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WLS Cards for Restaurants



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:clap2: I am new to all of this. I was just banded Dec. 19th. Anyway this week-end we were out of town and we had to eat at a restaurant. I asked the waitress if I could order off the kids menu. I told her I recently had WLS and she told me alot of people have cards they show and then they can eat off all kids menus. I told her I didn't have a card so I lifted my shirt partially and said but I do have the healing incisions to prove it LOL. My husband about died. It worked !! I just wonderd if anyone else has heard of this cards> Thanks Sue:help:

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I've heard of these cards but am not interested in one for myself. First off, no restaurant is obligated to accept them, it's entirely a matter of courtesy. Secondly, children's menus are usually NOT band-friendly food, and not a healthy choice for anyone. What I usually do is order an appetizer or Soup if I won't be able to deal with leftovers, or get an entree and just take whatever I don't eat home.

There's no advantage I can see in letting a restaurant owner know one's personal medical situation. Order what you want!

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I got one from my surgeon but I've never felt compelled to use it. I also usually order and entree and take home the extra. I may also order an appetizer or Soup as well.

Most kids menus are chicken Fingers/ fries...cheeseburger/fries, etc. All the things I shouldn't eat anyway.

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This topic came up yesterday. Refer to that thread for more opinions.

For me, I have one but I don't carry it. For a few reasons. For one, most of the time I order a regular entree and just give the leftovers, or make a few more meals out of them. That beats the chicken strips, grilled cheese and burgers you can get on a kids menu.

For two, I don't feel that the fact that I eat less obligates restaurants to give me a discount. I've gone there by choice. I know they do the discount voluntarily, but it's not something I'd be comfortable with. Please give me a discount because I've had surgery and eat less than most others here? No thanks.

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I agree that the children's menu doesn't usually have the most healthful items on it... but, the senior citizens menu usually has better portions of the general menu... and the card might come in handy if you aren't old enough!

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My doc gave us a card for the wallet that shows a pic of the band on a stomach to carry in case of medical emergency. Then any doc will know what has been done... I never thought of using it for a discount.

I like having a big plate of food when I eat out. I do a lot of texture experimenting with mixing foods like Protein with a bite of veggies.... It is fun to have food left on my plate now. I actually have leftovers worth keeping and sometimes they are a meal the next day for me. Also I really notice now, how much is still on my plate and how much was never on my plate before surgery.

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My doctor also gave me a card. I don't know if I will use it, but I just like to know I have the option to. Also, I think if you are going out to a buffett, you would get a lower price, if they wanted to honor the card. Buffets are like $14 or so in some places. For kids is a couple of dollars.

A lot of really unscale restaurants have clam chowder and really delicious Soups for about $4 and under for a nice size cup.

All in all, I just want to have the option if I feel like doing it!

Audree

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Thanks for all the replies. I personally like the idea. I realize no one is obligated to give us a discount. We went to a buffet and it was nice paying $3.99 instead of $9.99 for a scoop of mash potatoes and some vanilla pudding. Each to their own! Have a great day. ( we went to the buffet because my husband and son were starving ) Sue

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What would you consider an unscale restaurant? Do you mean that as in "the opposite of upscale"?

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I live near Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, so my local restaurants are Cheesecake Factory, Kings Fish House, Lucilles, etc. They made it to be like a Rodeo Drive kind of thing and that is where we go for our date nights (my husband and I). They are expensive restaurants and a cup of Soup is $2.99.

Audree

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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