Many of my friends don't know about the surgery. At 3 weeks out im only allowed 2 tablespoons of mushy foods so I have been avoiding meeting up with friends for a few months now (pre-op diet). My friends go out to dinner ALL THE TIME. Since I'm always on a diet it won't be a shock to them if I just eat an appetizer. How long do you think it would take for me to eat out with friends and eat a small protein based appetizer without a problem?

With the summer coming up I really want to break out of the isolation I've been in for almost a year.

Once you are allowed solid foods, you should be able to eat out. Theoretically you could do it sooner than that and order soup or chili (though a lot of restaurants only have chili seasonally and don't/won't serve it anymore soon). I think my first time out with friends I got some lobster bisque, because I still wasn't on solids or ground meats yet.

Edited March 18, 201511 yr by JamieLogical

At 4 1/2 weeks, I was just starting whole cooked foods as tolerated. I could eat about 1/3 cup in a half hour or so. I think the first food that I ate out with other people was chili at a Baker's Square. I also had two french fries off of someone else's plate. That was it. 1/3 cup chili and two fries. But we were there about an hour, with plenty of good conversation.

The first time I ate breakfast out with someone was at a pancake house. They had pancakes, and I got an omelet of which I ate about 1/4 of it in half an hour, and took the rest home.

To kill time, you can do more of the talking and play with your fork, just scooting food around the plate. If anyone asks, just tell them you have not had much of an appetite lately.......you really don't owe anyone an explanation about your health choices. You don't have to lie.......just don't tell everthing you know. True friends will enjoy your company regardless of what you eat.

Soups are a great choice as is hummus if you can avoid pita bread. Once you're allowed crackers that part gets easier. Some flaky fish is also a good choice as soon as you're allowed. I DO recommend that you try new foods at home before you jump in to eating out in a social setting especially if you don't want others to know so you learn your tolerances in the privacy of your own home.

I'm convinced I have one of the most conservative programs in the country. Even at 3 weeks out im not allowed soup, just broth. My next advance is in 2 weeks. Who knows what they will allow me to eat.

At about 2 months you should be able to go have an appetizer. I didn't tell my friends either and I went and had happy hour. I didn't drink and checked the menu appetizer ahead of time so I knew what to order. You might even want to go and try the food first. I haven't had any issues with dumping and I am able to eat anything so I haven't had to worry about that. Still stick to the rule of protein first and stay away from the fried stuff.

Good luck-

LA

Best advice i got was don't try anything new if you go out. Do your testing in the comfort and privacy of your home and bathroom.

At about 2 months you should be able to go have an appetizer. I didn't tell my friends either and I went and had happy hour. I didn't drink and checked the menu appetizer ahead of time so I knew what to order. You might even want to go and try the food first. I haven't had any issues with dumping and I am able to eat anything so I haven't had to worry about that. Still stick to the rule of protein first and stay away from the fried stuff.

Good luck-

LA

Do you recall what you had from the appetizer menu at 2 months?

I usually just eat off my families plates, that would probably be weird for your friends though lol! I have also don't the appetizer when with girl friends but I was about 4 months post op at the time and they knew already. A bowl of soup may be easier in the beginning stages.

Many of my friends don't know about the surgery. At 3 weeks out im only allowed 2 tablespoons of mushy foods so I have been avoiding meeting up with friends for a few months now (pre-op diet). My friends go out to dinner ALL THE TIME. Since I'm always on a diet it won't be a shock to them if I just eat an appetizer. How long do you think it would take for me to eat out with friends and eat a small protein based appetizer without a problem?

With the summer coming up I really want to break out of the isolation I've been in for almost a year.

I went out as soon as I was allowed regular foods. I went to iHop and ordered an omelet cooked soft. Since then I have been out numerous times with various friends. Remember the purpose of a social dinner is to socialize. No one really cares what you eat unless you make a big deal about it. Don't act like you did something to be ashamed of by taking care of your health. Go out and enjoy life.

I just can't wait to im cleared for all foods as tolerated. I really want to meet up with friends. Unfortunately our fav meet up spot is a diner. But they will def have options for me once I can eat

I go out to eat all the time and it's no problem. Here are my strategies:

1) Go online for chain restaurants and review the nutrition and plan what to order. I order a full meal and have great leftovers.

2) Earlier in my recovery I would order Maryland Crab Soup or another non-cream soup which was great and took me 1/2 hour to eat.

3) salad is usually served first so I eat a very small bit of it and asked to have the rest boxed up.

4) If there is no nutrition info online, I stick with a sirloin steak or grilled fish.

5) If I get questions, I tell people I am being careful and share what I am doing (Protein and veggies) which females especially want to hear about and contributes to the conversation.

6) I skip the rolls/butter

7) Don't just pick items from the menu just for protein, make sure they are things that you actually like!

Good Luck!

Why not meet for coffee/tea? You don't have to eat.

I am three months out as of this week and I still find going out to eat (socially or not) difficult. What can I/Should I eat? Will they let me order from the kids menu? (Some places will, some won't.) I have decided that the next time I go out to a real restaurant I will just do what one of the other posters said. Order a full size healthy meal, eat a small portion, and box the rest up for leftovers. With the amount of food they give you that could last me a while!!

Luckily I have kids with friends and they know about my surgery so they can just order an extra kids meal for me, or I will share with a toddler, haha. That's what I did when I was back on solid foods. We went to Red Robin (a burger chain) and they ordered a kids meal for their 10 month old, grilled chicken breast (on a stick) with steamed broccoli. I could barely eat any. I think the 10 month old ate more than me!

The funniest thing is going to my monthly book club meeting. We have it at Wegman's (a grocery store chain) which has seating/meeting areas on the second floor. We meet there and eat together first, then have our meeting. Last time I just went to the seafood department and got a couple of pieces of their prepared shrimp and a small spoonful of cold brussels sprouts salad. I think the people think I'm crazy when I ask for such a small amount of shrimp. But I don't mind. One time the guy at the counter was like "I threw an extra one in there for you!" (After he'd weighed the amount I asked for.) And I didn't have the heart to tell him I wouldn't be able to eat it, haha. Last time I could only eat two of the shrimp! (Their shrimp is gigantic!) Whenever I've gotten food at a salad bar/food bar from a grocery store, it's a huge benefit to have such a tiny stomach. You can portion out exactly how much you can eat, and since you pay by weight, you only have to pay a couple bucks for your meal!

Edited March 18, 201511 yr by heynowkc

Whatever you do, just resist reading the menu with your (old) eyes and order what you might have previously ordered. My very first meal post-VSG....I ordered an appetizer and an entree. Ha! A few spoonfuls of the appetizer soup and I was done. Took the rest back to the hotel for Breakfast and lunch the next day.I had to tell the waitress that "yes, the food was fine; I just wasn't as hungry as I thought."

If you're thinking to do this while still on mushy or liquids, just go for a soup appetizer, eat slow and talk a lot. Conversation/Laughter will distract folks that you aren't woofing down a huge plate of whatever. And you could say, "I've been talking so much, I'm already full," etc.

if you do this after you're allowed solids, soft stuff like fish tacos/whatever will be good; just avoid the pita/tortilla. Pull out all the innards and you'll be fine...and full.

My advice is don't over think it. It's really not that big of a deal. Dinners are super easy. A soft scrambled egg with cheese, yogurt, or a Cereal like oatmeal or grits. Buffets/salad bars - again super easy. Just get what you can eat. Don't worry about what other people will think. That's a mind game that you really don't need. Sit down restaurant just order a Protein and get a doggy bag.

I eat out just as much as I used to before surgery and have since around 4 -6 weeks post-op. I just have more doggy bags. Keep in mind you are going to hang with friends.