Italian restaurants

I would say minestrone would be great...and the eggplant parm as shrinkingguy said, you could even take the leftovers home. Im over a year out and can only eat a couple mussels at a time.
Be careful of the bread basket.
Good luck!

Most Italian restaurants will have some sort of grilled fish, salmon or sea bass. I would take care with mussels - can be a bit rubbery!  Prawns and shrimp can be hard for many of us.

I always found lasagne OK to eat but if you don't have restriction yet, it is not a sensible choice as too easy to eat too much!

I would go for fish and salad. Even if the fish is panfried, it is fairly healthy.

For the dessert, why not say "I know this is daft but I fancy something savoury" - and ask for some olives. They will probalby be in olive oil but that is a healthier option than dessert.

Kate

P.S. Have you visited the UK board? Not many of us there yet but it's growing!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/obesityhelpukandireland

It looks like you have received lots of good suggestions, particularly the fish.  Here I frequently order beans and greens and I find that easy to eat as well.  Best of luck.

Thanx for all your suggestions, I would definately have made the wrong choices, I;l check out the soup and probably the fish choice since thats a favourite of mine, your right its all about the getting together and I want to prove to myself that I can live a normal life
I will let you know how it goes
Karen x

At some of the Italian restaurants here in Texas they offer non-pasta plates. For example skewers of veggies with grilled meats (chicken, beef or shrimp). Also, you may be able to get a veggie in place of the pasta. One of my favorite places has AWESOME sauteed fresh spinach. Who needs pasta with spinach THAT good! LOL! 

I had a few social events last week I was dreading because I was worried about what I would eat. I checked out the menus online ahead of time and was able to march in the restaurant with my game plan. I was satisfied with what I ate and really didn't stick out by what I wasn't eating. Make your choice and then get on with it as if everything is normal. One of my co-workers (who knows I had surgery) commented that I didn't look out of place or as if I was struggling with my food.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

I went out on a business trip a few weeks ago to Italian (in Chicago) and was concerned about what I'd order. They had white fish that was cooked in wine over grilled vegetables and potatoes. It was great - very tender and tasty - of course I could only eat about half of it. I always feel bad leaving that much food but sometimes there is no option. Especially when you are traveling on business you just can't take it to go.

Good luck!

Dova

Not everyone knows about my WLS either, but they all know that I'm dieting.  When out for Italian, I usually order something that has a "side" of pasta instead of it being cooked in, like manicotti or lasagna.  I ask to skip the pasta side in favor of extra veggies.  Friends and family that know I'm dieting don't even question my "no pasta" choice.