Dining out

 First realization of post WLS eating out: Order what you can eat and what you are likely to tolerate well.

Second realization: Nobody else really cares what you eat. Pick it apart, move it around on your plate, stop when you are done. It's YOUR food. 

Third realization: The restaurant is there to serve YOU. You are not obligated to order anything exactly "as is" on the menu. 

So early out here are the options that worked well for me (and I ate out a lot...work and personal situations....still do). 

Grilled or broiled tilapia or other light white fish. 
Shrimp
Grilled chicken (most sandwiches or entrees include a 4 oz. breast)
Broccoli or other well cooked veggie
Chili
Hamburger patty (order a burger and take it apart)

Things to avoid at this stage:
Salad
Steak
Refined carbs - bread, pasta
Dressings and sauces - you never know what is in them
Any fried foods

Easiest restaurants to accommodate WLS:
Seafood places
Steakhouses - you can often get decent fish or chicken options

Hardest restaurants:
Italian
Mexican

It drives my mom crazy that I pick my food apart, but finally -- after 5 years -- she is either used to it or has realized that it is pointless to give me grief over it since I am going to do it no matter what she says.  We often have pizza lunches at work, and the people at work with are now used to me taking one bite of a piece of pizza and then just eating the toppings off of the rest... and no one cares.

I do NOT, however, pick apart my food at a really nice restaurant.  On those occasions, I order something I know I can eat "as is" (i discovered very early out that filet mignon went down well, and since a 9 ounce filet is three meals, the price is easier to justify) and just take home a large doggie bag.

Lora

Eating out can be so difficult sometimes but remember you are paying good money for that meal so do not feel obligated to order what is listed on the menu in their pre arranged dinner plates. Order off the menu, for example if you feel like a baked potato with salsa and cheese order it the restaurant will usually make whatever you ask them to. 
When I was early out at a restaurant I would typically order:
 
a hamburger and eat it without the bun and get some mustard or steak sauce for it
Chili is sometimes a good restaurant option but it can be full of grease and fat
Grilled shrimp
baked potato

Don't feel like you can't order alacarte because you can and it usually cheaper to order like one shrimp skewer and a side of veggies or mashed potato then it is to order the whole dinner plate.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for all of the great ideas. I am feeling more confident about eating out this week.