I am 1 month post op, and will be going on vacation this week:)

Any suggestions on "smart" restaurant choices for this stage? ( besides soups please.. Lol)

I'd say go to whatever restaurant looks good and just be sensible with the menu. By now you know what you can and can't eat.

We go out a lot and I'm careful with what I eat. No chili cheese fries. You can enjoy things once in a while that you wouldn't ordinarily eat. An occasional treat won't necessarily

short circuit your weight loss. Go and have a good time in good conscience.

Fish is always a good idea. It flakes instead of getting stuck. Just be careful, and take your time.

Oh my gosh! Chili cheese fries were my first stuck! No kidding. What a dork. Figured I'd just eat the chili off the top, right? HA! Once a food addict always a food addict.

Anyway! I often order off the appetizer menu. Or DH and I will share meals. I'll get a house salad (ask for it to be delivered with his meal) and then steal off of his plate. That way they don't charge for a split.

Be wary of foods you eat with your hands, like sandwiches and hamburgers. I deconstruct those, or else I take bites that are too big. Use a fork whenever possible to take smaller bites. If getting steak, go filet rather than NY Strip, it is just much more tender and easier to eat. With no fill, you should be able to handle most foods, but go slow, take small bites, and chew, chew, chew.

Biggest thing is, enjoy your vacation! I did a 10 day cruise at 6 weeks post-op, I had a fabulous time.

If you are so newly Banded you should be able to do things like chicken, chicken salad or Breakfast for lunch or dinner (eggs or omlette). I had my times when I could eat salad and times when I couldn't. But a cabo salad could work. Just take your time and like everyone else said chew, chew, chew.

Cheri

Do you have a smart phone. Large chains either put the calories for their foods online or a third party does it for them! I would try to share meals if you can; otherwise you will end up throwing half the meal away. Mexican places are usually safe for me as I get chicken fajitas. For breakfast ask for egg whites.

In a restaurant I often choose a Pasta or rice dish. I find they go down easily and do not cause me problems. A starter size portion of something like canneloni or pasta with a tomato based(not cream based) sauce. Fish can be a good choice but you still have to be careful - I have had problems with fish a number of times so it is not guaranteed that it is safe.

For breakfasts I do bacon and poached eggs or ceral and yogurt.

If it is lunch then I would go for a quiche or veggie tart or something like that.

Sometimes when eating out it is better to go for the option which has higher calories but which will go down without causing problems.

We all know that grilled chicken and salad is low cal and healthy but postband if I was faced with a choice of that or a high cal creamy pasta dish I would have to go for the pasta. The chicken just has too much potential to cause problems.

We tend to eat out a lot and I've found it's trial or error. I'm six weeks (tomorrow) post-surgery and had my first "mini-stuck" at a restaurant this past weekend. I had ordered a chicken breast and it was kind of dry, second bite and I was up and in the bathroom! It really wasn't as bad as stuck episodes I've read about online, so that's why I think it was just a "mini-stuck".

Restaurants tend to serve such massive quantities of food that I usually end up bringing home 3/4 or more of my meal in a doggy bag and DH enjoys it the next day!

We go out a lot and I usually stick with chicken quesadillas on the appetizer menu and eat only half. I also love doing the omelet for dinner cause I can add my veggies.

I can always eat a burger, no bun. Sometimes I will add mushrooms and onions to help it go down. Most places will substitute salad for fries. I usually do not even eat the salad, but at least the fries are not tempting me. My fav breakfast out is poached eggs with crispy bacon. Hold the potatoes and toast.

I stick with a grilled meat and veggie for the most part. I can't do steak, and my band is pretty loose. Salad like chicken ceaser could be a good option too. You can ask for the dressing on the side. Enjoy your vacation!

You're newly banded....unfortunately you have to eat, make choices, as though you are on any other diet.