Milestones restaurant

Hi everyone. Perhaps some of you would be able to advise me:

My office Christmas lunch is at Milestones on December 20th, which will be the end of the 4th week after surgery, and, as a Guelph patient, it means the last few days of full fluids.  I'm seeing the clinic on the 19th, so I will ask the dietician as well.

So, first, how are my chances of being able to 'graduate' from full fluids to the proper soft foods/long term diet stage early?  Anyone from Guelph encouraged to dig in a little early?

Secondly, after looking over the menu, I'm not sure what I might have.Here's the link to the menu: 

www.milestonesrestaurants.com/lunch.php

There are 3 or4 items that may work:
1. Seasonal soup: no idea what it will be until I get there.
2. Gluten free brown rice pasta with goat cheese (I'll doggy-bag most of it)
3. Artichoke/spinach appetizer and/or baked goat cheese appetizer

If I go for number 3, I would ask for a small plate to remove to it the parts of the appetizer(s) that I think I can eat, and leave the rest for my table-mates to share. I think the dip and the goat cheese sound like they might barely qualify as full fluids...  And maybe I could sneak in a couple of chunks of the toasted ciabatta bread...?

Ok, experts, whaddya think?

Thanks,
Sharon

p.s.  My first inclination is to decline the invitation altogether, but I think I need to 'practice' dining in restaurants eventually...

I would personally stick with the soup - full fluids is just that - thick soup, runny potatoes

Last week the seasonal soup was butternut squash. 

no bread or crackers or any sort of thing.  but you are best to ask the girls at the clinic what they think. 

 

Everything at Milestones is wonderful.  If they do let you graduate to soft stage, I'd highly recommend the sea bass from there, it's to die for.  If they say no stick to fluids then their soups are always great too.

Hi Sharon

Being guided by your clinic and your own "pouch" experiences to date are obviously the first priorities, but as Milestone's is one of our go-to dining out places I couldn't help but comment.  I go for their curried scallops.  They are very moist, easy to chew, and if you slice each one into small slivers it is very easy to make them last for the full meal AND have lots to take home. 

Having said that, my first "try" there was at 3 months+ out, not nearly as soon as you are now.  My daughter eats the gluten free pasta, and it is pretty dense - probably too much so for you at this stage I would think. 

Good luck!
Claire

9 months since surgery
HW 348
CW 182.5

 Hi NervousNelly,
I have eaten at milestones a few time since surgery, but I'm on solids and have salad, no dressing with grilled chicken breast so that option is out for you. I looked up the nutritional information for Milestones, and even though the info for the spinach dip includes the tortillas, I don't think it's the best bang for your buck calorie, carb or protein wise. 

They list two soups as there feature, and I don't think I've ever been to the one near me when it has not been the tomato bisque. The problem with this again is low protein and higher carbs. If you were able to eat a whole bowl of soup, which I highly doubt and don't recommend because their portions are huge, you would only be getting 12 grams protein and 35 grams net carbs. If you could bring in a plastic baggy in your purse with some unflavoured protein powder, than this might be okay. 

My best suggestion would be, considering it's available on their brunch menu, so shouldn't really be a big deal to get them to make off menu, but call ahead and explain you have dietary restrictions and was wondering if this is possible, to order the poached egg. This is probably soft enough and you could try this. 

But my biggest issue is that this should not be your first soft solid meal. Trust me, it's an adjustment you don't want to go through in front of people in case something goes wrong, if this is your third or fourth meal and you try this option out before hand, this might work. 

I hope you and your clinic find a solution and you get to enjoy the christmas party. Remember there's nothing wrong with going for the company and just ordering a decaf coffee...
 

I went through HRRH so their rules are different but at 4 weeks out I went out to dinner with my niece and I had : soup and a few spoonfuls of artichoke-spinach dip [no crackers/bread/chips].  It sat well but I felt afterwards that it wasnt the best choice.  I would've just stuck with soup.

Thanks people!

As soon as I finished writing my post, I thought "Why doesn't this place have nutrition info online?"  Then I found it...duh!

Anyway, now that I see the fat and carb content of everything, it doesn't look like there's much to choose from.  I'll hope that they have a decent soup, and pick out the brothy bits.  I can always get some added protein when I get home (I'm not working that day).

The dips looked soooo good though...

s

But with the fat content of the dip, it would probably lead to dumpsville fast.  Not so cool when you're out on the town.

Hi, I think you have had great advice already, but as someone from Guelph and Dr. Reed, I think the best option is the tomato bisque soup. I would call and ask ahead of time if that will be available and if necessary explain that you have dietary restrictions.
I think the appetizers you mentioned will be too fatty for you and for a first 'meal" you don't want to risk an upset stomach. have something you will be able to eat and just enjoy the company without worrying about your pouch.
Don't worry about the protein, as that isn't an issue for us Guelphers until we eat solids.
Best of luck,
jackie

I would strongly advise not trying something new for the first time when you are out at a restaurant. That has the possibility of being disastrous if you turn out to be a dumper.
Keep it very light and stick with a soup. Try to find out what is in it before you eat it if possible. Most of the time people son't even notice how little or much I eat when out in a social situation.

Linda