Question:
What about eating out at restaraunts post-op?
I am in sales and have to do a lot of business lunches. Is it fairly easy to pick things out on the menu? — emilyfink (posted on February 16, 2002)
February 16, 2002
Yes. I eat most meals out. I avoid milk & sugar and things with a
"bad track record" for me personally. I am very skilled at
moving things around on my plate and chewing bites overly long to make it
appear that I am the same as everyone else. But that is usually not
necessary, as I'd rather they asked & I got to explain why! LOL! Some
people stick with soup for a "safety feature", some with salad,
still others always order fish (which would not EVER be me.
— vitalady
February 16, 2002
When eating in restaurants with my husband, he and I split an entree - I
get 1/4 and he gets the rest. I've turned into a real cheap date! With
business associates, however, order anything you can tolerate - it's not
the time to try something new! I sometimes order an appetizer as an
entree. Just the rightr size (and sometimes too much). Just remind the
wait staff to bring the your appetizer with the entrees!
— Danette H.
February 16, 2002
For many many months I ordered appetizers. They were usually protein rich,
the right portion, great tasting and I didn't feel like I was wasting
money. Just make sure you tell the waiter to bring it with the regular
meals. I must have eaten crab cakes at every restaurant from here to Los
Angeles, lots of buffalo mozzarella, and so many luscious things done with
thin slices of smoked salmon. -Kate-
— kateseidel
February 16, 2002
Soup and/or salad is always a safe bet. I can always eat more of these
items. Anything with a meat entree is very difficult for me, so I avoid
them at restaurants. But soup goes down well and it's usually one of the
cheapest items on the menu. So enjoy!
— artistmama
February 16, 2002
I personally find it very hard to eat at restrants. They usually won't let
me eat from a child's menu. I won't order a regular size meal as I'm not
crazy about left overs since the bypass. I can see paying the high prices
for a regular meal when I don't enjoy left overs. This really spoils it for
me.
— Danmark
February 16, 2002
I love eating out again! It is simple to pick your way through a
restaurant menu. Just think about texture... imagine what a bite would be
like when it is chewed up and pick things that are moist and saucy. Even a
true steakhouse has a shrimp cocktail on the menu or a smoked salmon
appetizer that would work for you. Like someone already mentioned, make
sure you tell the server to bring the appetizer or salad with everyones
entrees. Soups and grilled chicken caesars and salmon caesars or even chefs
salads are great to pick through and are very popular on menus. Small
restaurants are tougher than big fancy places but still it is never a
problem. Lots of restaurants are happy to make you a half portion or make
up a fat free salsa to top a piece of grilled chicken or fish. I tell the
server that I am a diabetic when I want to question the sugar content of an
item... such as a mango or fruit salsa. I have been pleasantly suprised at
the number of places that have wonderful sugar free desserts for diabetics.
I dont like doggie bags and dont like to eat leftovers... so appetizers
and half orders are for me. Dont worry about it... it just takes a
different kind of thought while you are reading the menu.
— SusanMaria
February 16, 2002
I found very early on that I had a good feel for what would "go
down" well and what wouldn't. I've only gotten sick once in a
restaurant at about 4 weeks and it was because I ate too fast. I have no
problem w/others knowing what surgery I had and why and so it has not been
a problem. I regularly go to the restaurant where I got sick (at the table,
never made it to restroom) and they are most lovely to me, have never made
me feel like it was a problem for them.
— jsuggs
February 16, 2002
A very difficult task post op, is learning that it is okay not to finish
everything on your plate. It is especially difficult for those of us that
were taught that all the children in the world would starve if we didn't
have a clean plate.
If I am at a business luncheon, I order a regular meal, eat the protein I
can handle and leave the rest. Guess what I found out. It is normal, very
normal, not to eat everything on your plate.
— faybay
February 16, 2002
I am 9 months post op and eat out often. At first I was anxious about
ordering in a restaurant, but now I really enjoy it. I have found that most
restaurants will cook anything the way you ask them too. I always enjoy
fish, so often I will order it but ask them to steam or broil without
butter, and they are always happy to do so, they will season it for you and
make it yummy. Also, for lunches, I order a salad with some fresh shrimp on
top or grilled chicken, and I either bring my own FF dressing (Wish Bone FF
Italian is yummy and is the ONLY FF dressing I can stand!)or I will just
put plain vinegar on it and season with salt and pepper. I also love to
order things like shrimp cocktail which is gret protein, or a broild pork
chop, or a steak with grilled veggies, but again, just ask them to grill or
steam with no oil or butter. I have learned that retsaurants love to load
things wih fats, even though you wouldn't always think so, they do. Just
last night we went to a Valentines Day dance at a nice place, and they hd a
huge buffet. I avoided things that were obviously loaded with cream sauces,
and stuck to those that looked pretty clear. I try to take off the top, for
instance, they had a veggie dish that looked like it may have more fats
than I would have liked, so I picked off the top because it looked like
most of the fats sank to the bottom, so I took the serving spoon and
individually picked the veggies on top that didn't look too greasy. I was
able to have some stuff from the carving board like turkey and a bit of
filet mignon, and they had a yummy fruit selection. I love the control I
fel when eating out now, and you always have the advantage of taking home
another one or two days worth of meals with you. Enjoy!
— Vicki K.
February 17, 2002
I am 1 month post op and just ate out today. I had penne pasta with
shrimp. I maily picked at it and ate a few of the popcorn sized shrimp.
Yes, there was a lot left over, but I just passed it over to my husband to
try it too! Most restaurants have soups you could order.
— Goldilauxx B.
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