Dining discounts for bariatric post-ops

This past week while on vacation, my partner Brett, I and our pal Rich were at the Mohegan Sun Casino in CT. Rich’s neighbor had highly recommended the casino’s special holiday buffet. As you know, a buffet is usually of no value to a post-op. I can no way make a trip to an upscale costly buffet worthwhile. Well, we checked it out and it was $45! It was pretty spectacular with lobster, a huge variety of seafood, filets, prime rib, strip steaks and much, much more.

While discussing how it would not be worth while for us while we stood in front of the restaurant, the manager overheard us and approached us. She said they have a standard operating procedure to charge bariatric patients with surgeon’s/hospital’s cards supporting the fact they had surgery the child’s price at any restaurant on their property. The buffet was $21 for children. Well, we thought a lobster dinner was worth $21 and paid our way. Sure enough, I only had an excellent 1 ½ pound lobster, 3 huge shrimp, some clams and a few scallops and I was stuffed (over-stuffed). It was truly worth the $21.

That got me thinking. How many other places offer this type of discount to bariatric post-ops? Not just a chance to order from the children's unhealthy menu of chicken fingersand hot dogs. Do you folks on this board know of places tat will give you a discount on dining as a bariatric patient? I know I will check from now on…

Tom

In this case, you are correct in regard to $45 not worth it for the amount of food that we eat as a post-op.

I, however have decided to not make a big deal about trying to get a discount based on the amount of food that I eat when going out for a meal.

I see it this way.  If I go out to eat and am satisified, I feel that it was worth the price.

In regards to the $45.00 buffet, personnaly I would have skipped it, unless I also got that discount as well!!

Congrates

Michael.

My WLS center has been giving out cards to the post ops that says something along the lines of "this person has had bariatric surgery and can only eat small portions, please adjust to their needs" or something like that. The cards weren't around when I had mine, but when my g/f had her surgery she refused the card.

We would never do a buffet but when we order out we just order the regular sizes. We eat what we can and take home the rest. I know other people who throw a fit because they were refused the childrens menu.

When we go to Maine we'll stop at those "lobster shack" type places where they have kick ass food ...and one of us will go up to the window and order kids meals. They don't know.

At the same time ...some places have ****ty childrens menus (for us). Hot dogs, mac n cheese, pizza, ...it's great for kids but not so great for us. So to avoid 20 questions we just order regular at a sit down place ...and take home the rest for the next days lunch :)

Brooke,

I pretty much feel like you. I go to a restaurant and order what I want. I basically take home the next day's lunch. If I am on vacation, I look at it as I would have paid the same price for a meal regardless of surgery. So, if I leave half of it, it's OK. That is a hard mentality to break given the fact I was taught to not waste food.

So many people in my surgeon's support group complain about being denied the children's or senior's menu. I don't. Like you said. It is almost always high fat and fried  foods that are just not good. Actually I have ordered from the senor's menu several times when the meals look large. No server has ever questioned this. One told me it is not her job to police the dining room checking IDs. I know family restaurants like Bob Evans, Eat n Park and Perkins in Ohio could care less who orders senior meals. 

The buffet is an interesting thing though. I actually prefer to dine at a Chinese buffet now and then. With my lap band surgery there are things that just don't work well in all dishes. The buffet gives me the option of picking and choosing a few items and only taking what I can eat. I always pay the regular price. I may ask about the discount next time. It's no big deal. It was when the buffet was $45.

Tom

Those all all great mentalities to have.  Just frustrating to see post-op "complain" that they are charged too much!

Like I said before, if after I get what I want and I'm satisified, I feel that I got my monies worth, EXCEPT in the case of a $45.00 buffett!!

(I do go to the buffet at the casino's, but generally it is with a comp otherwise I eat at a coffee shop type place.  Generally breakfast is very inexpensive and usually just enough).  Like here in the south you can goto Cracker Barrell and get 1-2 eggs a meat and maybe a slice of toast for about $3-4

Michael.

Tom,
Does Dr. Z's office have these cards? I have an appointment tomorrow and will ask at the front desk about them. My partner and I always split the food at restauarants (unless we have a strong desire for different things), but it would be nice for places that have buffets and I wouldn't be afraid to ask if they had a discount. In fact, my family changed their plans for Mother's day this year specificly because of my surgery and the cost of the buffet...this could save them that hassle...

Kathy,
Yes, Z. has these cards. My card is his business card laminated to a card that shows the date and surgery details of my surgery. For some reason, I recall someone saying that he gives these cards at 3 months or 6 months post-op. I can't recall when I got mine. I thought I got it at a post-op appointment. I would ask him or the staff at your office visit.
Tom

I think the OTHER problem is the waitresses/waiters. They complain too. If you are ordering a $4 kids meal ..and that is it, how much do they get in a tip? a buck? I'm sure they get a sour attitude "wasting" their time on your 4 dollar order. I keep that in mind too ..they are working to make money, not shuffle kids meals around, and no adult orders. Am I making sense?

Other options ...go to a place where you can sit at the bar (or something similar) and just order appetizers and drinks. OR ..we are very familiar with a restaurant who delivers. We will order appetizer things and side salads. They have a $10 minimum but we have kids who eat regular size meals so spending 10 bucks is easy LOL

And I heard the restaurant called 99 has a really good kids menu (if you go that route) with chicken, fish, etc with veggies as side dishes. The lady who told me that said they have never cared that she orderd kids meals.

WOW ...a lot to think about LOL!!!

You can print out the cards from here on OH and just fill in your doctor's name.

My surgeon gave me a card...and I have never used it. I just buy something generally good for me, protein and vegies...and take home what is left over....And if the food is wasted....well it is no longer about the food! It is about me!

I share with other folks, hey this fish is really good, you wanna bite? and everyone is happy and my clothes still fit....

Why complain?!?!? I enjoy being healthy and being half the size I once was....

deb366