Just curious if everyone gets a little card that says they had WLS to show at restaurants? Do you use it? Who gave it to you? Seems like a good idea for the future...

I was given one with my band surgery, and I never used it.

Most restaraunts have been very accomodating when I order off the kid's menu or just an appetizer. My son and I share an adult entree a lot of the times we eat out. We rarely venture to buffets, but that's only because I hate Golden Corral places. The only buffet place we go to is the Chinese buffet with a mongolian grill. I only eat the mongolian grill noodles and meat.

This may sound horrible, but for me, I will pay full price for a meal because they didn't charge me when I ate enough for 4 people. Now, when we do hit the chinese buffet, I stick with normal portions, and I may full price only because it's an "all you can eat" place. Well, all I can eat is about 3/4 cup of food so I pay for it. Or I get a to go box, and pay for the food by the pound and I eat out of the to-go box while my husband and son eat off the buffet.

Now, for medical reasons, I have it all written on the back of my insurance and registration paperwork that I've had a partial gastrectomy, and that I have been diagnosed with an idiopathic clotting disorder.

Here's a generic one from the internet if you would like to have one.

Restaurant Card Bariatric Surgery

I personally have never had to use one. If I go to Chili's or TGI Fridays, I order off the kid's menu without being questioned. On NYE, John and I went to a local steakhouse. He ordered an entree, and their policy is that you can order a half rack of ribs half price with an entree. I ate the ribs (2 of them) and we shared his side dishes of mac-n-cheese, and mashed potatoes.

thanks! I am thinking of kid meals, and here they seem to frown upon that....not sure why. I can't really imagine going to a buffet for a long while.

No problem. I've only had to ask to speak to the manager at one establishment, and he was super understanding. It's not a national chain place, it's locally owned/operated.

I don't mind telling my friends, and people I somewhat know about my surgery. Or even people that ask that haven't seen me in a long time, but to flash a card at a complete stranger seems creepy. Don't be surprised if those same places don't accept your card. I bring home a lot of leftovers ha ha ha.

Yay, my husband says when we go out, I will just get to pick and eat mine and he will eat the rest. Or I will get an appetizer. Not really a fan of kids meals in the first place!!

I never got a card, but do eat out quite a bit. I have gotten REALLY used to eating leftovers, my husband likes his own meal so we typically don't share. But I do wind up throwing quite a bit out (I won't eat them more than two days old) so we might have to rethink our sharing policy.

I never got a card and still order off the child's menu. If they look hesitant I just say "I had a surgery and can only eat about 4 oz." They either understand or look scared I am going to sue them for discrimination and let me order.

I have also been able to carry a Water bottle in all kinds of places by saying "I had a surgery that requires me to drink water all the time. I can't go X minutes without it." They back off. I even got in an art gallery with a water bottle.

I really like leftovers, ESPECIALLY restaurant left overs... Today me and my husband went to our favorite mexican joint and I ordered the lunch fajitas (chicken strips, onions, tomatoes & green peppers (hubby ate those), rice, refriend Beans, guac salad (hubby ate that) and 2 flour tortillas.

I ate:

* 2 chicken strips and a few slivers of onions and tomatoes

* 1/2 6" tortilla

* 2 small spoonfuls of rice

* 2 small spoonfuls of refried beans

I was full for about 6 hours.

I had a repeat for dinner and it tasted YUMMY! I still have enough for about 2 more meals (at least of chicken and tortillas. That's awesome for $7.00.

There are certain left overs I wouldn't like, but the above works awesome.

I was going to order from the kid's menu, but they are usually fairly high in carbs so I, so far, have been avoiding them...

There are cards you can download from somewhere. There should be a thread for it if you do a thread search for restaurant cards. I use mine occasionally. I have had people copy mine on to cardstock paper. I laminated mine. I got it from my band doc.

I really like leftovers, ESPECIALLY restaurant left overs... Today me and my husband went to our favorite mexican joint and I ordered the lunch fajitas (chicken strips, onions, tomatoes & green peppers (hubby ate those), rice, refriend Beans, guac salad (hubby ate that) and 2 flour tortillas.

I ate:

* 2 chicken strips and a few slivers of onions and tomatoes

* 1/2 6" tortilla

* 2 small spoonfuls of rice

* 2 small spoonfuls of refried beans

I was full for about 6 hours.

I had a repeat for dinner and it tasted YUMMY! I still have enough for about 2 more meals (at least of chicken and tortillas. That's awesome for $7.00.

There are certain left overs I wouldn't like, but the above works awesome.

I was going to order from the kid's menu, but they are usually fairly high in carbs so I, so far, have been avoiding them...

You're in Madison??!!! What is your favorite Mexican food restaurant? We make the drive to Madison, about once a month, to eat at Abuelo's. We love it, it's not quite two hours, and we make a day of it over there, but it's worth it!! I cannot believe how little it will take to fill me up after surgery. Wow, and I'm so glad that I'll still be able to eat Mexican food....I love it, and fajitas are so good! Thanks for sharing!

I too was given one with my band, but didn't get one after the sleeve... Often, because none of my friends (minus the one) know I had the sleeve, I just order an app, or small plate, or sometimes just ask for the kids menu and am really sweet about it. All of these seem to work fine. No matter what I order, I either leave a TON of food behind, or end up taking a LOT home. :thumbup: BEST!

Tiffykins, thanks for posting the link to the card.

Last week I was away on business and met up with a woman from OH for dinner and a support group meeting. She wanted to go to a buffet type place that she loves. She has a card, so I downloaded one from the net to show the cashier. I ate 1/3 cup of food for $7.50. That said, I won't go to a buffet by choice.

I really haven't eaten out since surgery. Last night I went to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant and ordered chicken over spinach. I had it for dinner, Breakfast and there's still enough for 3 meals left. I didn't mind paying full price, knowing that I'll have a ton of leftovers. It was so great to have chicken with flavor! 1/3 of a cup with flavor is divine! I'm going to remember to do that occasionally so that I don't get so sick of my own boring boring boring food choices at home. I tend to eat the same thing day after day because I live alone.

I don't use a card. I have just ordered off the regular menu and get a take home box. One night recently I planned to share with my husband but the place wanted $6 to share. I don't mind paying a couple of dollars to share but $6 was too much when a 1/2 rack of rib dinner was $9.

I love bringing food home. There is something very cool about paying once and having 4 meals.

Most things I see on the children's menu isn't fit for starving, wild animals. Why can't kids just get a small portion of real food?

Thank you all for posting this! I live in Vegas, home of the Buffet! I belong to several support groups, work for surgeons & hadnt heard of this card! I hadnt had a problem until last night while trying to have dinner w/family from out of town. I was told by a casino buffet that I needed "the card" to prove I had surgery. Mind you, not only had I been to several other higher end places & had no problems, but so had other patients who had had surgery before me.

Now, I will just Whip out my CARD!

I don't have a card and wouldn't use one if I did -- for some reason it just seems "TMI"-ish to me and kind of makes me twitch. That said, I don't hesitate to order an appetizer instead of a full meal, or share with my DH, or order off the kids' menu. California Pizza Kitchen has a great grilled chicken breast and broccoli item on their kids' menu, and I just say "I'm on a very strict diet and would like the kids' grilled chicken," and they take my order without a problem.