So, the little 1/2 portion card you get??

Yea, ours was just for the children's menu, which is mostly deep fried garbage.

I just order a la carte, or ask if they can give me half servings

Unless its chips.  Then bring out another basket!  And the queso with shrimp, beef, and chorizo, because Mama gots the hongries! 

And about the tip, having been a server myself, I tend to be an overtipper, so, that's just that.

I'm six weeks out today and have eaten out with my husband a few times and twice this weekend with my hubby and our families.  My surgeon offered a card, but I haven't asked for it.

I try to find something on the app menu or children's menu that I can eat and that's not total crap.  This evening, for example, hubby and I went to Pei Wei and I ordered a kid's honey-seared chicken and asked for it stock velveted (they cook the chicken in chicken stock instead of frying it).  I didn't eat the rice (no carbs and no room) and scraped off the sauce. 

If apps or the kids menu is not an option, I see if there's some healthy protein on my husband's plate that he's willing to give up.  My mother-in-law ordered surf and turf at Outback this weekend and was happy to give me her grilled Mahi, so that worked out nicely.

Another option is a-la-carte.  My husband loves Chick-fil-A for breakfast on Saturday mornings.  I order scrambled eggs with shredded cheese (totally not on the menu).  It costs $0.80 and I can't finish half of it.

If I'm somewhere where none of these options work (this has happened twice while on mushies/pureeds), I have no problem telling my server that I've had a partial gastrectomy (they don't need to know why) and could use some help figuring something out; it's part of their job to help people with menu selections.  Both times that this has happened to me, the server suggested something that worked well and that I hadn't considered as an option.  Having had many friends who worked as servers during college and some beyond, I always tip very well.  In these instances, I'm sure I made their day and they deserved it.

Honestly, I didn't think I would be the one to just tell whomever about what I did.  I wrestled with whether or not to tell people at work, friends, etc... and in the eleventh hour I decided to be open about my VSG.  When I tell people, I know my confidence about the decision I made comes across and I always mention how much research and soul-searching I did. 

When it comes to servers at restaurants, if it's easier for me to let them know that most of my stomach is M.I.A. so I can get their help with a decision that can be overwhelming, then so be it.  The first time I had to "come clean", the server was professional, he offered a few suggestions and that was that.  The second time this happened to me, she remarked that her best friend just had a similar surgery for weight loss and so she was very familiar with the dietary restricitons.  She took awesome care of me and was super sweet. 

What's most important to me is that I nourish myself properly wherever I am.  People are going to talk **** about me no matter what.  I can't control that.  However, I can control how I feel about it and I choose not to care.  Life's too short and I'm just starting to get mine back!

Sorry for the novel!  Good luck!

Just be aware that the restaurant has absolutely no obligation to honor any of these cards. It's up to their descretion whether they choose to honor them.

Ditto!  

That said, I have used my card once.  Hubby and I visited a (very expensive) buffet prior to seeing a show.  The ONLY reason we ended up at the buffet was because he was starving and every other restaurant had a wait time of nearly 2 hours and that would've resulted in us being late for the show.  I was NOT about to spend $40 for me to eat 4-6oz of food at a buffet.  Therefore, I simply asked if they ever offer the children's price (still over $20) to adults.  They were very helpful and explained that they do for medical reasons and if you have a letter and/or card from a medical professional.  I showed them the card and I got the kids price.  And, I felt great doing it.  Having worked in the food service industry in the past, and having owned a restaurant in the past as well, there's nothing wrong with this, IMO.  If they want to refuse you, they will.

 I will generally share with my husband when we go out to eat.  I have a friend that has a lap band, and she and I will share a meal if we go to dinner together.

A lot of the restaurants in my area have grilled chicken or steak tips on the kids menu, or they have lean meat topped salads.  I'll try to get one of those if I'm on my own.  If there aren't any options, I'll order something that I know is healthy (healthier anyway), eat what I can, and if I'm going home, I'll take it with me and eat it the next day for lunch.