Husband wants to take me out to dinner -- HELP!

We have a rare Saturday night with no children.  My husband has told me that he would like to take me out to dinner.  We haven't been out to eat since a while before my surgery.

I am now on a "soft diet."  What I can tell from my surgeon's plan is that I can have most foods with the exception of raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, popcorn, dry or chewy meats, corn, green peppers, cabbage, soft bread, and rice.  His plan does allow for starchy vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes and peas, as well as things like crackers, pita bread, and toast, but I am trying to avoid that kind of stuff and stay lower carb.

Any ideas on what to order at a restaurant my first time out?  I have done well with everything I've tried so far.  I have no trouble with chicken (if it's not dry), fish, or ground beef (had a ittle in chili once).   Should I just order an appetizer?  I know no matter what I get, I will be taking most of it home.

What did you order your first time at a restaurant post-surgery?  How did it go?

I'm thinking soup is a good choice, and you can leave anything you don't like.  At least choose soup instead of salad and it will also help satisfy you.

I'm looking forward to (of all places!) Olive Garden.  My last meal out before surgery, my kids took me there.  I didn't pay any attention to the bread and such.  I found something on the menu that sounded great--and was.  I think it was Venetian Apricot Chicken?  No pasta or starch.  I got the minestrone and that broth was delicious; ate the non-carb veg and left the rest.

The chicken is in an apricot glaze. I don't know if that will be triggery or not; I scraped most of it off and moved the chicken to my bread dish so it wouldn't be dripping in it, but it was tasty.  And instead of pasta they served grilled asparagus and broccoli.  I'm tihnking it's probably too early for that on your diet.

Check out menus of places before you go, decide in advance what you're going to eat. Then have fun!

order a soup, seems that would cover you as long as they have one you like.

My first dinner out was New Year's Eve. I ordered a soup and a fish entree. It was phenomenal! I loved going out with friends and for the first time a dinner out at a fine restaurant became about the people and the experience rather than just the food.

Go enjoy your new life and a date night with your husband. You will find something to eat that works for your plan, no worries.

I hadn't thought of soup.  I really haven't eaten any since I finished full liquids.  

I must admit, the thought of going out to dinner makes me a bit uncomfortable.  I don't know WHAT they put in the food (butter, oil, salt, etc).  It is so much easier at home when I know exactly what is in what I am eating. 

 I was recommended to stay away from soups after liquids - they tend to not have a lot of protein for the volume.  When I ate out in the soft stage I would order things like a chicken breast, or steamed or boiled vegie platters.  Those things can be easy to also mash up with your fork and incorporate extra moisture, like lime or lemon into if you need to.  

The best advice I can give you is to plan ahead.  Pick a restaurant that publishes their menu and nutrition info on line and know what you are going to order before you get in the door.

Like one of the other posters, I love Olive Garden before surgery.  I will go again when I am in maintenance - but nutritionally the place is from hell for the bariatric patient in weight loss.  Three of their dishes made mens health top 10 worst free restaurant foods last month - and wouldn't you know it was all stuff of theirs I loved!  Perfect reason to plan ahead!

 I ordered soup everytime i went out to eat right after surgery lol.

I went to Chili's with some friends late last night. I ordered a cup of Southwest Chicken & Sausage Soup and told them to leave off the tortilla chip strips. It was delicious. I only ate 3/4 of it. I will not go out to dinner unless I can find something to eat BEFORE getting there. Here are the nutritional facts on it. :)

www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/chilis/southwest-chicke n-and-sausage-soup-%28cup%29

soup is good so long as its not potato. i get crab cakes but i know they are made here without a lot of filler.  if there are no good choices, get a dish of cottage cheese. you need to learn not to be intimidated by restaurants and feel like you have to order more than you need. skip the crackers and such.  or order a glass of skim milk and bring your own protein drink.

most restaurants are accomodating and be sure hubby tips like you ordered a bigger meal. not the server's fault that you eat light.   have a good time. diane

You guys are awesome!  I never even thought about checking the menu BEFORE I went.  I am going to look around at menus and find something at a few different places that I know I can eat.

Thanks for all your help!