RNY card

Hello everyone,
I have a friend who had RNY surgery in July and she is trying to find out how to get a card that lets her order off the kids menu at restaurants and such.  Does anybody know how she can go about getting one?  Any information would be most greatly appreciated!  :-)

I got one when I "ordered" a sample pack of celebrate vitamins off their website.

I usually just ask the restaurant if I can order off of either the senior or the childrens menu as I am on a very restricted diet and can only eat a very small serving. Usually they will let me order off the senior menu as that is a little healthier usually.  I have only had a couple of restaurants say no.  If they do, I thank them, ask for the manager so I can explain that I am leaving their establishment because I have an ADA  diet issue and that they were unwilling to assist me by allowing me to order smaller portion sizes, so I will be taking my patronage elsewhere.  I do not tell them what the medical issue is as there are many issues.  Special diet is a fairly common request.

I have never had to show a card to be allowed to order a small portion.

cindy

Wait a second.

ADA diet issue?  As in "disability"?

Yes, medical conditions that requires special accomodations is covered by ADA.  Example:  My ADA accomodation at work for my diabetes is that I am not asked to work through lunch and I can eat at specific times to best manage my diabetes. It was due to medical needs around food nutrtion that we finally have nutritional information in restaurants.  People with diabetes, kidney disease, allergies, and other medical conditions all have some rights under ADA relating to food/diet.  The restaurant is not required to let us change their menu but our medical lobbies work to get our needs recognized and accomodated.  Like the nutritional lists.

For a while on one of the diabetes websites there was list of restaurants that were not willing to make menu accomodations for people with diabetes.  IE small portions, identifying nutritional components in menu items (how much carbohydrates and fat).  Those restaurants did not want the public to see them as insensitive and the list was seen as negative publicity.  So a few times the restaurant would respond that they had changed and would now allow medically related diet issue changes to their menu items.

We also submitted the names of the restaurants that had outstanding service.  I go to a local seafood restaurant called Anthony's Home Port at the marina in my town and they are always willing to adapt any menu item to my needs.  I was just there just a week ago and we(waitress and I) made adjustments to my selection to make it easier for me to eat. Like substituting corn tortilla chips for the bread for my hot crab and artichoke dip. (no raw veggies yet).  I also arranged at the beginning to get a box so I could take most of the serving home.

Surprisingly two of the leading fast food places are always willing to substitute or adjust their foods for me.  Wendy's and McDonalds.   99 cent Hamburger with extra lettuce and tomato but no bun and an apple, walnut, and yogurt snack size salad  are a favorite at McDonalds. They usually give me a few extra slices of tomato, lettuce, and pickles at no cost.  At Wendy's I love the chili with sour cream and onions, I have not tried the salads since surgery but they always adjusted them for me in the past so I know they will in the future.   I can do the same with their hamburger as I do at McDonalds.

Red Robin Restaurant has always been great about substituting and putting half of my meal in the box and only serving me the other half on the plate. 

Restaurants operate on return customers and if they do not make accomodations then chances are they will not stay in business long.   Exercising our rite to leave the restaurant is a valuable tool. 

So yes in some ways ADA considerations are made for customers in the restaurant environment .

cindy 

That is great I would also like to talk to a Manager and let them know why they are loosing business just because they wont let you order smaller sizes. I have only been out to eat twice since my surgery and I order regular meals because my husband eats it for lunch the next day. I am also scared to eat out becuase I dont know how I will do eatting food others have prepaired. Thank you so much for the tip I will use that if I ever get turned down by a resteraunt.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.  I will check out the Celebrate website.  I think she has been trying to order off the kids menu and has been told she has to have the special card.  I wish more of us had the courage to stand up to these places like you do.  :-)

 I got mine from my surgeon's office. I don't use it -- it's still in my "welcome packet". I figured I over-ate for 37 years and now I'll just eat smaller portions the rest of my life to make up for it. Plus, kids menus have crap food. hehehe

I got mine at my first follow up visit with my surgeon.  But they also sent one with the sample pack of Celebrate vitamins.  Free for the asking on their website.

I am still on a liquid diet so I have not been anywhere to use mine yet.  (Surgery 11/1/10)

My surgeon's office sent me one in my get well card shortly after I left the hospital and yep, it's still in the envelop somewhere.  I order normal size meal and have leftovers for normal 2 or 3 meals ;>)  Just think, I used to eat all that food!!