I eat out alot and am having trouble knowing what to order. Right now I am in the soft food stage. It is pretty much Mexican Food everytime because I know the refried beans are soft. Anybody else have any suggestions of there favorite band-friendly foods at restaurants. It might be fun to list well known food chains and favorite menu items from each. I'll start. My nutritionist recommends chili from Wendy's, since it is soft and high in protein.

I ate out at Ruby Tuesday's and had broccoli and cheese soup, and I ordered the smashed cauliflower. I only ate a couple of bites of the cauliflower because I didn't really care for the taste. I ate the soup, but left the big pieces of broccoli. I tasted my daughter's mashed potatoes and they were pretty good. I try to be careful. I heard there's a lot of hidden fat, sugar, and calories in restaurant food.

Soft foods -- Soups, mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, beans as you've already found, eggs, etc.

We went to the Japanese restaurant a couple times while I was on soft foods, and I had either miso soup with lots of tofu, or teriyaki tofu. I like the teriyaki tofu - pre-banding I would have gotten yakisoba which is much higher in calories and fat, but I actually think I like the teriyaki tofu better.

I made a meal out of the insides of lasagna at an Italian restaurant. I may have had a little noodle, but mostly I ate the filling - yum.

While flan or custard would be higher in sugar than my typical meal, they might make a good choice if you were stuck out and didn't have many choices.

Some restaurants have a "light fruit meal" that combines fruit with cottage cheese. I couldn't eat much fruit until later in my band journey, but sometimes they use canned fruit cocktail which is pretty mushy compared to fresh fruit

What about tuna or egg salad sandwich without the bread?

Hash or an omelet or scrambled eggs at a place that offers Breakfast.

It does get easier! Now that I'm eating solid foods I don't have too much trouble finding something to eat when we're out - I typically order a meal that has solid Protein and vegetable, like a shrimp appetizer and a side salad, or edamame and sashimi (we eat Japanese a lot).

Crab Cakes - ordered those a bunch off the appetizer menu, along w/soups etc....

I really like to eat at Black Eye Pea. They have good squash casserole, baked fish, mashed potato. I also eat at a local deli that has good soups and a to die for chicken salad sandwich. I do not eat much of the bread.

I also can make several meals out of a baked potato with chopped beef.

Crap, now I'm hungry... LOL

I eat out more than anyone on here, probably. Daily sometimes...but it's not what you think...not like whole meals...as that's a thing of the past.

At lunch my daughter took me to a diner. I had Coke and a cup of soup w/ crackers. Had about 8 bites, 6 crackers.

This weekend in Vegas I hit 3 buffets a day. Woo hoo!

I slimed it up, of course because it's just too much food.

Sweet potatoes are my #1 thing I can eat w/o incident.

Soups are okay.

Crackers/cheese...are a good thing as anything cruncy will go down.

Burgers/tacos/pizza/salad....I have a cup nearby to slime up in.

Taco Bell refried beans.. wendy's chili....

In normal restaurants when you're on normal foods.. salad, soup, or appetizer.. or entree and take home a lot of it. When I was in mushies and eating out, I ordered a side of mashed potatos (with gravy) or a soup.. Just anything soft and mushy on the menu. Get creative. Things can be taken off of a bun, out of wraps, out of salads, etc.

Today I had a salad from tropical smoothie.. lettuce wasn't flying with me today, so I just ate the meat & veggies out of it.

Thanks for all the ideas. Anyone have any suggestions for Subway. I eat (ate) there about twice a week with my dad for lunch, and now he is dying to go there, but I stay clear of the bread temptation.

Guacamole salad, refried beans, fish, crab cakes, sweet potato, soup, custard. Be creative. A couple places....when I told them I just had surgery and needed it pureed, they were happy to oblige.

Ok here is what works for me..

Soup of course....ruby tuesdays Brocolli and Cheese

Smoothies at Dunkin Donuts

McDonalds the yogurt parfait

any kind of fish, like haddock or cod, it flakes more and is easier to get down and it stays down if you take it slow, plus you can reheat it....:drool:

My granddaughter loves the mini cheeseburgers at Applebees, so we go, I usually have the soup and salad specials.

At Subway, you can have a tuna salad---just eat the salad, skip the bread.

As I progressed, now DH and I usually share, but we do a lot of fajitas, I eat the meat and veggies, and leave the tortillas to him.

Chile, loaded mashed potatoes, most kinds of beans, lots of fish---it is always easy!!

I have found most places very accomodating, ordering from the alacarte menu is sometimes easiest.

It has not stopped me from going out and having a good time!

Kat

Whooaaaa Kat....you look AMAZING!! That is such an awesome picture....you look SO YOUNG!! I love reading your posts. In fact, I did a search on your posts with my pre-op stuff and you were so helpful. I know you have helped many people here with your experiences and insight. You are definitely an inspiration (you too Laura....also looking BEAUTIFUL!!) Thanks gals!! Oh..and as far as what I eat when I'm out....small portions of most anything!!

YOUNG???? Wow I found me a new bestest friend!!!!!!!!!!

LOL, thank you!! I have been complaining of all the wrinkles, now that the skin is not filled out so much!!!

Makes me wonder....are we ever happy??!!

Kat

Thank you Mara :smile2:)

Thanks for all the ideas. Anyone have any suggestions for Subway. I eat (ate) there about twice a week with my dad for lunch, and now he is dying to go there, but I stay clear of the bread temptation.

From Subway, I get the tuna sald without the bread and the soup of course should work!