Eating out is such a pain!

I was out running some errands and I stopped to meet a friend. They wanted to get a bite to eat, of course I said yes to be polite, but I didn't realize how hard it would be! We sat down at Red Lobster and after spending time on my phone looking up nutrition on everything that looked good (why can't places just have a menu with all the information on it ), I decided on the shrimp scampi lunch. I managed three shrimp and one french fry and packed the rest up to take home. Eating out just seems so... not worth it to me anymore. I used to LOVE going out to eat with a friend, or my grandmother, but with what I eat, I can't justify the price of getting a meal. Why oh why can't they cater to my bariatric needs

What are some experiences you all have had eating out early on? What are some things you guys like to aim for on the menu?

I originally fretted about portion sizes...but now I just look at any restaurant meal as an opportunity to get several meals cooked for me so I don't have to...SCORE!!

I just look for any meat or fish options then always substitute veggies for the included starch. I ask for a to go container at the beginning. I carry a little scale in my purse and weigh my portion then put the rest in the container so I'm not even tempted to overeat.

This is the scale I use:

Smart Weigh ZIP300 Ultra Slim Digital Pocket Scale with Counting Feature, 300 by 0.01g

I like it because you can take the cover off and use it as a container to hold the food.

I'm going with my sister to meet a friend for lunch in a couple weeks. They want to go to Pieology...pizza and salads. I eat keto now so I could have a salad but that's lots of carbs. I decided I'm going to get pizza and just not eat the crust. Problem solved!!

I also try to find out ahead of time whenever possible where we are going. Then I research the menu and nutrition info and decide what I'm going to order. It really takes the pressure off of eating out!

I love that little scale, I think I'll buy one. At home I have gotten used to weighing everything that goes in my mouth. That was another one of my deterrents for eating out was not having my trusty home scale with me. I think if I had this, I would be at so much more ease. I've been working to learn my body's cues for when I'm getting full though, now that I am much more healed I can feel it more and I know when a burp or hiccup slip out it is time to STOP, or I'm going to be in for a world of pain.

I always under eat when I go out now, because I do have a scale but I get a bit weird about pulling it out. I guess that's a huge change from the way it used to be!

Personally, I couldn't care less who sees me use the scale. The only way I know exactly how much I'm eating out is to weigh the stuff. Some restaurant nutrition info gives serving sizes, but most don't. And I know now that when they say "6oz chicken breast"...it's rarely 6oz--sometimes 8oz, sometimes 5oz. This way I know for sure and can be confident in my macros for the day!

I haven't actually been out for a full on sit down meal yet. I would probably pull it out with at a meal with my husband but with a group of friends I'm good to under estimate. I've also been religiously weighing and measuring food since 2011, so I'm scary good at estimating meat portion sizes (not so much volume though, and I don't really eat anything that requires volume measurement now).

I traveled for a week (via plane) in March before I bought my travel scale and spent the whole week not weighing. I came home and lost 5.4lbs so I think I probably do tend to under vs over estimate.

Eventually I may be able to eyeball portion sizes, but for now I suck at it lol

Funny you should mention red lobster. I went out there last Friday for the first time post op. I eat out a lot, and I found their menu the worst bar none to navigate. It's overly complicated. And I told the server I just want these two things. And he was like,then order the this platter with a substitution blah blah and choose your sides etc. and then choose your salad etc. what kind of potato? No potato, then choose another side! Blurgh!

dude. I just want grilled shrimp and a lobster tail. Take my money!

all that to say, don't let red lobster sway you from eating out. Like I said, I eat out a lot, and it's always been pleasant. Ideally I choose things that keep well as leftovers, or sharing plates with the table is fun. In the beginning I thought the cost wasn't worth it, but when I factor in that I'm getting 2-3 meals out of it, plus the social aspects, I'm fine with it.

Some waitstaff freak out SO MUCH when I say "I'll just skip the sides, thanks." They look at me like I've got 3 heads-also when I skip the salad if my dinner comes with one.

It was so funny when I went to lunch with 4 fellow OHers ( awesome women, btw! ) while we were at the OH conference last year. We all said "No bread for the table, thanks." "NONE of you wants bread???" The waitress was shocked! IIRC, we all sort of replied at once "No! No bread!!"

If I don't allow waitstaff to refill my drink, I think their heads will explode. We must mess with their training so badly. ( or well, I know I do...haha. )

I just let them bring me water now... because if you say "Oh, nothing to drink"... they start shaking with anxiety!