I'm in San Francisco for a long weekend - one month post-op. I'm on the soft food stage. I'm having anxiety because we are eating at restaurants and I find myself at a loss over what to order - chinese last night, had wonton soup and some chicken out of the kung pau. 3 shrimp. It's so easy to do this at home, hanging around or close to the house.

Suggestions on types of cuisine and what to order?

Italian? Thai? You get the picture.

Anything soft, that's not high in calories. Soups, Cold Plate is Great this time of year Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, Cottage Cheese, Cheeses, Hard Boiled Egg That's the cold plate !

Chili, Stew, Anything on the Menu that comes up soft, S.F Desert.... Also pick anything from the above.

Be careful with the stew, Potatoes can get stuck. So chew, chew, and chew. Don't lose focus of your chewing, you don't want to get caught up in conversation, and slip something goes down, and your stuck. So Focus.

When I am eating out, I don't worry so much about calories as getting stuck. And you being so soon pre-op, should also be more worried about healing than calories as well--at least for the weekend.

If necessary, go to a convenience store and pick up some Protein shakes, so that if the restaurant doesn't have any foods you can eat, you can have that instead. Almost all restaurants have soups. Shrimp can get stuck, be very wary of it. Also look to the appetizer menu. They often have easier to eat foods there. Again, not the healthiest choices, but right now you are limited with the 'soft food' requirement of your healing phase.

If your hotel has a refrigerator, I'd get some yogurt and other things I could eat. That way I could eat before going out and be less tempted to order something I shouldn't have.

Best wishes!

I went away shortly after being banded too and soup was my best friend! I agree though, avoid the potatoes! Try to stay relaxed too. I notice if I'm anxious about food, I'm more likely to get stuck. Take a deep breath and enjoy the company! I usually eat something before I go out and then order a cup of soup and water or iced tea (no straw) and pick at the food. I go out now to socialize and the food is secondary.