Eating Out Game and Restaurant Strategies

I edited my posting and the blog post I created with this too. Thanks for pointing that out.

The coconut milk I buy has 10g of saturated fat for 1/3cup so 30g for a cup. Recipes often call for 1/2 cup max...so it's hardly anything.

Point aside, current research has also shown that saturated fat isn't the bad guy. You can do your own, but here's one site that I like as it isn't hardcore sciency (http://www.marksdailyapple.com/saturated-fat-healthy, but this is a Primal/Paleo site so it will be def. in favor of less carb, more fat).

It's pretty well accepted these days that the whole low fat/healthy grain party line is how many of us ended up in our states needing WLS.

In the end, it's about what works for you. We're all different and we should each determine what food fuels our body best (including how our labs respond)...

What brand of coconut milk do you buy? I get mine at the asian market and I don't even know what its nutritional breakdown is.

As for the saturated fat I believe there is some conflicting info on fats. The latest thing I read says clearly stay away from saturated fat. I like Mark Sisson a lot, I think he's a great motivator and has some good information. However he's an athlete and not a certified nutritionist, a scientist, or a medical doctor, so I am on the fence as to how much credence to put into his statements on the health results of fats. I was reading over the weekend on where to find healthy fats and it was adamant to steer clear of saturated fats. I was doing this research because I noticed that every time I started eating low fat my weigh loss would stall. The bottom line on saturated fat is that is really hard to avoid it, its in everything and does not seem to hurt us on low carb diets. Either way I am still eating coconut milk so this was all rhetoric, albeit fun and entertaining rhetoric.

I don't think healthy grains got us to needing WLS. Its not like we were eating whole grain twinkies. We were eating enriched flour, 39 ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, cream that would survive a nuclear war twinkies. If we were eating a balanced diet with whole grains and not the rest of the crap we would not have needed WLS. Low fat is a big of a joke because it is all compensated with somehow. Have to read labels.

I agree we are all different and we need to find what works best.

I think Thai food has a ton of sugar in it, no?

Perhaps. I make my thai foods at home and don't add sugar. There's minimal amounts of sugar in certain preps of fish sauce, but no sugar versions do exist (which I buy).

Personally, I would recommend avoiding restaurant meals early post op, esp. from places where you have very little control over the food. Sashimi is a wonderful choice because it is just raw fish. and places that simply prepare protein is also fine. But if you are worried about hidden sugar or whatever, just don't go.

I'm in maintenance and even now, don't go out much because I want to eat whole, minimally processed foods. and I can't control that if I go out.

This isn't meant to hijack Keith's thread. There is useful info here for times when you can't avoid going out (business meals and the like), but YMMV if you make dining out a habit. You have much more control over your meals if you are the one preparing them.

Not a ton but most recipes call for sugar to some degree. Usually just a teaspoon to a giant pot. I usually just leave it out.

I too go out quite a bit and have my own strategies for eating out.   I agree that the very best item is the seared tuna on the appetizer menu, I also often go for the shrimp ****tail.  Chicken wings have too much fat for my program and are usually doused in sugary sauces that do not work for me.  The crab cakes and meatballs are off my menu because crab cakes are fried and usually have tons of breading, and meatballs are stuffed with carbs, fat and sauce.  If I am in a French or high end Italian restaurant, I might order the Carpaccio or Steak tartare which is thin, raw steak and arugula and dressing.  I know this is not for everyone, but I love it.

My next option is usually the fish entree.  If the restaurant is known for their fish, that is what I choose every time.  I ask for it be broiled and any sauce to be served on the side.  Otherwise, I tend to order the petite filet mignon with sauce on the side and some veggies.  If that is not available, I reach for the grilled chicken, but my real preference is for some game meat if at all possible.

In Chinese restaurants I almost always ask for the steamed fish in ginger and lite soy sauce and I eat that without the rice.  I personally see very little difference between the white and the brown rice on my carb count and I almost never order anything that is not steamed with sauce on the side in Chinese restaurants.  The sauces are out of control in sugar, starch and oil.  If it's cold outside, I sometimes go to my neighborhood Pha place.  This is a typical Vietnamese restaurant where they make their Pha fresh every day.  The know me so I don't even have to order.  I get their chicken breast Pha without the noodles and with extra veggies.  I like to add in the fresh lime juice and the hot sauce along with the basil and a few peppers.  Yum.

Japanese is really easy for me and they too know me by now.  I always order their freshest sashimi platter or tuna salad.  They know not to bring rice for my table.  Sometimes, they surprise me with rolls rolled in cucumber or daikon radish. If I want a treat, I order the salmon roe (ikura) with quail egg.  Again, this is not for everyone, but I am Russian, so this is a nod to my heritage as well.  I usually go to the same sushi restaurant, so the owner and chef know me very well and take excellent care of me as I tip extra.  They know to offer me the freshest fish and to cut it up extra thin for me which I prefer.  Sometimes they surprise me with beautiful creations made just for me.  They know to leave rice out of it.

Mexican is also not a problem for me, but unlike you, I stay away from the beans.  I have a fantastic, authentic Mexican restaurant in my town that serves fantastic tiny tacos.  The tacos are sold separately and are really tiny.  I order two different ones, one with fish and one with Carne Asada. I leave the soft taco and eat the filler. Otherwise, I would order one of the meat dishes and eat it with Pico de Gallo.  I ask the server to not bring any chips to my table.

Thank you for writing this post, I think it is very important that people know that good food does not have to end with the VSG.  I go out quite a bit as my husband and I have always been real foodies, the VSG only stopped this temporarily, now we continue to enjoy eating out.

Great addition to this thread. Thank you for your thoughts. Your advice as always is more than welcome and always taken to heart. Everyone on here has much to learn from you!

When I got to restaurants I keep it as simple as possible. I make sure that no matter the place i only order meat and veggies.With that being said a lot of places I can not eat at and the kids menu is usually packed with carbs. If I have to order a full sized meal I order the smallest steak and I order only veggies to go with it. My Sleeve doesn't like salad so /i can't eat that. I find I can eat on that 1 meal 3 times.

If I go to KFC I order the 3 strip meal change the fries to green beans and I can eat on that 3 times so its like 3 meals for 5 bux.

If I go to Mexican I usually order one of those small "street tacos" and I scrape it off the tortilla and add some pico to it and eat just the meat and pico. Or I'll order a burrito with only refried beans meat and pico inside. When I get home I scrape the inside into a bowl and measure out 4oz portions. I can make 4-5 meals out of that. Thats 5 meals for 6 bux.

Italian I stay way from its all carbs. And I've been to afraid to try anywhere else.

Great post Keith, thanks for sharing!!!