Subway & Bennigans...for lunch?!?

Today, I opted to test my strength and decided to step foot into two restaurants, knowing I wouldn't be able to indulge in my favorites from the past. First, Anthony & I picked up Jacob from school and took him to lunch at Subway.  Now remember...this is the place I've been craving like crazy.  The smell of the bread was phenominal.  Anyway, as this place intimidates Anthony (too many choices), I told him that I would order for him.  He & Jacob shared a footlong sub with all the "fixins".  Ranch dressing and Chipotle Southwest sauce topped the veggies.  They shared a bag of chips and each had a soda.  I sat with them and drank my bottle of water...I was so good. After we took Jacob back to school, we picked up Ethan and took him to lunch at Bennigan's.  I'm in love with their French Onion Soup, but only because of the melted provolone and toasted bread on top.  Since I had so much fun ordering food I wasn't able to eat at Subway, I asked Anthony if I could order for him again.  He was having fun with this, too, so I ordered a Monte Cristo for he & Ethan to share (neither had ever had one before...didn't even know what they were).  I told Ethan that this was a one-time treat, as no family member of mine was going to indulge on a deep fried club sandwich on a regular basis.  I ordered French Onion soup for myself and told her to leave off the good stuff and to leave out as many onions as possible, as I only wanted the broth. The soup still had quite of bit of onion in it when it arrived at the table, so I took my fork and scraped the pieces of onion out.  I was only able to eat about half the bowl of broth, as it was WAAAAYYYY too salty.  Anthony loved the monte cristo.  Ethan didn't like it as much because it was greasy (THANK HEAVENS!!!) Anyway, it was good to get out of the house...have a schoolday lunch with the boys and Anthony...and know that I could go to a restaurant without "cheating". I'm still hungry...and can't wait until the "mushy" stage...but everyday is a new challenge and is one day closer. Cathy

You have had a very busy day.  I bet you had a blast.  Nothing like a little mini vacation with lots of benefits!!! I've not had the french onion soup - but heard that it's good.  I'll have to give it a try one of these days.  My oldest daughter is more the soup girl than the rest of us. Glad you had a nice day! Tonja

Cathy, Glad you had a great day. You were talking about the soup being too salty. I have found that since surgery everything tastes too strong. Even Crystal Lite I have to dilute half and half with water then it still tastes strong. I was wondering if anyone else has that problem. I do however crave a lot of salt since surgery.  Tressa

I had an eating adventure too-My father wanted to go to the Chinese Buffet.  Now, I know there is plenty to eat there, but my concern was the things I would have to pick apart but wanted.  So I loosely filled my plate (not packed tight).  Half was veggies that I knew I would be able to eat and the other part was one item each of things I would have to pick apart.  I ate the inside of an eggroll, the inside of a dumpling.   Of course, this ended up with a lot of food left on my plate, but I paid for a plate of food so I didn't feel bad or awkward.  I would have felt odd about going back for seconds-but that wasn't necessary. I know people who are a bit "closeted" about their band-but really-to the passerby I could have just been a person who didn't like bread or rice or dumplings.  But again, I would have felt awkward with a plate of empty eggroll shells. The point was not to make Cathy drool (sorry if I did) but to share a foray into the "normal" world. Disclaimer: the true test will be going with my mother along, who will dicuss what I'm NOT eating for the entire time coupled with all the choices I could make from the buffet and then on into the wide world.

I'm not drooling...I'm not drooling...I'm not drooling... **wink** Cathy