WLS Friendly Restaurants - Let's make a list!

Hi

I often get asked where can I go to eat that is WLS friendly and or what can I eat. It would be great to have an updated list. There are other threads floating around but are several years old. I personally stayed away from restaurant eating after surgery, but there are times when that is not just an option.

Please share any restaurants you feel offer good choices for us or what do you order to stay on track

**I never order kids options as most (but are getting better) are just not healthy

**I order protein options chicken and or fish, low carb veggies and take half of it home.

**I ask them to bring out a take home box when they bring my food and put half the meal in the box before I start eating.

**I never eat fried foods or drink soda/sugar options

**If my sweet tooth is screaming "what about me" I ask everyone what sounds good and we order that and I take a bite or two. That way I don't have anything to be tempted to take home.

Thanks for sharing

Regards,

Kathy

All of them! I've never had a problem finding something I can eat in any restaurant.

Me too! I always find a work around, and every single place that I've asked for something not exactly on the menu has complied with me eagerly.

For instance...

• burger, no bun or lettuce wrapped
• I change any side to a veggie or salad with no issues
• I eat the insides out of tacos and just skip the tortilla
• red beans and rice? I just order no rice
• If all they have are sides like potatoes/french fries, I just ask them not to bring me the side
• Wings with only sweet options? I get them plain (then use ranch or blue cheese to dip them in)
• I've even heard of people that go to pasta places that get veggies instead of the pasta (chicken Alfredo with broccoli instead of the fettuccine that they usually serve with it)
• Indian restaurants that serve everything over rice, I just ask for no rice (butter chicken is a great one)
• Gyros I just eat what's inside the bread
• I don't do much fast food, but at the mall I've asked the Chinese place which one is low sugar and can get just that in a bowl without the rice/noodles they usually serve it with... and I've grabbed the pizza and just ate the toppings

I Believe you can eat anywhere and make a good choice!

Yes to what Pammie said, definitely. I've never gone to a place that doesn't either have something I can eat or that won't make a substitution. Even super early out there is usually a soup or broth. Fast food is a challenge maybe but you can usually ditch the bread or bun if you are absolutely stuck with only fast food choices.

I honestly think that we as postops have to take responsibility for anything that goes into our mouths. The restaurant never is responsible. If they don't make substitutions I can always just eat the part of whatever they are serving that is protein forward. Or I can choose a different restaurant. Portions too big? Take some home. Or don't. You paid for the meal and you can do what you want with it.

Even early out I never asked for a child's portion. I don't - and never will - carry one of those WLS cards. What I eat and what I throw away or leave is no one's business regardless of where I am.

Just throwing this out here as well: I've also been known to skip the meal completely and just sip some tea or some such. If anyone comments my answer is always that I am not hungry, but didn't want to miss out on enjoying the company. That's usually the bottom line for me anyway. And you know what? Most people aren't that concerned about what I am or am not eating or if I am not eating at all.

Yup! And I've never needed to order off a kids menu, which is good since the stuff people think kids should be eating is gross :P

I've also done meatballs at Italian places, although lots of good Italian places will have chicken dishes that work well for me. Or other meats.

Mexican can be challenging, but that's because I'm resistant ;) There tends to always be a good meat only option - innards of tacos are tasty.

I think a lot of my restaurant options end up being "innards of [something]" actually. It works out super well. And if I feel weird about ordering it that way, I can do it myself when it arrives.

My Mexican go-to is fajitas. I order them with corn tortillas since I don't do low carb, but you could just as easily just eat the meat. And whichever of the toppings fit your meal plan.

That definitely seems to be the norm, but, for some reason, I've never been a huge fan of restaurant fajitas. I tend to like fish tacos innards :D

Going without Mexican in the southwest is Not An Option, so this one is near to my heart. All of the following are good (or fair) choices:

• Fajitas (meat+veggies)
• Chile con carne (pork+green chile/pork+red chile) - this might just be a Sonoran thing, though
• Taco/burro innards (meat+lettuce/salsa)
• Peppers stuffed with meat (chile relleno) - only a fair choice, as these are deep fried. Some restaurants also only stuff them with cheese, which is of course not a good choice
• Taco salads, once cleared for raw veggies (shredded meat, lettuce, pico de gallo) - fair choice, tend to have high calories dressing

I tend to stick to chile con carne, as it's simple and satisfying, while being easy to eat.

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I wasn't clear. I know what the options are - I just don't want them.

I think we're even luckier living in the current era with this, because it's so easy to find menus online and scope a place out before you ever step foot in it. I tend to always know what I'm going to eat before I'm in the place so that way I don't feel pressured to make a quick decision in the moment.