taking food to restaurants

So today I met a dear friend for a late lunch at a restaurant.  I brought my own soup, because I'm still on full liquids, and was absolutely FINE with it (as was she). 

But we both kind of had a moment of concern with how to deal with the waitress asking for our orders.  So I'm curious - how DO you deal with it on a long-term basis and have you found that some restaurants get weird about it?  Do you proactively explain? Just say "nothing for me" and whip out your own food?  Or what?

In this case, I said to the waitress "I just had surgery and am on a special diet so brought my own food."  (and included a small tip with the bill anyway)

Ideas and suggestions for the future, though?

Thanks!
Karen

There have been times when I have added my own supplements to an order.  I don't feel guilty about it because I'm ordering something but using my own stuff  For example,  I carry my own splenda, crystal light, a can of tuna, my own dressing, and sometimes my own jello.

If I can't find anything on the menu, I will order a side salad and use my own stuff with it. 

They don't mind charging you for decaf tea, or ho****er for boullion, and since you never know what is in their dressing, they don't mind giving you a dry, plain salad. 

The tip makes up for most of everything, as long as you don't mind leaving one.  Always carry your card from Barix that states you had the surgery and to please accomodate the bearer.

That all makes tons of sense.  Right now, though, being only 2 weeks out, I really have very few (if any) options on a typical menu, so I feel safer just taking my soup or smoothie with me.  Today, there would have literally been nothing I could have ordered (there was a soup that sounded good - sweet potato/jalapeno - but when I asked, it had both sugar and honey in it).

Karen

I have only take in my own flavor pacts for water...

I always check online the menu before we go to a resturant... that way there is no surprises...

I have had resturants be real jerks when Lore was little and we would bring in baby food... we were charged once for that and I raised such a big stink that the manager gave us the meal for free... for petes sake she was 6m old... what else was she going to eat lol... and we have never been back to that place either...

so, I would call a head and ask... if they give you a hard time it isn't worth it... www.calorieking.com is a great site... along with chain resturtant website...

Hi Karen:



I'm 5 months post op and I still take my food with me to restaurants because I'm not ready (just my own personal thing) to trust the contents there.



I go out with friends and/or co workers at least 3 times a week and I always pack my meals... they are all used to it and I have yet to have any place give me so much as a dirty look. I order a glass of water just so I have something in front of me even though I can't drink it.



I too tend to help out with the tip or put a little something extra in.



Hope that helps.



-Chanel


One other thing... I wait until every one has their food at the table before I pull mine out which is probably why I don't get any looks as well.