My family has always centered every event around food. My bday is day after tomorrow so the family is getting together tonight at my fav mexican restaurant. Yesterday my sister was having heart tests and so I had to eat lunch at McDs (where the rest of the sister's picked). My husband had to work on Valentine's day so he wanted to take me out this past weekend,,so another night out to eat. This keeps happening ever since I had surgery or I'm just more aware of it now. I can handle the fact that I will be going out to a restaurant but it's hard to know what and how to eat..plus have control over it. I'm still uncomfortable asking someone to share their meal or ask for a kids menu. If I order for myself, it's so tempting to dig in. Any suggestions?

Your sisters seriously wanted to go eat at McDonalds while your other sister was having TESTS done on her HEART?! Wow.

There are lots of ways to eat out healthy at restaurants. Soups and salads, appetizers, light and fit menus, ordering a protein-rich meal and just eating enough to satisfy you and taking the rest home. Works great.

Restaurants like Ruby Tuesday and Applebees have their light and fit items that are based on chicken, fish or lean beef. Those are my staples for eating out. Applebees has pretty fantastic buffalo wings too on their appetizer menu.

It was actually my 28 year old nephew's idea to eat at McD's.. who is a ky state trooper who doesn't really need to watch his weight.lol It was his mom who was having the tests so was hard to say anything to him..he was worried, tired and hungry. My sister's had those big salads (probably thinking it was the healthy way to go but it's not)

It'll just take me a while to learn how to eat outside of home. I think I can have about anything,,just learn what is good for me and make healthy choices and don't overstuff my sleeve. I'll have to check out those wings... I wouldn't have thought those would be something I could have.

You did great!!! What an accomplishment! You were able to still have a good time and manage the food thing. Way to go Peacequeen. You should be proud of yourself. It seems like it should be an easy thing, but it really isn't. We are learning a whole new approach to food on all levels.....way to go!