Red Lobster - your help needed folks

I order regular meals and take home left overs.  Just a heck of a lot easier IMHO 

I ate out at Red Lobster about a month ago and ordered blackened salmon.  I had the waitress box everything that came with the meal and not bring it to the table until I left, and I ate what portion of the salmon I could and brought the rest home.  I ordered from the adult menu, and I brought home the rest and an adult ate the leftovers.  I ate out today at Golden Coral, and while I could not eat off of every buffet bar or a lot of their items, I was able to eat a portion of grilled steak and a tiny salad, and I even asked for my water to go.  Dinner for myself and my husband was $20.  No way did I eat near $10 of food (nor did he), but that's what the price was and that's what we paid.   I don't expect restaurants to cater to me since I'm the one who chose to alter my eating due to surgery, any more than I expected them to with the many diets I tried unsuccessfully prior to surgery.  I've been beyond being charged children's menu prices for more years than I'd like to admit right now, but that's just how it is.   Maybe a bunch of WLS folks need to get together and create a restaurant chain that serves 2 and 3-ounce portions of protein-only meals with fruit and/or vegetables in 1-ounce servings if you can hold more (for an extra fee, of course).  They could charge whatever they wanted, but they could cater to smaller sized meals.  Just a thought.  There used to be a healthy place in the Jacksonville, FL area when I lived there as a teen that had all vegetarian meals.  The burgers were veggie burgers with really great salads and such.  It didn't last.  I absolutely LOVED the place, but I was a minority.   I admire anyone for taking a stand for what they believe in, though, so good luck I guess. 

I am not on the loser side yet, but I think most people are missing the point.  You should have the freedom to order what you want, whether it be off the children's menu, buffet or whatever.  It would be like a restaurant saying we don't let you order steak that is only for "_________" (whatever group you want to put here).  I personally would not like someone saying you can't have that because we said, with no valid reason behind it.  I would never patronize that establishment again, and I would petition for support from others as well.  She is not asking for special accomodations, she is just asking to order a smaller plate.  Is there something wrong with this.  Having larger plates is what got us all into this predicament in the first place.  You would think restaurants would be willing to help people be more healthy and contribute to a HEALTHY AMERICA or take the risk of losing their business someday.  I for one will send Red Lobster my feelings about this issue. 

On May 19, 2007 at 9:42 PM Pacific Time, ducky2lucky wrote: I am not on the loser side yet, but I think most people are missing the point.  You should have the freedom to order what you want, whether it be off the children's menu, buffet or whatever.  It would be like a restaurant saying we don't let you order steak that is only for "_________" (whatever group you want to put here).  I personally would not like someone saying you can't have that because we said, with no valid reason behind it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You never have the freedom to order what you want at a restaurant.  You have the freedom to order within the parameters of what they offer and within the parameters of what they are willing (keyword) to do.  I don't go to McDonald's at 5:00 p.m. and demand to order off the breakfast meal. I don't expect to be able to receive the senior discount from places despite the fact that I'm not 55 or older.  I don't dictate that the sandwich I order come with fat-free mayo, although I am delighted if they have that option. I don't ask to have them make me a new soup of the day because I happen to not like the French Onion they are serving that day.  A restaurant is not a free-for-all to order anything any way you deem fit.  They have a menu and the menu is available for viewing before anyone decides to sit down and order. The kids menu offers special prices to entice parents to come to the restaurant and spend money.  Restaurants are businesses.  When you eat there, you occupy space and the time/attention of their staff.  Allowing four people to order a total of $12 of food off the children's menu is not going to keep any restaurant in the black for very long. As for restaurants wanting to help people get healthy, I think Red Lobster has a lot more healthy choices available than the average pizza place, BBQ joint, or corner diner.  They offer a huge variety of seafood, vegetables and other appropriate selections.  People don't have to eat everything that is offered in any restaurant.  Red Lobster has always been very glad to provide me with a "to-go" box for the portion I could not finish.  It comes down to personal responsibility.  When I am at home, I often cook larger amounts than I can eat.  It has to be up to me to push the plate away and wrap up the leftovers for another day.  I often can't eat an entire microwave dinner, yet I don't expect that the company make me a dinner with only a couple ounces of meat.  Why is it so different at a restaurant?  People have this idea that the "value" they get at a restaurant is wrapped up with the amount of food they can or can not eat.  Some people no longer go to buffets because they don't get the "value" for their buck.  Before surgery I paid $10 for a meal and I ate it all.  Why is it that it was more worth my money because I was able to fit the whole thing in my stomach?  The value for me now, is make a good choice, feeling satisfied when I am done eating whichever part I can eat, and then stepping away from the plate for that particular meal.  Whether that means I bring leftovers home or toss them out, the value is that I was able to get a great meal that was good for me, and I didn't have to eat whatever was put in front of me just because it was there.  Tess

I don't know and it's none of my business but if you have the money to throw away on wasted food, have a ball. I personally we as consumers, not just WLS patients, have the right to dictate our needs and wants to the places we patronize with our $$$. And that is what they understand. I have no intention of paying for more than I can eat and have been very pleased at the co-operation I have received from the majority of establishments that value the fact that i usually eat with more people than just myself and I have a greatdeal if influence over where they will eat because the are supportive of a decision I made. If you enjoy blowing your money and want to help the rich get richer that is fine but why be so negative to folks who are trying to help those who want fair value. How self righteous of you, but you are entitled to your opinion just as we are. Bill R

i didnt think tess was being as self righteous or negative in her response as you were in yours.  she stated some very pertinent facts. obviously there are 2 schools of thought here and neither side seems willing to bend, fine. personally, i'd be embarassed to ask for a discount or to make a big deal about ordering off the kids menu cause i had surgery.  just like i'd have been embarassed to pay a premium at a buffet for being bigger. there seems to be a trend to try to draw attention to ourselves because we've had or will be having wls.  skinny people have been eating smaller portions for years and not making a big deal out of it.  just my opinion.  people can disagree and not resort to the high state of anger you seem to feel over this topic. judi

I figured that food is all ultimately a waste since it tends to end up in the waste treatment plant. 

 

Laci

I eat there frequently, seems after surgery, I tolerate shellfish/fish really well. However, The past 2 times I have been, I ordered the Admirals Ultimate Feast and ate the Whole stinkin thing! Plus had 2 biscuits! However, I know that not all WLS patients have the same food capacity, so I think it would be a good option for any establishment to do if they wish to stirr up business, so I will give them an email in support.

I happen to agree with you.  If you are paying your money, you should be able to order what you want.  I will  not go to buffets, because it is a waste of money.  I have ordered from the senior menu at Denny's (I"m 37) and had no problems.  A lot of us cannot do leftovers (I"m one of them) and I have no DH to give my leftovers to.  Why should I pay for wasted food?  Portion sizes are one of the reasons we do have an obesity epidemic.  People who ask for and wish to pay for smaller portion sizes should be allowed.  I don't visit Red Lobster because they buy Canadian seafood and Canada refused to do anything about the seal hunts in their country, but other than that, I say go for it, sister.  Bring them to their knees!!

Michelle, I dont do leftovers either.  I hate them.  Mine always go from my to go box to the dogs.  I should go back to calling it a "doggy bag" cause thats what it appears to be at my house!   I never liked seafood before surgery.  Hated it.  The only reason I would go to Red Lobster is that my aunt liked it, or once my brother gave me $30 gift certificate but hated the food I got.  Now though after surgery, I eat healthier and have forced myself to eat things like tilapia and salmon.  Took a long time for either of them to like me, and for me to like them! haha I did not realize that the topic would bring up a debate.  I do agree with one thing, however.  If people would stand up for things that they believe in, perhaps we could see some changes.  And this is the same thought, if the bariatric community would let their voices be heard, perhaps we could fight obesity in this country as we bring awareness to some issues.   I dont carry a card , dont even have one, that states I've had wls.  I wouldnt know how to use it if I did have it.  I dont want freebies, discounts, etc but I would just like to order something off the menu as is, no customization needed, and if it happens to be on the kids menu, I just think it should be allowed.  The grilled chicken portion would have fit me perfect.  I wouldn't have felt disgust at the amount of food I was wasting, or the amount of money I had to pay to waste the food...  Thanks for listening.