First time eating at restaurant post-op

I am 3 weeks post op as of tomorrow. My hubs took 2 weeks off after my surgery to help me around the house. We went out for lunch after my NUT appointment where she told me I can eat real food (minus raw fruits, veggies, pasta, bread and nuts). I asked about a chicken sandwich that sounded good, found out it was fried and got a grilled chicken breast on it instead. Luckily it was super moist. Took half the 6 oz chicken breast (I asked the weight and the server asked the kitchen) off the bread and that was my lunch. The other half was lunch the next day. Then I met my hubs at work the next week and we went for lunch again. This time I had looked at the menu cuz it was more of a planned thing rather than a "what do you feel like" thing. I got grilled scallops (1 oz each) ate 3 took the other 2 for dinner. Gave hubs my coleslaw and my mashed potato. Funny, we hardly ever eat out and after my surgery we go out twice in 2.5 weeks. I agree that if you can look at the menu online and plan it's a lot easier. If the waiter can't answer your question they should be asking the kitchen. If they give you a hard time it's not a place I would dine at again. It's all in your approach, if you ask nicely and apologize for being a bit of a pain they're usually happy to do it for you. Good luck.

Since I, like several others on here, travel for work and am on the road every week, not eating out is not a choice.

While i am concious of what i eat, sometimes i dont have the luxury of planning ahead or even being the person to choose where we'll eat. Rather than over thinking it, I try to pick things off the menu which are as close to unprocessed as possible so in a Mexican restaurant, I usually go for the chicken fajitas, hold the beans, rice, tortillas and guacamole. Then I am left with chicken, onions, peppers, tomatoes and cheese. I sprinkle the cheese on one end of the chicken and that's dinner. At Panera or another sandwich place, I usually just order a sandwich with no mayo, oil, etc. and eat the middle since I'm not crazy about meat on salads.

My main enemy while traveling is water retention. For instance, this week I got home on Friday, weighed 2 pounds more yesterday am from what I weighed Tuesday am when I left, then peed ALL day long and this morning I am down 4 pounds, which was a 2 pound loss since Tuesday. I know this happens every week so I have stopped stressing but don't be surprised if the salt, etc. in a restaurant meal causes you to retain water.

And have fun. Even though we all got here for different reasons, there should be no reason you can't have a social occasion with your family and friends. Remember the reason you are there is them, not necessarily the food.

Hi Kinny

I just had surgery recently and my first dine out was to a Mexican restaurant also.  I showed my card stating I have had bariatric surgery and was allowed to order off the kids menu. I had a shredded beef enchilada with beans and cheese. I did not eat the flour wrapper or all of the beans.  Never in my life did I think I couldn't finish a kids meal.  LOL !!!!

I've been out to eat a few times now.  Mexican was easy, side of beans and guacamole, the insides of a chicken and carnitas taco, carne asada.  At American restaurants chili is a good option but so is grilled chicken, which you can get from a sandwich (sans bread) or in a salad (sans fresh veggies you can't have). I've had Persian food (grilled lamb, chicken and beef and 1/2 a grilled tomato), I've also done burgers (turkey, beef and chicken), fish (white fish).  So there are a ton of options out there.  Start small and add things in one at a time so you can see how your body reacts to it.