Kid's Menu

I was wondering if anyone knows about a card that allows you to order off of the kid's menu?  I have tried a couple of times to ask for a kid's menu, but have been told that I cannot order from one.  I end up ordering an adult meal, but not able to eat a lot, and really can't eat much of the foods still that they give you.  I am usually with other people so can't just leave.  Many times, they take the foods I can't really eat at this point.  Very frustrating. 

I haven't had the surgery yet, but I did find what you are talking about on the OH website.  Click on "My OH".  When it comes up, look under your info to the right of the screen.  I believe it says, "about obesity" in blue.  Go to the bottom of the list and click the last entry on the list.  It will tell you how to print a restaurant card and some of the places that honor them.  Good luck.  I'm sure the others here have tried the cards and have more info then I can give you.
~Donna

Thank you so much.  I printed it off, along with the restaurants. 

Dr Pacuilli had given my a little blue card that asked for special food considerations. My problem with the kids menu is its always chicken fingers and mac n cheese!!!  very few places tend to have healthy kids menu's.  But i still look anyway :)
Good luck,
Kate

Dr. Gens gives you that card at your first post-op appointment.  One side of it says something like "RNY Bypass - NO BLIND NG TUBE" and the other side says something about you having a medical condition and please let you order off the children's menu and it's signed by the doctor.  If you lost your or didn't realize it had a back side I'm sure you can get another from Dr. Gens or Nancy.  Give her a call and see if she doesn't have some.  The resturant is still welcome to deny you the children's menu, though, it's up to their policies.  Plus the card does tell everyone you had RNY so if you don't want people to know, you don't want to use the card.  Hope that helps!

I have been out a couple of times and I find the kids menu very UNfriendly.  I would rather order off the full menu and leave with a doggy bag that I can have for lunch or dinner at another time.  I went to friendly's recently and got soup and salad and it was perfect!  I ate all the soup and about 1/4 cup of salad.....

I find that I can get two meals for the price of one easily.  I don't mind in the least!

Thanks everyone.  I never received a card from Dr. Gens, but I will ask if they give one out for lap band.  You are right about the kid's menu.  I took a glance, and there really isn't anything I want to eat, but I would like a smaller or no portion of potato, since that is one food I seem to have problems with.  Or just a smaller portion of an adult menu.  It is such a challenge for me to eat out because I really hate to waste food, guess I need to get over that.  Also the strange looks from the wait staff because of what I leave on my plate. 

I hate wasting food too, but it's definitely something we both need to get over!  We need to stop eating when our bodies are finished, not when our eyes are finished.  :)

Oh, I didn't realize you were a lapband. I don't think they automatically give them out to you guys.  I assume you can get one anyway, but as everyone on here is saying, your best bet is to order something healthy off the adult menu, and take most of it home.  My favorite current thing is a bean-vegetarian sausage-veggie quesadilla they serve at The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth.  It's served as an appetizer, which is a half a quesadilla - or four wedges.  I can eat one.  Sometimes I can eat one and a half.  Wedges.  When they bring the food they always say "Do you need anything else?" and I say "Yes, I'm like a container for my leftovers now, please.  I'm a light eater."  Then they don't see how much I put in there or comment about what is left on my plate.  And of course, I get to eat it the next day or two again.  Which is awsome cause it's, like, my FAVORITE thing right now.

The only reason the server gets concerned is they thing you didn't like it.  Usually addressing it the first time they ask if it's okay with "It tasts great, but I'm a light eater and I'll need to take some home" does the trick.  All they really care is your happy with the meal.  Once you make sure to let them know it's that you have a small appetite and it's not that the food is bad, they *should* leave it alone. 

If it's just too weird going out to eat with other people, suggest other non-eating-out things you can do.  Like "Let's have dinner at my place instead" or "We always go out for dinner, let's spent time together going for a walk" or even "I'm not much for eating out these days, but maybe I can join you guys after and we could go shoe shopping/see a movie/etc."  I am also trying to meet new people by checking out clubs and stuff in your community that isn't based around food - like a knitting club or a book club.  That gives you social time with no food stress.  And you can always ask these friends/family you want to visit with but aren't enjoying going out to eat with if they want to join, too. 

Just a though.  You'll either have to avoid going out to eat, get over the hating to waste food thing, learn to assertively deal with wait staff and use doggie bags, or find some other way to make it work for you. 

Me, I don't really go out to eat much.  I don't eat pasta anymore, I don't drink alcohol - not for the first year - and I don't drink caffine.  So I'm not going out for coffee, or drinks, or pizza, or pasta.  My closest family - husband and kids - let me pick the place.  I go seafood or mexican (fajita fillings with no wrap is really good).  But the big group of girlfriends Italian dinner with drinks and dessert is a thing of the past.  If I can find another good way to connect with these people, then great.  If you go to support group and talk about this, the psychologist has some really good and insightful advice.  He attends all support groups and can give you great strategies to deal with all kinds of food situations.