Bariatric Surgery Restaurant Cards

I heard about these cards and it would be nice to print some out and carry them to use if needed!

Thought I'd share the link!

http://www.gastric-bypass-guru.com/restaurant-card-bariatric -surgery.html

My doctor doesn't recommend this card because the kids meals are almost all fried...I had a big to do with a waitress at Bob's big boy...But I am going to print this up anyways....Thanks for posting...

 
I hate those cards....

From another poster:

  Way_Out_There
Member Since: 10/11/09
[Latest Posts]Post Date: 10/13/09 1:03 pm 
A “Restaurant Card" is a business cards sized card, often laminated, usually given by surgeons reading something to the effect of:

The holder of this card has had a surgical procedure which has permanently reduced their stomach capacity. Therefore… It is greatly appreciated if you would allow them to order from the children’s menu or to purchase half-sized adult entrees. Thank you for your consideration.

1. WLS Restaurant Cards differ from REAL Discount Cards such as AAA, Entertainment Book, etc. in one very important aspect: The REAL discounts are negotiated and agreed to by all parties in advance. The restaurant staff is briefed on how to handle the card. It is PRESUMPTUOUS to create and distribute a card asking/demanding a discount.

2. Restaurants are put into a losing position to start. If they say “no" to the card, which they had no part in creating or marketting, they are already making the customer unhappy. How is this fair even putting them in that position? Were I a restaurant owner, I would resent this card about as much as someone demanding a discount because they are a VIP (Very Important Person).

3. I had surgery. It was my choice to have my stomach modified so that I could only eat 3-5 ounces of food at a sitting. There are many people that have not had surgery that CHOOSE to eat 3-5 ounces of food at a sitting (imagine that!). I do not deserve a discount, or a special menu, any more than they do.

4. “I eat less than most children; I should pay what they pay". Children’s prices are a marketing tactic to get parents to bring their kids (and themselves) to a restaurant. Children’s menu’s are not because children eat so little. Children’s menus are designed for children’s tastes. Bland and greasy. 

5. Seniors Menus are also a marketing tactic to get seniors to come to the restaurant. If you’re not a senior, you don’t DESERVE a discount because you eat less than a senior. Many restaurants offer a ‘For Smaller Appetites’ Menu, this you may qualify for.

6. I don’t want the hostess, waitress, people behind me or near by, the busboy, or anyone else to know my medical history. It is none of their business, and I should not be making it their business simply to get a discount.

7. Buffets are “All you can eat for…" If all you can eat is 3-5 ounces, the price is the same as when you ate 30-50 ounces or 300-500 ounces. When you could eat 2, 3, or 4 times what the average person could eat, did you ask to pay more? Of course not. To remain morally consistent, you cannot ask to pay less now.

8. “I didn’t choose the buffet, my family did… Why should I pay when I only eat 3-5 ounces." See #7. Further, you are there to be with your family or friends. Eating out now is even more about the company you keep rather that getting the most food for the least price. Actually, it should always have been about the company.

9. “I didn’t choose the buffet, my family did…" So, before WLS, did you pay less when you wanted Mexican food, but your family outvoted you and you ended up with Chinese? No, you went along to keep peace, to enjoy the company. Whatever your reasons were then, they’re the same now.

10. “I can’t eat all that, I can’t take leftovers home, I don’t want to waste it." Waste it. Leaving leftovers is not the end of the world. In spite of what your mama said, leaving food on your plate is not a sin, and it will not help starving children in China for you to clean your plate now. You are not obliged to clean your plate. IN FACT, restaurants try to serve enough to satisfy large appetites and they expect people NOT to eat it all. They have trash cans out back for all the left over food.

11. Do you demand a discount at convenience store on a bag of potato chips because you can’t eat the whole bag, and a lot will go to waste? Why not, it’s the SAME THING.

12. Dinner at Chili’s cost $15 before WLS, and you left satisfied. Post-op, the same dinner costs $15 and you leave satisfied. The only difference is you leave food on the plate rather than nose marks. Often, rather than ordering a $15 dinner, you can order $10 appetizer, and you are ahead of the game.

13. "Restaurants should be considerate of WLS Patients." Restaurants should be considerate of EVERYONE. There are many groups of adults that eat less than 'normal', yet they do not expect discounts.

Obviously, or perhaps not so obviously, these arguments presume that people have integrity and that they desire their actions and opinions to be rational, supportable, and consistent. There are those that will do whatever is necessary to get a discount, which these arguments will not dissuade from this course.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments.  I will soon have my VSG, but I have also run a cafe.  I have seen both sides of this 'losing' situation.   (Pun intended!  :-)  )

There are always 'sides'  on the menu you can order from.  You can always split a meal with someone you are with.  That's what I do now.  I can't think of one person whom I have dined with in the past 6 months who didn't enjoy the concept of sharing both the foods and the costs.  Even if the upper class restaurants charge $1-2 for the extra plate, it's worth it.   

When I've dined alone and asked for just the protein/veggie portion of the meal, I've often had the manager give me a discount without asking.  Maybe it's small town living, maybe it's because I'm a regular, and good tipping customer.

One thing for those who do choose to use the cards.  Please tip appropriately.  In this day's economy, the restaurant business is being hit very hard.  With the average waitstaff making $2.30 per hour plus their portion of the tips, if you only tip 10-15% on the discounted price, it is often less than a $1.  I always tip at least 20% (if the service is good) on the full priced meal. 

Unless you've had to live on your tips, you'd never realize this point.  I have, and it has made me a better tipper. 

I know its part of the American Culture, and maybe its because I'm English but it really annoys me when you're expected to tip.

(This is off topic sorry).

Wages should not be subsidised by the customer, tips should be given for good service and at the customers discretion it should NOT be expected. Resturant owners should pay their staff appropriately for the work they do and not expect customers to make up for their terrible wages.

In England you generally only tip if the waiter/tress has given fantastic service, and I believe in China its considered very rude.

Plus I hate being made to feel guilty about someone getting paid crap wages. Their employer should feel guilty not me. Bills should include service in the price of the food. Thats why good resturants charge more. Not only are the cuts of meat more expensive the veg better quality the service is also of a higher standard (i.e. more serving staff per head).

I do tip buy the way but not all the time and sometimes I just round up the bill I don't stick to a percentage. I did tip in America but I resented it. I felt like I had to walk down the street handing money out to random people.

On topic. If I want a smaller meal in a resturant I just order a started and ask for it to be served as a main. Everywhere seems happy to do this.

I eat out 3-4 times a week be it with my girlfriends, or my husband and son, and I have never felt the need to announce to a complete stranger by flashing a card to say "Hey, I was a fat ass that couldn't control my eating so I had 85% of my stomach removed, NOW discount my meal or give me kiddie/senior citizen prices and portions".
 
My theory has been and always will be  if saving $2-$5 is a necessary evil stay home and make a sandwich, or a protein drink.

I second that!!

Very well put, thank you for this perspective, you have caused me to rethink my behavior.

 

My cousin had gastric bypass and carries one. She only uses it when she goes to buffets. There a lifesaver when we go to Vegas, she always get charged as a child.

Thanks for sharing the link!  I have not decided if I will use the card or not.  I am 2 months post op and have eaten out many times.  Depending on the restaurant, I will order from the kid's menu (Boston Market, Mall Chinese Restaurants, PeiWei)...otherwise, my husband and I share something.  When I do have to order something just for myself, I eat what I can and take the rest home.  

I don't see anything wrong with the cards.  If I presented a card at a restaurant and they didn't want to honor it, then I probably wouldn't go back to the restaurant.  They can choose to have my money or they can choose not to...it is as simple as that.  

Good company or not, I just can't validate going to a buffet.  My favorite restaurant is a delicious Brazilian steak house but I just can't see going there and paying $50++ per person to eat a fourth of a cup of meat.  Oh well...that's life.

When I go out to eat, I have no problem with taking food home or just sharing with someone.  My coworkers don't know that I've had WLS so I just order something small - soup and salad, small entree...and eat what I can.  I worked with some skinny *****es that picked at their food and hardly ate and no one questioned them.  (I'm not calling them "*****es" because they are skinny...I'm saying "*****es" because that's what they were).  Anyway, if someone questions me I just say that I am "cutting back" or whatever. 

Most children's menus are absolutely vile.  I don't understand how people can let their kids eat corndogs, hotdogs, chicken nuggets and mac n cheese as an actual entree on a regular basis.  When you try to order off the kids menu, you will see just how bad it is.

The other poster, *****plied to you with the "soapbox rant" was a bit much.  If you hate the card then don't use it...it is as simple as that.