While on the road?? We are on the road now and will be again at Christmas. What are your best "out to eat" places??

I was almost 4 weeks post op the first time I ate out. We went to Chik Fila and I got the 4pc grilled chiken nuggets. They were so moist and I was able to eat all 4 of them, very slowly.

I am 3 months out and have eaten out a few times. I usually try to get my husband or my daughter to share with me. Last time we went out my husband got the dinner special which came with soup. Chili was one of the options. I had some of the chili and was full. Other times I order a hamburger with out the bun and eat some and save some for later. I seem to always have left overs in my fridge. LOL

I definitely stick to Protein based meals. Sometimes I check out the kids menus because the portions are MUCH closer to what we should actually be eating. Be careful with that though...you can still get something fattening off of it! But usually a kids chicken sandwich with no bun and maybe a slice of low fat cheese on it and a side of steamed veggies works for me. I still don't usually finish it but I don't like to bring home food anymore and it's a bit cheaper! To be honest, I usually eat before I go out now and will just savor a glass of wine or something instead. Much less stressful that way! And it give me more opportunity to focus on the company I'm with rather than stressing out about food.

Because of my job, I'm on the road quite a bit. My favorite fast foods -

Mcdonald's grilled chicken snack wrap (not the big one). Focus on the fillers and only eat a little of wrap.

Wendy's chili w/ cheese. Yummy.

Taco Bell crispy taco - $1.19. Ask for a tray and dump the contents and eat very little of shell.

I live in South Texas so we have a lot of Mexican food options. I usually get a bacon and egg or chorizo and egg taco and eat mostly the insides for Breakfast. Tacos - like fajitas, chicken or beef. Mainly, again, eating the insides of the tacos.

At restaurants, I usuallly go w/ family or friends and they'll order a bigger portion so I can just eat some of their Protein choice - steak, chicken, fish. And the veggies. If I can't share, I get the best protein choice appetizer that seems appropriate.

I have to agree that the Chik fil a grilled nuggets are really good. I get the kids meal with 4 nuggets and applesauce.

I have gotten crab legs (added on to my husbands meal, not a whole meal for myself), grilled shrimp, salmon, pulled pork or grilled chicken. Sometimes I just order a side salad and eat a little of that.

I go to IHOP and order 2 scrambled eggs with American cheese, just enough for me!

Bottom line? Always have a plan for what you will eat. My family and I eat out all the time! Chinese? chicken and vegetables (no rice or spring rolls). Mexican? Steak fajitas or carne asada (no chips, tortillas or rice). Italian? Chicken Picatta (no bread or pasta). Family restaurant? Chicken breasts or a small steak (swap the starch for a second veggie). Seafood? Salmon or even lobster. Car trip munchies? Beef or turkey Jerky, baby! Last week we traveled to New Orleans and Mississippi for a wedding, a 50th birthday party, an anniversary party, and Thanksgiving. We also went to at least 7 restaurants. Guess what? I ate great, never felt deprived, and still lost 3 pounds on the trip! I brought Protein shakes and beef jerky for breakfasts and Snacks, and made good choices at all other meals. Just focus on protein (and a few veggies), completely avoid all starches and Desserts, keep getting your fluids in, and walk as much as possible. If you always have a plan and follow it, you'll do fine.

Edited December 2, 201411 yr by Rogofulm

I love to eat out! at a sandwich shop I order an "unwich", (the guts wrapped in a lettuce leaf). It's not that I don't tolerate bread, I do, but it fills me so fast I can't do the meat so I avoid it most of the time. If I can't snitch a few bites off someone else's plate, the toppings off a pizza or 1 piece of a very thin crust works, soup or 1/2 salad at Panera is great. Half a sushi roll (4pc) works. A single hard taco from Chipolte is good too. I've also been known to nom a single chicken strip or 4-6 nuggets from Chick Filet, (I know, fried, but it's not a habit and it's good protein)! I also never travel without Quest bars. Portable protein and not covered in chocolate so if they melt they're just chewy.

Edited December 2, 201411 yr by bikrchk

I find it very rare that I can't find SOMETHING on the menu... almost everyplace serves grilled chicken these days.

Some of my favorites, we go to Fatz regularly...the kids menu has SALMON!!! with broccoli, so I get that... Bojangles has roasted chicken bites...I haven't tried the Chick-Fil-A ones yet, but I understand they are cooked in butter

Even for Breakfast, I drive thru McDonalds and get an Egg McMuffin without the muffin and cheese in the middle....no problem

There are ways around almost all of it! The only one that is stopping us is US!

I'm three months out......If you like Sushi, Sashimi is a great eating out solution and fabulous source of Protein. I get Tuna or Salmon Sashimi a couple times a week! I've also just got creative with my ordering. We were out with friends at one of our "old" favorite bars, and I ordered chicken Nachos with the chips on the side. I basically eat the nacho toppings without the chips. Good luck!

Captain D's has a single shrimp skewer that's only 100 calories and 12 grams of protein. Or you can get grilled white fish and shrimp skewer meal with veggies.

haven't really eaten out much since surgery. soft taco from taco bell, chicken quesadilla, share a plate with my 3year old daughter. always have leftovers.

We don't eat out a lot, but often enough. Our usual place is a buffet with tons of seafood..so I can always find something. They charge me the kid's price.

If it's a sit down dinner, I usually order from the kid's menu or the appetizers. Last week I treated myself...we stopped unexpectedly at Longhorn for a late dinner...I told the waitress my hubby wants the add-on Lobster Tail

I stopped in Panera while shopping on the weekend & got the Power chicken Hummus Bowl. Ate most of the toppings & took the rest home for later.

Edited December 3, 201411 yr by hillgirly

I'm about 3 1/2 months out and I've only been out to eat a few times, mostly lunch and I just tried dinner. I'm finding it difficult, nothing on kids menu that appeals and at the places we like the appetizers are mostly hi carb hi fat that I'm trying to stay away from. For lunches a half a sandwich does the trick, dinner is going to take me a while. I got a fish dish, it was so so and after about a half a salad, glass of wine, I could only eat a few bites of fish, so I took most of the meal home. I kind of left feeling like its more effort than it was worth.

Before surgery my wife and I had our once a week date night, neither of us had any problem finding places we liked. Now I look at online menus to get an idea of what I might have at a particular restaurant, but not much sounds appetizing and I have no desire to go. Also, I eat so much slower and I can't eat much, I just don't look forward to dinner out. Should I hope that changes?

But not so sad, I am feeling better, and a lot healthier, I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again. I just need to learn not to be food centric, and that's going to take a little time. I still enjoy being out with my wife and freinds, I do enjoy foods and I am motivated to finish this journey. Interestingly, about a couple of months after surgery we went out for lunch and I chose a chicken salad wrap, all I could eat was half and it was more than enough. Before surgery, I could get a foot long sub, a bag of chips, and a tall soda, and an hour later I'd be hungry. I've come a long way.

I order off the kids menu or seniors menu. Sometimes I will order normal size and take home most of it for leftover meals. I have managed some places to get a reduced rate for buffet when I explain the surgery to them and see how little I actually eat. But believe me that waitresses look at you weird when you ask for the kids menu. Yes I'm eating child sized portions!!!!!