Thought we could get a thread going on what you order in the restaurants...Even at fast foods. I'm sure the new guys, just out of surgery, will wonder if they will ever enjoy their favorite places again. I'll start with fast food; Early on I would have Wendy's Chili (with cheese). I still will order it. I would go to Carl's Jr. and get a grilled chicken sandwich and take off 1/2 the bun and the mayo. Fast forward to today...I also like McDonalds...Yeah, I know it can be a downfall. I will get my coffee there and many times will order a bacon ranch salad (grilled chicken with vinaigrette dressing)...Avoiding the ranch dressing. I hardly ever order fries or a shake. I ordered a small order of fries from 2 days ago and 1/2 are still sitting in the fridge...Pretty gross!! When out to the coffee shop I will get things like a hamburger with salad...Taking 2/3 home with me in a doggy bag (box). When I eat Mexican (which is very popular in CA) I will have a steak tostada and a Pepsi. I usually drink only 1/2 the Pepsi (I don't dump). Yeah, I know it's not good for me and I'm not a poster child for WLS. Many times I raid off of my wife's plate...Just small amounts. At the coffee shop I will have ice tea in the summer and hot tea in the winter (with some lemon, sugar, and Splenda). Also at nicer restaurants I will have steak, chicken (grilled), shrimp, mixed vegetables. I eat junk throughout the day, so I try to make up for it by choosing good stuff in the fridge and eating out (I also exercise). So post op...what are some of the things you like while dining out??

I have two categories of Restaurant food, normal workday lunches and "going out."

Normal workday lunches include one of the following: yogurt parfait with fruit and granola, oatmeal with fruit, chicken salad no bread, a cheese and fruit bistro box from Starbucks, soup. I never order anything heavier and don't vary much in what I eat. Three hours later, I follow up with a protein bar or jerky.

The "going out" meals are things like chicken in a sauce of some kind, shrimp ****tail, and occasionally steak. I can no longer eat the strip steaks I used to enjoy so much since they are so tough. I usually have a filet or sirloin depending on where I am. That said, I will allow myself salad with the meal, and sometimes split a dessert. I usually don't deny myself anything completely, although I am afraid of pasta, too much bread or any flour tortillas. And, where possible I will substitute veggies or a baked plain sweet potato for a loaded potato. I also will order vegetable plates of grilled veggies ...no protein but a lot of flavor!

I try to limit simple carbs (potato, pasta, rice, etc.) to twice per week.  Dining out I portion my entree and ask for a to-go box when served.  I focus on the protein even at fast food - no mayo, "special" sauce, etc.  When out eating steak, I too get the sirloin, ribeye or filet (less tough cuts) and order asparagus unless I've reserved the baked potato for one of my carb meals.  For Mexican I go for fajhitas or chicken burrito with whole wheat Tortilla.  Splenda is my friend - use it in decaf coffee, decaf tea, & cool-aid.  Post-op I haven't had a single carbonated drink.  Preop I was drinking a 2 litre Pepsi cola & 1/2 gallon of "sweet" tea (being from the South) per day.  Sugar is a trigger for me so I stay away from it as much as possible.

When I eat out I definitely go for grilled or baked as opposed to fried entrees with a baked potato or steamed vegetable.  Occasionally rice pilaf or some rice dish.  My strategy is to attack the protein portion of the meal whether it be steak, chicken or pork and to nibble on the vegetables.  I've found that if I mindfully eat the protein that I am full by the end of the meal and don't feel deprived whatsoever.  I usually try to stop drinking anything 15 mins before my meal and may take a few sips of water after but try not to have much more than that.

As for carbonated beverages, I tried my first diet coke since surgery (15 months PO) this past Saturday and was sick for about three hours with gas from both ends and just a general tightness feeling in my pouch.  Kind of a pretty good deterrant from doing it again.  I will definitely go for a water instead next time.  Kind of sucks because the reason I went for a diet coke instead of a water was because the water was warm and the soda was cold.  Next time I'll go to the sink and get a drink!!

8 Months out...

 Breakfast out... normally I get 1 egg overeasy and then steal some whole wheat toast, dry, with a bit of jelly.  About once a month I eat either a waffle (well 1/4 of a waffle maybe) or some french toast.  Today I got a bagel with veggie cream cheese and ate maybe 1/4 of it so far.

Lunch out... I am getting the grilled chicken wrap at McDs and Wendys quite a bit anymore.  Good protein source, just a bit of lettuce, honey mustard and the tortilla wrap.  I could make a healthier version but hard to beat $1.50 and they do all the work.  Got burnt out on chili early...

(Lunch in...Smart Ones / similar frozen meals...I go for the higher protein versions but great variety!)

Supper out... I split with the wife most of the time, so alot of chicken dishes, occasional steak, if I order myself I will get a shrimp ****tail, or a cup of soup.  Mostly eating proteins, with a tiny bit of carbs via veggies / sweet potatos.  Mexican restaurant I get ONE crunchy taco and smash the taco to pieces like a taco salad, add a bit of the free salsa and I am good to go!

Frozen Yogurt... I prefer the plain cheesecake or vanilla flavor with sliced strawberries!

Every ONCE in a while I will have fried tho I prefer not too.  (Wife wants it and I split with her)  I had a HOT / fried chicken tender on Sunday, it was ok... I used to LOVE them.  I think I ate 2/3rd of the tender before I was 'done.'  Fried anything still upsets my stomach, so that is my eating out!

 Fellas,

5 weeks post-op... Breakfast I rarely have out but I will usually get eggs and some kind of meat product, otherwise when I am on the run it is a protein bar. Lunch out is usually Wendys chili or for a special treat I will go to Chipotle or other burrito chain and get black beans with the grilled chicken... a taste of sour cream and cheese on top. I can get lunch and dinner + out of one serving at those places. Dinner out I have stuck with grilled or broiled fish (love Salmon and Swordfish) or a grilled chicken of some kind. I am not big on carbs of any kind yet but have had a taste of mashed potatoes once or twice. I have also had grilled Turkey tips once which were tasty. As of yesterday I am supposed to be on the "maintenance" diet, my hunger has not returned and food does kind of turn me off... working on getting protein in and fluids between meals,

Brian

Breakfast out- usually 3 egg omlette w/meat/cheese and mushroom/ veggie, no toast or homefries and usually finish 2/3rds of it. Drin****d coffee right up till I start eating and then lay off for a half hour or so.

Lunch out- anything without bread wrapped around it or deep fried or on top of a bowl of pasta or next to a potato. Steak, shrimp, fish, chicken, usually about 3 oz. gets down- cheeseburger (see no bread) -ok- an occasional stuffed clam, clam chowder or chili- no salads- small amount of veggies or 1/2 cup of rice. Occasional ****tail prior to meal. No beer or wine, clear alcohol on the rocks. Rotate as necessary.

Dinner out- (see Lunch out)

 Restraunt foods are usually

Steak, fish or Chicken (grilled, roasted baked) along with veggies.

Mexican places I will usually opt for Fajitas or enchilada I only eat corn tortilas and love me some chips and slasa or queso dip.

Second fave restraunt is BBQ.

One of my favorite meals at the coffee shop is the combo fajitas (they serve both mexican and american food...Most of their mexican food is poor...except for their fajitas)!!  I only get it with my wife.  It has steak, chicken, and shrimp with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.  Again about 2/3 of it goes home and we pick at it for 2-3 days...

 dinner last Saturday 3 of them and I was done!  I have missed these ribs for 4 years....

Restaurant meals are still a problem for me.  For some reason when I sit down in a restaurant I can only eat about half the already small portion that I normally eat. This often results in the waitress asking if there was a problem with the food. Often I'll just split a meal with my wife. Wendy's Chili is my favourite fast food meal.. If I order a hamburger  I try to order a junior burger and leave most of the bun. Dining out used to be an enjoyable social event.. now it's something I dread.. not wanting special treatment but worrying that our friends may choose a pizza parlour, or Chinese buffet, or choose a very pricey restaurant where they seem to frown on you sharing a meal. The other issue is drinking with meals.. I usually say.. "Nothing Thank you" when asked what I want to drink.. but this just confuses waitresses, who'll continue pestering me.. saying.. "Are ya sure I can't bring you some water".. so often I'll just ask for water and ignore it and I can't enjoy a nice coffee until at least a half hour after a meal..  Restaurant eating is one of the few down sides of weight loss surgery.. I just don't enjoy it anymore..
John

 The part I hate is sitting there after I am full while everyone else finishes their meal... Hard to converse when I am the only one not eating...  I have been able to witness some pretty astonishing eating habits though!

I was always a slow eater, but I would also eat everything in sight. and drink.. Watching some other people eat now absolutely blows my mind to think that I used to be able to get that much stuff down and go for seconds. I admit sometimes it gets frustrating to feel really hungry and order too much food only to get up and walk away with more than half of it. Or have my kids start fingering my food "Dad, I already know you're not going to eat all of that"....

To think... my favourite restaurants used to be the "All you can eat" type, or the ones famous for huge portions (didn't really matter about quality).. now it sickens me to watch people gorge themselves... lol...

Hi All,
Great thread. Being Post Op about 18 months I have some experiences to share:

Breakfast-Very rarely eat out. If I do, go for eggs, yougurt or granola. Try to avoid homefries, muffins, or baked goods(although have had small samplings of each but prefer to focus on protein.)

Lunch-Again, rare. I bring my lunch to work every day as a teacher. However, if it does happen, usually get soup, salad or something with chicken or turkey in eat. Have really lost my appetite for red meats and fried stuff since surgery.

Dinner-Eating out, I try to plan ahead. If I know where we are going out, I will check out their menu on line or if we have a menu from it. I focus on protein, chicken, turkey and the like. Will garnish with veggies. Round out w/ rice or some whole grains.

Eating out used to be something I craved, especially a buffet or all you can eat. Now, I try to enjoy my meal, and the company I am with.

Yours in WLS,
Bill

I've been doing quite a bit of travel for work so I don't always have the luxuary of cooking. Eating out is often a necessity.

For breakfast, I generally go with oatmeal. A lot of the hotels where I stay offer breakfast with the room. They usually have yogurt or scambled eggs which I also tolerate well.

For lunch it's usually a salad but I'm careful to make sure NOT to have a creamy dressing. Even McDonalds, Wendy's and other fast food places offer wonderful side salads which fill me up.

Dinner is typically fish with veggies. I love fish but don't really care to cook it at home. So, I really enjoy getting salmon or halibut that someone else makes.