agree with my pouch, and they ALL sit like lead there!!  However, I CAN do toast, so, for instance, if I really WANT a sandwich, I make sure it's whole wheat toast.  I can also do tortillas, but they have to be crisped up in the oven or frying pan.  I wish I could say that I stay away from sweets and those types of carbs, but sadly, they're my downfall. 

I know it seems sort of alien, but honestly, you get used to eating this way after a while.  There's really nothing that I miss.  Take a look at the daily post, "The Feed Bag," and you'll see that we all eat pretty normally.  Granted, the quantity is much less, and as far as eating out, you'll become a cheap date.  You may find yourself sharing a meal or taking home leftovers, although for some inexplicable reason, a lot of us don't do well with any sorts of leftovers (probably the drying out factor).

HTH,

Tia

It's doggy bags for me depending on the quantity of food.  If we are having breakfast or brunch - my focus is on the eggs and breakfast meats.  If it's a lunch - I may go for a burger without bread.  However, the last time I headed out to dinner - I ordered crab nachos - thnking we'd have alot of crab meat....there was "some", BUT there was lots of cheese!  Hubby had my nacho leftovers sans some crab and alot of cheese. 

I do alot of doggy bags! I always joke that I am a cheap date now...lol

But I have to say that I find eating out to be a breeze! I do salads with grilled chicken, wraps (LOVE them) or just find a good grilled protein with a side of veggies.

Its just now instead of focusing on the food like I did preop I focus on the company of my friends.

I go out with my husband and sister. They order entrees, I eat parts of their protein. Yay!

Or, kids portions, or an appetizer and even that ends up ina  doggy bag most days.

My friend who had the surgery a year before me, and I will go out to lunch and split entrees.

I go out to eat almost daily. My roomate says we are Professional Eater Outers.

For breakfast, I go for eggs, cheese, crabmeat, bacon and skip the potatoes and bread

Lunch and dinner; my favorite is Ahi Tuna- the appetizer portion is perfect for me. I also get the burger with cheese and no bread, pork chop, fish, steak and a lot of seafood.  If I get a salad with my meal, I try to save it for last so I get as much protein in as possible.

One meal in a restaurant is usally 3 meals for me.  I love doggybags... It gives me the ability to have lunch for 2 days!

I also will go out with family and share their meals. It's great when it's hubby, mom and my daughter.  Then it's like a buffet! LoL

Just remember protein first and you'll find you have lots of choices.

Ren

Would crab CAKES be too much fillers, I know it varies, and New Town Diner seems to use little filler.

Tom