Fast Food?

Does anyone else have the problem of trying to find a place to eat that is ready to help you with your particular requests? I recently visited the "Bob Evans Restaurant", I showed them my Gastro Card and they explained to me that they didnt have a problem offering me the child's menu, but there would be an additional charge of up to $3.00 more to accomodate me. (I LEFT) In an attempt to get something to eat, I went to Applebee's. Applebee's was also ready to accomodate me, the server took my order, spoke with the manager and was ready to pro-rate my price because I didnt want the rice, beans, corn, or bread. I was somewhat hopeful, until they brought my food out to me, just exactly as described on the menu, with the rice, beans, corn and bread. I then told the server that I was unable to eat the food because it was not the way that I had ordered it. (I know if I see it, I will probably eat it, (even though I know I shouldnt). Again, I walked out without eating. STILL HUNGRY, I WENT SEARCHING. I ended up at Burger King. Did you know that you could order a side salad, or about $1.00, and add to that a piece of Burger King Tender Grill chicken for another $1.30. The taste is incredibly good. Hot juicy chicken, fresh crisp lettuce with tomato. They do have a larger salad that also has carrots, cheese, extra tomatoes, with the chicken is about $5.00. I left there very satisfied. Burger King also will sell you a breakfast item without the bread/biscuit and tater tots; all you have to do is tell them that you want it low carb. Hardees' has an ultimate "Breakfast Omlet" that is very low carb and looks wonderful. They also are willing to help people with their particular "low carb" meal.   And yes, those of us that have the Taco Bell fever. ( I worked there for almost 20 years, so its in the blood) You can go to WWW.TACO BELL.COM and build your own food item the way you want it, without the tortilla, or onions or sour cream, and it will give you the exact breakdown of how many carbs, proteins, fats, calories etc.These are only my experiences, but since I live by myself most of the time, I dont like to cook just for me. I am on a quest to find more restaurants that are willing to accomodate "US" without charging us for an extra amount above the price of gold...... As of yesterday, my weight is down 115 pounds from my highest weight 2 years ago. Surgery was May 25, 2007 and as soon as I can figure out how, I will be posting new pictures.

I ALWAYS KEEP MY LITTLE PHOTO ALBUM WITH ME, SO THAT I CAN PROUDLY SHOW OFF MY BEFORE PICTURES AND WHERE I WILL NEVER EVER BE AGAIN.

 

 

Mrsvegg let me be one of the first to tell you how very proud of you we all are. that is amazing how well you are doing and also for all the info on the fast food rest. I know that sometimes when my husband and i go out to eat there is almost nothing that isnt fried or loaded with calories in some way or form. the last one that we went to the only thing they had that i could eat was a side salad, now that is sad when that is all they could offer. Keep giving us your reports about places. and keep coming onto the board and letting us know how you are doing.   Jan

Working my way riding down the scales and enjoying it, and the compliments.......

Hi Mrsvegg, I enjoy eating out and have found that most places I don't even show my card anymore. I have found my own remedies, like so many other things in life. Almost always it includes a doggy bag and I have leftovers I just pack to work with me.

My fav fast food meal is Wendys. I order the grilled chicken (plain) sandwich with my side as the side salad and fat free French dressing,  take the chichen off the bun, slice it for my salad and you have a great satifying meal. I also eat their bugers with cheese without the bun.

Rib Crib is another one of my favs..I eat the smoked chicken meals, love the wrap, just have them leave off the dressing and ask for a side of dressing to dip it in. The smokes chicken meal dinner or the salad is wonderful, I also have had the sliced beef brisket but wasn't as wild about it. I have a meal to take home when I order here.

Ruby Tuesdays has an appitizer of Shrimp that I peel the breading off of. You can order their Rubies garden bar and minis. You can have the salad bar and just eat the meat off the sandwich. I also love their veggie burgers with cheese, they are really big...very satisfying. (off the bun of course)

TGIF and Cheddars and Red Lobster all have grilled shrimp dinners that are good.  Applebees appitizer of the spinach pizza is good, also has good quesidillias.

Good luck, I have really spent alot of time looking into this and checking calories, fat and carb content, main thing I suggest with some of these is the calorie content of the ones in the real sit down places are a little high so watch your portion, or do like I do and exercise a little longer to allow for the calories.    I guess we have to incoorporate this as a way of life anyway.   Congrats on your weight loss, keep up the good work.  Tara

 

I have only used my bariatric card once and that was at Macaroni Grill where they allowed me to order off the kids menu.  They had a spagetti and meatball dinner, and if you've ever eaten at MacGrill you know that their meatballs are almost 1/4 lb each.  This gave me a fairly moist burger meal of sorts, and I simply left behind the spagetti it was on top of.  At Bob Evans you can order breakfast all day long - lots of protein sources there. We need to realize that a restaurant is there to serve food, they aren't your mother's kitchen.  They don't have to accomodate us, they are in it for profit and not there for our nutritional benefit.  Yes, its nice when they do so that you'll come back, and they'll benefit from the sale of food to your family or friends who may be with you, but its not required on their part. I have often taken home the leftovers and made 2 more meals out of them, when you consider the cost savings there its not such a bad deal to purchase the full-size meal and on the emotional side alot less stressful than trying to explain your diet life history to strangers who make their living off 15% of your total check amount. As for all the extras that come on the plate that you don't eat?  I read a couple suggestions elsewhere that may help you out. -when you order, tell the waitress you won't be eating much so ask them to bring a takeout box right away. -ask for a small side plate, take the food you plan on eating and transfer it to the plate.  Put the rest in the takeout box and have the waitress remove the plate containing all the items you won't be eating - the tempation is gone.