Bariatric card for restaurants

 How many people have this cards? What do you do with them just show the waiter? How much success have you had with restaurants helping you?

I have one, and I've never actually used it. I usually just share with my husband, order an appetizer (think shrimp ****tail)... or if they have healthy kids options, order that for me (and my son an adult meal).

If I were going to use it, I would probably just show it to the waiter and be really nice about it.

I have never had to use it.
Due to work travel, both my husband and I eat out at resturaunts a lot.
When together we split a meal or when apart I order an appetizer or small meal and doggy bag the rest for later.

So far not one resturaunt has complained.

I would think that in a high end place they may charge for "sharing".
But we've not gone to one yet.

Donna

I don't think I'd use the card.  I don't really need it and don't really want to bring it up. The kid's menu's usually aren't what I want to eat.  I look for things like grilled chicken, fish or other lean meat main course with grilled veggies as a side.  I ask for a box when the meal comes and put everything beyond what I should eat into the box before I start to eat.  The portion in the box is often 2 more meals.  I've never had any issues with friends or waitstaff being concerned about what I eat or don't eat.  Appetizers are also a good choice, like the chicken lettuce wraps at PF Chang's.

I have used it. Depends on the restaurant. Sometimes I'll just order a scrambled egg and sausage and eat part of each, or order an appetizer and take home the rest.

Where I've used it a couple of times with good success is to say to the waiter: I've had bariatric surgery - here's a card - can I order from the senior menu since it has smaller portions? This works if the senior menu has something you want. I've never had anyone say no when I asked that.

I've heard of this type of card, but I've never actually seen one.  What does it say?  Does it let you order off of the senior or kids' menu in restaurants?

Being here in Vegas we go to buffets a lot.  I just show the card at the time we pay and they charge me the kid price.   I once had to explain it to the cashier (a very young guy maybe 18) that I get charged the kid's price with this card.  He was fine with it. 

At one restaurant I asked for a kids menu and the waitress said they don't give it to adults and I told her I've had weight-loss surgery and started to get the card out and she said that's ok I believe you, you don't have to get the card out. 

Disclaimer:  I understand that we are not supposed to eat at buffets because the temptation of pre-surgery stuff your face attitude but I have not had any problems.  I only do one plate and don't fill it up.  In fact one of the last times I went to a buffet we sat next to a family with a kid (about 8 years old) and I definitely ate way less than the kid   I really like going to the buffet because of the different selections of meat.

This is going to come off totally crass and harsh, but try to see it from a different point of view:

1) Kid's meals are just about the most nutrient lacking, highest processed choices on a menu. You had 85% of your stomach removed so you could gain health. Let's not throw craptastic food down there. I would venture to guess 90% of the options are fried foods and/or so heavy carb-laden that it's not worth the money spent.

2) Restaurants are a business. They are there to make money. Just because you (and I) chose to have a huge portion of our stomachs removed so we'd put down the fork doesn't change the fact that they are a business. The cost to run that business, not including food/products, did not decrease when we elected to have surgery. They still have to pay their wait, kitchen, hostess, and other staff members all the same pay. They still have to pay liability and workers comp insurance premiums. If you honestly, need to save $2 order a la carte items. I order a plain chicken breast, or just an appetizer and take the leftovers home.

3) Obesity has a huge stigma. Mainly that we are fat, lazy, don't make good food choices, etc etc. Why add "cheap" to the list????

4) They didn't charge me 3 times the price when I could eat 3 times the amount of food. (this pertains to buffets mainly). It's "ALL I CAN EAT" and all I can eat is 3/4 cup of food, so I'll gladly pay my 7-9 bucks for all I can eat, enjoy my food, and leave satisfied. OR, I'll get a to-go box and pay by the pound.

5) I have huge issues announcing to some 20something waittress/waiter that had to have my stomach altered so I wouldn't be a fatty anymore. With all the secrecy and shame that comes with weight loss surgery, for me, there just wans't a need to announce to the world that I couldn't stop eating. I am beyond open about my VSG and have been since day 1. However, for me to just pop a card out of my purse that practically says "HEY I am a fatty with eating issues, please accommodate  my needs, and wants now that I've chosen to alter my body" just screams humiliation. I figured if I really needed to save money on dining out, I should just stay home and eat.

Easiest solution(for me) is to order a la carte items, or share with someone else. I have shared an entree with my son and/or my husband the entire time post-op. I always make sure to pretty much double the tip when doing this because the wait staff typically makes only 50-60% of the minimum wage and they live off tips. Also, if I reallly want my own plate/entree, I order an entire meal, eat what I want, bring home the rest and that $9 meal just got stretched to 3 meals, and well that's $3 a meal and still breaks down to less than any senior or kid's meal out there.

 that did come across mean and harsh. i was just curious since i'd heard about them. i was thinking about more like senior menus or something like just the entree with no sides (starch and veggies). sorry i asked... i didn't expect to be yelled at

She is not yelling at you, many people ask this question and she has a very few good points. I was going to say to look up her older posts for what I seen her reply with before to this question.

I think you just would order a smaller plate of food then you would have normally and take the rest home. I don't know where you are from but I wouldn't be carrying around chicken for any length of time. It does not take long for meat to go bad in the heat.

Take what she said with a grain of salt, she is just letting you know and she is very knowledgeable.